State × crop calendar
Winter Rye planting in Alaska.
- Primary crop
- Zone 4a
- 105-day season
- Last frost May 25
- Cover Crop
- Frost Hardy
Winter Rye planting in Alaska is shaped by the state's 4a dominant hardiness zone, last frost date around May 25, and a 105-day growing season. Winter Rye is widely grown in Alaska — commercially significant or common in home gardens and food plots.
Planting dates on this page are climatological estimates from USDA frost-date norms and zone-typical planting offsets. Verify against University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service for variety- and county-specific guidance.
Planting calendar — 2026
Frost-anchored windows.
Winter Rye · Alaska · planting calendar
Planting windows shift earlier in southern parts of the state and later in northern parts. Use last frost date in your specific county as the reference.
Planting windows
Earliest → ideal → latest.
Fall planting
Winter RyeEarliest
August 15
Ideal start
August 29
Ideal end
September 19
Latest
October 3
Soil-temp trigger
Most cold-tolerant cereal — germinates at 38°F. Plant 4-6 weeks before first hard freeze for maximum fall establishment.Harvest window
Typical start
April 26
Typical end
May 26
Harvest timing varies with planting date and seasonal weather — these dates are typical for the ideal planting window.
Growing notes
Winter Rye grows well in Alaska's typical climate. Alaska's 105-day growing season and 4a hardiness zone support reliable production with appropriate variety selection.
Winter Rye is widely grown in Alaska — commercially significant or common in home gardens and food plots.
Agronomy reference
Winter Rye fundamentals.
Soil-temp minimum
38°F
Soil-temp optimum
45–75°F
Days to maturity
240–270
Water (in/wk)
0.5–1"
Soil pH
5.5–7.5
Nitrogen demand
moderate
Most cold-hardy cereal crop — germinates at 38°F and survives -30°F winter temps. Fall planting is mandatory for winter rye.
Common pests to watch
- Hessian fly
- Aphids
Pest pressure varies by region and year. Confirm current outbreaks with University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service.
Common diseases
- Ergot
- Stripe rust
- Stem rust
Resistance varieties shift each year. Check the current variety trial report for your state.
Variety selection
Winter Rye varieties for Alaska live with your extension.
Variety selection
Variety performance is micro-regional and changes with each year's trial cycle. We don't republish variety lists — instead, we point directly at the source.
University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service →Search the extension site for “winter rye variety trial” or “recommended winter rye varieties” to find the current report.
Yield varies significantly by variety, soil, fertility, and management. Consult your state extension service for variety performance trials in your region.
Winter Rye timing. Live alerts.
Bield Farm ties weather and soil-temperature stations in your county to crop planting thresholds — get notified the day soil temp clears your target window.
Start free trial →