When to Plant Catnip in Fairbanks, Alaska (99708)

Location

Fairbanks, Alaska

ZIP Code

99708

USDA Zone

Last Frost

Monday, June 1, 2026

📅 Your 2026 Planting Dates

Start Seeds Indoors

Monday, April 6, 2026

Transplant Outdoors

Monday, June 15, 2026

Based on last frost Monday, June 1, 2026 · Zone 2a

Pro tip: Start Catnip seeds indoors 8 weeks before your last frost date, then transplant outdoors around Monday, June 15, 2026.

Add to Calendar (.ics)

🌿 Plant Details

Scientific Name Nepeta cataria

Days to Maturity 90 days

Mature Height 18-36"

Spread 18"

☀️ Growing Requirements

☀️

Sun

Full Sun to Partial Shade

💧

Water

Low (less than 1 inch/week)

↔️

Spacing

18" apart

🌱

Planting Depth

0.125" deep

Seeds typically germinate in 7-14 days

Ready to Plant Catnip in Fairbanks?

Get your seeds now so they're ready by Monday, April 6, 2026.

🛒 Buy on Amazon 🌿 True Leaf Market

* Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

🤝 Good Companions

TomatoPepperSquashPumpkin

🤝

Full Companion Planting Guide for Catnip

See which plants help Catnip thrive, which to keep away, and raised bed layout tips →

🛠️ Supplies You'll Need

🌱 Seed Starting Trays 🪴 Seed Starting Mix 💡 Grow Lights 🌡️ Heat Mat 🪵 Raised Garden Bed 🌍 Vegetable Garden Soil 🛠️ Hand Trowel Set 🚿 Watering Can

* Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

🌾 Seed Saving Guide

🟢 Easy

✅ Open-pollinated — seeds grow true to parent

When to Harvest Seed

Let flower spikes dry completely on the plant. Seeds form in small nutlets inside dried calyxes.

Processing

Strip dried stems over a bowl, rub between fingers to release seeds, winnow lightly.

Seed Viability

Up to 3 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.

Pro Tip

Catnip self-sows freely and can become weedy — deadhead most plants to control spread.

🪴

Raised Bed Planting Guides

A 4×8 bed fits 14 plants of Catnip. See plant counts, spacing grids, and companion pairings for every bed size →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Catnip in Fairbanks, Alaska? +

In Fairbanks (Zone 2a), start Catnip seeds indoors around Monday, April 6, 2026 and transplant outdoors around Monday, June 15, 2026.

What is the last frost date for Fairbanks, Alaska? +

The average last spring frost date for Fairbanks, Alaska (ZIP 99708) is around Monday, June 1, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 2a.

How long does Catnip take to grow? +

Catnip typically matures in about 90 days from transplanting. In Fairbanks, that means you can expect harvest around Monday, June 15, 2026 plus 90 days.

Should I start Catnip indoors or direct sow in Alaska? +

Catnip should be started indoors 8 weeks before your last frost date. In Fairbanks, that means starting around Monday, April 6, 2026.

📚 More Catnip Planting Guides

🗺️

Catnip in Alaska

Zone-by-zone breakdown · Full state guide

→ 🌡️

Zone 2a Catnip Guide

All cities in your zone · Avg dates

→

Other Plants for Fairbanks

Blackberry Blueberry Raspberry Strawberry Basil Chamomile Chives Cilantro Dill Lavender Lemon Balm Marjoram Mint Oregano Parsley Rosemary Sage Tarragon Thyme Acorn Squash Artichoke Arugula Asparagus Beefsteak Tomato Beet Bell Pepper Bok Choy Broccoli Brussels Sprout Butternut Squash Cabbage Cantaloupe Carrot Cauliflower Cayenne Pepper Celery Cherry Tomato Chili Pepper Collard Green Common Bean Cucumber Eggplant Endive Fennel Garlic Grape Tomato Green Bean Habanero Pepper Head Lettuce Heirloom Tomato Honeydew Melon Jalapeño Pepper Kale Kohlrabi Leaf Lettuce Leek Lima Bean Mustard Okra Onion Parsnip Pea Poblano Pepper Pole Pea Potato Pumpkin Radicchio Radish Rhubarb Roma Tomato Rutabaga Serrano Pepper Shallot Snap Pea Snow Pea Spaghetti Squash Spinach Squash Sweet Corn Sweet Potato Swiss Chard Tomato Turnip Watermelon Zucchini Sunflower Marigold Zinnia Nasturtium Cosmos Echinacea (Coneflower) Petunia Black-eyed Susan Apple Tree Pear Tree Peach Tree Plum Tree Sweet Cherry Tree Lemon Tree Borage Lemongrass Ginger Stevia Tomatillo Edamame Fava Bean Mâche Mizuna Sorrel Shishito Pepper Banana Pepper Watermelon Radish Napa Cabbage Popcorn Broccoli Raab Valerian Lemon Verbena Bee Balm Anise Lovage Chervil Summer Savory Dahlia Snapdragon Pansy Sweet Pea Morning Glory Hollyhock Larkspur Bachelor Button Columbine Impatiens Salvia (Annual) Sweet Alyssum Celosia Lupine Verbena Elderberry Grape Vine Red Currant Gooseberry Serviceberry Fig Tree Avocado Tree Persimmon Tree Olive Tree

Growing Catnip in Zone 2a

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a popular garden vegetable. In Fairbanks, Alaska, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 2a, you should start seeds indoors around Monday, April 6, 2026.

Your average last frost date is Monday, June 1, 2026. Plan to transplant your Catnip seedlings outdoors around Monday, June 15, 2026, about 2 weeks after your last frost date.