When to plant in Maine
Most of Maine sees its last spring frost between Apr 27 and May 16, and its first fall frost between Sep 27 and Oct 21. The middle of the state is around May 6 and October 6: that's what the dates below use.
Hardiness zones in Maine: 4a (5%), 4b (6%), 5a (32%), 5b (31%), 6a (23%), 6b (2%).
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest | Plant for fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 1 | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 29 – Oct 6 | — |
| Pepper | Mar 18 | May 20 – Jun 3 | Aug 3 – Oct 6 | — |
| Cucumber | — | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 14 – Sep 1 | — |
| Zucchini / Summer squash | — | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 9 – Sep 17 | — |
| Winter squash | — | May 20 – Jun 3 | Aug 23 – Sep 27 | — |
| Green beans (bush) | — | May 18 – Jun 1 | Jul 12 – Aug 23 | — |
| Peas | — | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | May 24 – Jun 28 | Jul 17 – Jul 31 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 18 – Jun 1 | Aug 1 – Aug 29 | — |
| Lettuce | — | Apr 8 – Apr 22 | May 23 – Jul 4 | Aug 8 – Aug 22 |
| Spinach | — | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | May 4 – Jun 15 | Aug 27 – Sep 10 |
| Kale | Feb 25 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 | Jun 2 – Aug 25 | Aug 26 – Sep 9 |
| Broccoli | Mar 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jun 14 – Jul 19 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| Cabbage | Feb 25 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 | Jun 17 – Jul 22 | Jul 28 – Aug 11 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jun 24 – Aug 5 | Jul 28 – Aug 11 |
| Beet | — | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jun 9 – Jul 21 | Aug 5 – Aug 19 |
| Radish | — | Apr 1 – Apr 15 | Apr 26 – May 24 | Aug 28 – Sep 11 |
| Onion (sets) | — | Apr 1 – Apr 15 | Jul 10 – Aug 14 | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 29 – Oct 20 (fall) | Jul 1 – Jul 22 next year | — |
| Potato | — | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jul 14 – Aug 18 | — |
| Sweet potato | Apr 15 | May 27 – Jun 10 | Sep 4 – Oct 2 | — |
| Watermelon | — | May 27 – Jun 10 | Aug 20 – Sep 24 | — |
| Basil | Apr 8 | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jun 19 – Sep 25 | — |
| Strawberry (June-bearing) | — | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jun 3 – Jul 1 (once established) | — |
| Sunflower | — | May 18 – Jun 1 | Aug 6 – Sep 10 | — |
Dates for a typical spot in Maine. Colder and higher places plant later, warmer ones earlier: enter your ZIP code for yours, or see the calendar for your zone.
Frost dates around Maine
| Place | Zone | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | 6a | Apr 30 | Oct 15 |
| Augusta | 5b | Apr 27 | Oct 16 |
| Auburn | 5b | May 1 | Oct 10 |
| Freeport | 6a | May 6 | Oct 3 |
| Lewiston | 5b | May 1 | Oct 10 |
| Bangor | 5a | May 17 | Oct 4 |
| Biddeford | 5b | May 9 | Oct 3 |
| Castine | 5b | May 7 | Oct 5 |
| Orono | 5a | May 13 | Oct 6 |
| Scarborough | 6a | Apr 26 | Oct 15 |
Average dates from the nearest NOAA weather stations (1991–2020). Click a place for its full planting calendar.