Frost dates for Lincoln Sanitary District/Wtp, ME
When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.
Last spring frost
May 4
typical year
Safe to plant
May 16
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
October 6
typical year
Growing season
153 days
frost-free, typical year
Frost watch this week
Tonight's and the next six nights' lows from the National Weather Service forecast for the station's location. Frost: 32°F or colder. Possible frost: 33–36°F, mostly in low spots on clear, still nights.
When to plant
Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-season crops | |||
| Peas | – | Apr 6 – 20 | – |
| Spinach | – | Mar 23 – Apr 13 | Aug 11 – 25 |
| Lettuce | – | Apr 6 – 27 | Aug 11 – 25 |
| Radishes | – | Apr 6 – May 18 | Aug 25 – Sep 8 |
| Onions | – | Apr 6 – 20 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Apr 13 – 27 | – |
| Carrots | – | Apr 13 – May 4 | Jul 14 – 28 |
| Beets | – | Apr 6 – 20 | Jul 28 – Aug 11 |
| Kale | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 6 – 20 | Jul 28 – Aug 11 |
| Broccoli | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 | Jul 28 – Aug 11 |
| Cabbage | Feb 9 – 23 | Apr 6 – 20 | Jul 28 – Aug 11 |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 25 – Sep 15 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | May 16 – 30 | – |
| Peppers | Mar 14 – 28 | May 23 – Jun 6 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | May 16 – Jun 6 | – |
| Zucchini | – | May 16 – Jun 13 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | May 16 – Jun 6 | – |
| Green beans | – | May 16 – Jul 28 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 16 – Jun 13 | – |
| Basil | Apr 11 – 25 | May 23 – 30 | – |
Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.
The year at a glance
Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting
The chance of frost, by date
| 1 year in 10 | Half of years | 9 years in 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring frost after | May 16 | May 4 | April 25 |
| Fall frost before | September 24 | October 6 | October 20 |
Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.
Hard freeze (28°F)
A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around April 24 (May 4 in a late year), and the first one in fall around October 18.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station LINCOLN SANITARY DISTRICT/WTP, ME US (USC00174683), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 9 zip codes, all within 19 miles:
04417, 04448, 04453, 04455, 04457, 04475, 04487, 04493, 04495
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.