Frost dates for Orono, 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 1
typical year
Safe to plant
May 14
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
October 6
typical year
Growing season
157 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 3 – 17 | – |
| Spinach | – | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | Aug 11 – 25 |
| Lettuce | – | Apr 3 – 24 | Aug 11 – 25 |
| Radishes | – | Apr 3 – May 15 | Aug 25 – Sep 8 |
| Onions | – | Apr 3 – 17 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Apr 10 – 24 | – |
| Carrots | – | Apr 10 – May 1 | Jul 14 – 28 |
| Beets | – | Apr 3 – 17 | Jul 28 – Aug 11 |
| Kale | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Apr 3 – 17 | Jul 28 – Aug 11 |
| Broccoli | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 | Jul 28 – Aug 11 |
| Cabbage | Feb 6 – 20 | Apr 3 – 17 | Jul 28 – Aug 11 |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 25 – Sep 15 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 14 – 28 | – |
| Peppers | Mar 12 – 26 | May 21 – Jun 4 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | May 14 – Jun 4 | – |
| Zucchini | – | May 14 – Jun 11 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | May 14 – Jun 4 | – |
| Green beans | – | May 14 – Jul 28 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 14 – Jun 11 | – |
| Basil | Apr 9 – 23 | May 21 – 28 | – |
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 14 | May 1 | April 22 |
| Fall frost before | September 24 | October 6 | October 22 |
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 20 (May 1 in a late year), and the first one in fall around October 20.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station ORONO, ME US (USC00176430), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 6 zip codes, all within 24 miles:
04408, 04411, 04428, 04469, 04473, 04489
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.