Frost dates for ZIP 03579 (Oxford County, ME)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Middle Dam, ME (12 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)133 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone4b-25 to -20°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 03579 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-April to early May.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | May 5 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 19 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 31 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Sep 19 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 1 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 13 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 31 | Sep 19 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 19 | Oct 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 5 | Oct 11 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 03579
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 19) and first fall frost (Oct 1). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 24–Apr 7 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 10–24 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 10–24 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 24–Apr 7 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 24–Apr 7 | Apr 28–May 19 (transplant) Apr 21–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 24–Apr 7 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 24–Apr 7 | Apr 21–May 19 (transplant) Apr 21–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 10–24 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 10–24 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 10–24 | May 5–19 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | Jun 11–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 24–Apr 7 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 21–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 21–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 7–21 | May 5–26 (transplant) May 5–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 21–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 14–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 21–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 28–May 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 24–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 7–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | Jun 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 21–28 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 21–28 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 21–28 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 21–28 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 21–28 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 7–21 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 24–Mar 10 | May 26–Jun 2 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 7–21 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 5–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 10–24 | May 5–19 (transplant) Apr 28–May 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Middle Dam, ME (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00175261), elevation 1,460 ft, 12.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Errol AP, NH | 11 mi | May 21 | Sep 22 |
| First Connecticut Lake, NH | 16 mi | May 25 | Sep 24 |
| Rangeley 2 NW, ME | 19 mi | May 23 | Sep 24 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 6 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 03579
When is the last frost in 03579?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 03579 is May 19. For a more cautious planting date, use May 31, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 03579?
The average first fall freeze is October 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 19.
What hardiness zone is 03579?
ZIP 03579 is in USDA zone 4b (-25 to -20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 03579 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
04964 03592 03576 Colebrook 04216 03597 West Stewartstown 04970 Rangeley 05902 Beecher Falls 03588
Other ZIP codes in Oxford County
04010 04022 04037 04041 04051 04068 04088 04216 04217 04219 04220 04221 04224 04226 04227 04231 04237 04238 04255 04257 04261 04267 04268 04270 All Oxford County frost dates · Maine frost dates
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