Fall in zone 5bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 04431 (Hancock 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, E Surry, ME (11 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)152 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5b-15 to -10°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 04431, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 44°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Old Town 2 W (25 mi).
4-inch depth
50°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 50°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Old Town 2 W (25 mi).
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 04431 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 50°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically 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) | Apr 27 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 8 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 23 |
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 27 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 9 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 24 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 21 | Sep 28 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 8 | Oct 9 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 27 | Oct 21 |
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 04431
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 8) and first fall frost (Oct 9). 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 13–27 | May 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 27–Mar 13 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 27–Mar 13 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 13–27 | May 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 13–27 | Apr 17–May 8 (transplant) Apr 10–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–Sep 4 (transplant) Jul 31–Aug 28 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 27–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) Jul 3–31 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 13–27 | Apr 10–May 8 (transplant) Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) Jul 3–31 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 10 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 10–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 27–Apr 10 | Apr 24–May 15 (transplant) Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 17–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 3–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 10–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 17–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 13–27 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 27–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 28–Sep 25 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 3 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 29–Jun 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 10–17 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 10–17 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 10–17 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 10–17 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 10–17 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 27–Apr 10 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 13–27 | May 15–22 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 27–Apr 10 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 17–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 28 (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: E Surry, ME (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00172443), elevation 105 ft, 11.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: E (estimated from nearby stations).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor Intl AP, ME | 18 mi | May 4 | Oct 4 |
| Belfast, ME | 20 mi | May 7 | Oct 5 |
| Orono, ME | 23 mi | May 1 | Oct 6 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 7 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 04431
When is the last frost in 04431?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 04431 is May 8. For a more cautious planting date, use May 23, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 04431?
The average first fall freeze is October 9. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 27.
What hardiness zone is 04431?
ZIP 04431 is in USDA zone 5b (-15 to -10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 04431 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
04472 04416 Bucksport 04476 04981 04474 04684 04429 04421 Castine
Other ZIP codes in Hancock County
04408 04416 04421 04429 04472 04476 04605 04607 04609 04612 04613 04614 04616 04617 04624 04625 04627 04634 04635 04640 04642 04646 04650 04653 All Hancock County frost dates · Maine frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.