Fall in zone 5aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 04944 (Somerset 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, Waterville Trtmt Plt, ME (11 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 1050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)159 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5a-20 to -15°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 04944, 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 (49 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 (49 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 04944 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 23 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 2 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 14 |
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 30 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 10 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 27 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 14 | Oct 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 2 | Oct 10 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 22 | Oct 24 |
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 04944
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 10). 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 7–21 | May 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 21–Mar 7 | May 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 21–Mar 7 | May 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 7–21 | May 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 7–21 | Apr 11–May 2 (transplant) Apr 4–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–Sep 5 (transplant) Aug 1–29 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 21–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 7–21 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 15 (transplant) Jul 4–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 7–21 | Apr 4–May 2 (transplant) Apr 4–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 15 (transplant) Jul 4–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 4–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 4–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jul 4–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 7–21 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jun 20–Jul 11 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 7–21 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 4–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 21–Apr 4 | Apr 18–May 9 (transplant) Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 4–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 28–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 11–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 7–21 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 7–21 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 29–Sep 26 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jun 20–Jul 4 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 23–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 4–11 | May 9–23 (transplant) May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 4–11 | May 9–23 (transplant) May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 4–11 | May 9–23 (transplant) May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 4–11 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 4–11 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 21–Apr 4 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 7–21 | May 9–16 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 21–Apr 4 | May 9–23 (transplant) May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 11–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 1–29 (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: Waterville Trtmt Plt, ME (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00179151), elevation 73 ft, 11.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, ME | 14 mi | May 8 | Oct 5 |
| New Sharon, ME | 18 mi | May 7 | Oct 2 |
| Harmony, ME | 19 mi | May 11 | Oct 1 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 9 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 04944
When is the last frost in 04944?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 04944 is May 2. For a more cautious planting date, use May 14, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 04944?
The average first fall freeze is October 10. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 30.
What hardiness zone is 04944?
ZIP 04944 is in USDA zone 5a (-20 to -15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 04944 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
04937 Fairfield 04975 04927 Clinton 04976 Skowhegan 04924 04978 04901 Waterville 04957 Norridgewock
Other ZIP codes in Somerset County
04478 04911 04912 04920 04923 04924 04925 04929 04937 04942 04943 04945 04950 04957 04958 04961 04965 04967 04971 04975 04976 04978 04979 04985 All Somerset 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.