Fall in zone 5bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 04284 (Kennebec 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, Livermore Falls 1 E, ME (11 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)138 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5b-15 to -10°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 04284
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 04284, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.
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
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 04284 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) | Apr 29 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 11 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 24 |
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 16 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 29 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 11 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 23 | Sep 19 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 11 | Sep 29 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 30 | Oct 8 |
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 04284
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 11) and first fall frost (Sep 29). 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 16–30 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 2–16 | May 25–Jun 8 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 2–16 | May 25–Jun 8 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 16–30 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 16–30 | Apr 20–May 11 (transplant) Apr 13–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–25 (transplant) Jul 21–Aug 18 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 30–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–25 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 16–30 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–Aug 4 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 21 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 16–30 | Apr 13–May 11 (transplant) Apr 13–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–Aug 4 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 21 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 2–16 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jun 23–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 2–16 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jun 23–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 2–16 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jun 23–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jun 9–30 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 16–30 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 13–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 13–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Apr 27–May 18 (transplant) Apr 27–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 13–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 20–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 6–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 13–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 20–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 16–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 30–Apr 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 18–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jun 9–23 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 25–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 13–20 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 13–20 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 13–20 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 13–20 | May 25–Jun 8 (transplant) May 25–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 13–20 | May 25–Jun 8 (transplant) May 25–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 30–Apr 13 | May 25–Jun 8 (transplant) May 25–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 16–Mar 2 | May 18–25 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 30–Apr 13 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 27–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 2–16 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) Apr 20–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 18 (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: Livermore Falls 1 E, ME (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00174745), elevation 380 ft, 10.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turner, ME | 11 mi | May 1 | Oct 10 |
| Augusta State AP, ME | 12 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 16 |
| Hartford, ME | 13 mi | May 6 | Oct 3 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 15 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 04284
When is the last frost in 04284?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 04284 is May 11. For a more cautious planting date, use May 24, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 04284?
The average first fall freeze is September 29. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 16.
What hardiness zone is 04284?
ZIP 04284 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 04284 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
04265 04364 Winthrop 04263 04355 04349 04259 04254 Livermore Falls 04351
Other ZIP codes in Kennebec County
04259 04265 04330 04344 04345 04346 04347 04349 04350 04351 04352 04355 04358 04359 04360 04363 04364 04901 04910 04917 04918 04926 04927 04963 All Kennebec County frost dates · Maine frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.