Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 04006 (Biddeford, 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, Kennebunkport, ME (9 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)146 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 04006 (Biddeford)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 04006, 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
52°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 48°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Durham 2 N (35 mi), Durham 2 SSW (38 mi).
4-inch depth
53°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 Durham 2 N (35 mi), Durham 2 SSW (38 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 04006 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 53°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 28 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 9 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 22 |
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 20 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 3 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 19 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 20 | Sep 24 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 9 | Oct 3 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 29 | Oct 15 |
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 04006
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 9) and first fall frost (Oct 3). 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 14–28 | May 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 28–Mar 14 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 28–Mar 14 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 14–28 | May 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 14–28 | Apr 18–May 9 (transplant) Apr 11–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–29 (transplant) Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 28–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–29 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) Jun 27–Jul 25 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 14–28 | Apr 11–May 9 (transplant) Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) Jun 27–Jul 25 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 25 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 25 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 25 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 13–Jul 4 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 11–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 28–Apr 11 | Apr 25–May 16 (transplant) Apr 25–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–25 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 4–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 11–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 18–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–25 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 14–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 13–27 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 30–Jun 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 11–18 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 11–18 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 11–18 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 11–18 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 11–18 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 28–Apr 11 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 14–28 | May 16–23 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 28–Apr 11 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 25–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 18–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (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: Kennebunkport, ME (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00174193), elevation 20 ft, 8.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland Intl Jetport, ME | 14 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 15 |
| Cape Neddick, ME | 21 mi | May 1 | Oct 14 |
| West Buxton 2 NNW, ME | 22 mi | May 7 | Oct 4 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 14 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 04006
When is the last frost in 04006?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 04006 is May 9. For a more cautious planting date, use May 22, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 04006?
The average first fall freeze is October 3. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 20.
What hardiness zone is 04006?
ZIP 04006 is in USDA zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 04006 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
04063 Old Orchard Beach 04064 Old Orchard Beach 04046 Kennebunkport 04005 Biddeford 04072 Saco 04074 Oak Hill 04107 04043 Kennebunk
Other ZIP codes in York County
03901 03902 03903 03904 03905 03906 03907 03908 03909 03910 03911 04001 04002 04005 04020 04027 04030 04042 04043 04046 04047 04048 04049 04056 All York 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.