Fall in zone 5aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 04430 (East Millinocket, 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, Millinocket Wastewater, ME (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1750% 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)133 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5a-20 to -15°F avg. coldest night
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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 (50 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 (50 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 04430 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) | May 1 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 17 |
| 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 17 |
| 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 29 | Sep 20 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 17 | Sep 29 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 5 | Oct 9 |
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 04430
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 17) 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 22–Apr 5 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 8–22 | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 8–22 | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Apr 26–May 17 (transplant) Apr 19–May 31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–25 (transplant) Jul 21–Aug 18 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–25 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–Aug 4 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 21 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Apr 19–May 17 (transplant) Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–Aug 4 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 21 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 8–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Jun 23–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 8–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Jun 23–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 23–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Jun 9–30 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 19–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 5–19 | May 3–24 (transplant) May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 26–May 24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 12–May 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 19–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 26–May 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 18–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Jun 9–23 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 31–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 19–26 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 19–26 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 19–26 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 19–26 | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) May 31–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 19–26 | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) May 31–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 5–19 | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) May 31–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 22–Mar 8 | May 24–31 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 5–19 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) Apr 26–May 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 19–May 3 (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: Millinocket Wastewater, ME (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00175305), elevation 360 ft, 3.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millinocket Muni AP, ME | 5 mi | May 8 | Oct 1 |
| Millinocket, ME | 5 mi | May 9 | Oct 5 |
| Lincoln Sanitary District/wtp, ME | 20 mi | May 4 | Oct 6 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 13 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 04430
When is the last frost in 04430?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 04430 is May 17. 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 04430?
The average first fall freeze is September 29. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 17.
What hardiness zone is 04430?
ZIP 04430 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 04430 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
04460 04733 04459 Mattawamkeag 04777 04457 Lincoln 04495 04776 04451
Other ZIP codes in Penobscot County
04401 04410 04411 04412 04417 04418 04419 04422 04427 04428 04434 04435 04444 04448 04449 04450 04453 04455 04456 04457 04460 04461 04468 04469 All Penobscot County frost dates · Maine frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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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.