Fall in zone 5aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 04943 (Hartland, 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, Harmony, ME (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)141 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 (40 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 (40 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 04943 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 30 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 11 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 25 |
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 18 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 1 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 13 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 24 | Sep 20 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 11 | Oct 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 30 | Oct 11 |
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 04943
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 11) and first fall frost (Oct 1). 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 6–27 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 30–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 16–30 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 16–30 | Apr 13–May 11 (transplant) Apr 13–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 2–16 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 2–16 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 2–16 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jun 11–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 16–30 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 13–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 13–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Apr 27–May 18 (transplant) Apr 27–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 13–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 20–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 6–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 13–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 20–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 16–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 30–Apr 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jun 11–25 (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 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 2–16 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) Apr 20–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (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 23–Aug 20 (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: Harmony, ME (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00173567), elevation 320 ft, 4.8 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%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corinna, ME | 14 mi | May 8 | Oct 3 |
| Madison, ME | 19 mi | May 8 | Oct 5 |
| E Sangerville, ME | 21 mi | May 6 | Oct 7 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 5 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 04943
When is the last frost in 04943?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 04943 is May 11. For a more cautious planting date, use May 25, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 04943?
The average first fall freeze is October 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 18.
What hardiness zone is 04943?
ZIP 04943 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 04943 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
04924 04971 04965 04967 Pittsfield 04912 04976 Skowhegan 04942 04923
Other ZIP codes in Somerset County
04478 04911 04912 04920 04923 04924 04925 04929 04937 04942 04944 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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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.