Ezina · A Field Manual for Plant Care · United States Vol. I · Ed. 2027 · Proof copy

§ When to plant · Maine · Checked Sept 2026

When to plant vegetables in Maine

In Portland, tender crops like tomatoes and peppers can go out around May 8, and frost has historically passed 9 years in 10 by May 20. Cool-season crops go in from April, and again from July for fall.

Get a lifelong price reduction if you join Early Access. iPhone and Android, in the contiguous U.S.

§ 010 · Frost dates

Frost dates across Maine

Based on NOAA's 1991–2020 station records, with adjustments for tender crops.

City · NOAA stationLast frost, on averagePlant tender crops fromFrost is over, 9 of 10 years byFall frost possible from
AuburnLEWISTON · 3 kmApr 25May 7May 7May 18Oct 5
AugustaAUGUSTA STATE AIRPORT · 5 kmApr 27May 9May 9May 20Oct 2
BangorBANGOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT · 4 kmMay 4May 18May 18May 31Sep 23
BathBATH · 1 kmMay 10May 22May 22Jun 2Sep 25
BelfastBELFAST · 5 kmMay 7May 20May 20Jun 1Sep 24
BiddefordKENNEBUNKPORT · 11 kmMay 9May 21May 21Jun 2Sep 20
BrewerBANGOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT · 7 kmMay 4May 18May 18May 31Sep 23
CaribouCARIBOU MUNICIPAL AIRPORT · 7 kmMay 7May 23May 23Jun 7Sep 17
EllsworthE SURRY · 10 kmMay 8May 21May 21Jun 3Sep 27
GardinerGARDINER · 3 kmMay 1May 14May 14May 27Sep 30
LewistonLEWISTON · 4 kmApr 25May 7May 7May 18Oct 5
Old TownOLD TOWN 2 W · 4 kmMay 13May 27May 27Jun 9Sep 16
PortlandPORTLAND INTERNATIONAL JETPORT · 9 kmApr 26May 8May 8May 20Oct 2
Presque IslePRESQUE ISLE · 4 kmMay 14May 31May 31Jun 17Sep 10
RocklandW ROCKPORT 1 NNW · 8 kmApr 27May 10May 10May 22Oct 5
SacoPORTLAND INTERNATIONAL JETPORT · 17 kmApr 26May 8May 8May 20Oct 2
SanfordSANFORD 2 NNW · 4 kmMay 16May 27May 27Jun 6Sep 18
South PortlandPORTLAND INTERNATIONAL JETPORT · 2 kmApr 26May 8May 8May 20Oct 2
WatervilleWATERVILLE TRTMT PLT · 2 kmMay 2May 15May 15May 27Sep 30
WestbrookPORTLAND INTERNATIONAL JETPORT · 8 kmApr 26May 8May 8May 20Oct 2

Maine's 20 largest cities (U.S. Census Bureau 2025 estimates), A to Z, each with its nearest NOAA station and the distance to it. Search any town to get its nearest station. "Plant tender crops from" is halfway between the average last frost and the date frost is over 9 years in 10; if frost is in the forecast after it, wait until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.

§ 020 · What to plant

What to plant in Maine, and when

Planting windows from Maine's Cooperative Extension Service. Filter by season or crop group; every view has its own link.

Season
Crops
  • Dark green: fall planting window
  • Light green: spring and summer planting window
  • TenderKilled by frost: spring planting from the "plant tender crops from" date for your city

§ 030 · Crop by crop

Planting in Maine

Each crop has its own link, like #tomatoes. Tender crops wait for the frost dates above; succession crops are sown again every few weeks for a steady harvest.

  • Dark green: fall planting window
  • Light green: spring and summer planting window

Asparagus

Asparagus officinalis

Perennial
Asparagus
Photo by Evelyn Simak / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Plant April to May.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

Beets

Beta vulgaris

Cool seasonSuccession sow
Beets
Photo by W.carter / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Plant April to August.

Ready in about 58 days; sow again every 6 weeks.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

Broccoli

Brassica oleracea

Cool season
Broccoli
Photo by Kolforn / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Plant May to August.

Ready in about 95 days from seed, 65 from transplants.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

Cabbage

Brassica oleracea

Cool season
Cabbage
Photo by Biswarup Ganguly / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Plant May to August.

Ready in about 110 days from seed, 80 from transplants.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

Carrots

Daucus carota

Cool seasonSuccession sow
Carrots
Photo by Evan-Amos / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

Plant May to July.

Ready in about 70 days; sow again every 7 weeks.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

Cucumbers

Cucumis sativus

TenderSuccession sow
Cucumbers
Photo by Stephen Ausmus, USDA ARS / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

Plant June to July.

Ready in about 58 days from seed, 50 from transplants; sow again every 7 weeks. Tender: in spring, from about May 8 in Portland. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

Eggplant

Solanum melongena

Tender
Eggplant
Photo by Billjones94 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Plant June.

Ready in about 75 days from transplants. Tender: in spring, from about May 8 in Portland. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

Green beans

Phaseolus vulgaris

TenderSuccession sow
Green beans
Photo by Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Plant May to June, and again May to July.

Ready in about 65 days; sow again every 5 weeks. Tender: in spring, from about May 8 in Portland. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

Onions

Allium cepa

Cool season
Onions
Photo by Stephen Ausmus, USDA ARS / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

Plant April to May.

Ready in about 110 days from seed, 95 from transplants.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

Parsnips

Pastinaca sativa

Cool season
Parsnips
Photo by Jeffery Martin / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons

Plant May.

Ready in about 120 days.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

Peas

Pisum sativum

Cool seasonSuccession sow
Peas
Photo by David Adam Kess / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Plant April to July.

Ready in about 65 days; sow again every 5 weeks.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

Peppers

Capsicum annuum

Tender
Peppers
Photo by Kham Tran - www.khamtran.com / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Plant May to June.

Ready in about 70 days from transplants. Tender: in spring, from about May 8 in Portland. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

Potatoes

Solanum tuberosum

Cool season
Potatoes
Photo by Howard, R.A / Public domain / Smithsonian Institution, Richard A. Howard Photograph Collection / via USDA PLANTS

Plant May to June.

Ready in about 100 days.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

Pumpkins

Cucurbita pepo

Tender
Pumpkins
Photo by HalfGig / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Plant May to June.

Ready in about 110 days from seed, 95 from transplants. Tender: in spring, from about May 8 in Portland. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

Spinach

Spinacia oleracea

Cool seasonSuccession sow
Spinach
Photo by Victor M. Vicente Selvas / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

Plant April to May, and again July to August.

Ready in about 42 days; sow again every 5 weeks.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

Summer squash

Cucurbita pepo

TenderSuccession sow
Summer squash
Photo by INRA DIST from France / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Plant May to July.

Ready in about 50 days from seed, 40 from transplants; sow again every 7 weeks. Tender: in spring, from about May 8 in Portland. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

Sweet corn

Zea mays

TenderSuccession sow
Sweet corn
Photo by Royalbroil / CC BY-SA 2.5 / Wikimedia Commons

Plant May to July.

Ready in about 78 days; sow again every 6 weeks. Tender: in spring, from about May 8 in Portland. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

Tomatoes

Solanum lycopersicum

Tender
Tomatoes
Photo by Michal Klajban / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Plant May to June.

Ready in about 75 days from transplants. Tender: in spring, from about May 8 in Portland. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

Turnips

Brassica rapa

Cool seasonSuccession sow
Turnips
Photo by thebittenword.com / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Plant May to August.

Ready in about 50 days; sow again every 5 weeks.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

Winter squash

Cucurbita moschata

Tender
Winter squash
Photo by Howard, R.A / Public domain / Smithsonian Institution, Richard A. Howard Photograph Collection / via USDA PLANTS

Plant May to June.

Ready in about 95 days from seed, 80 from transplants. Tender: in spring, from about May 8 in Portland. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard), Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.

§ 040 · Questions

Questions about planting in Maine

When is the last frost in Maine?

On average from about April 25 in Auburn to May 16 in Sanford. Frost is over 9 years in 10 by May 18 to June 17.

When can I plant tomatoes in Maine?

The extension service lists May to June. Tomatoes are frost-tender, so Ezina dates them from about May 8 in Portland. If frost is in the forecast, wait until it passes.

Is it too late for a fall garden?

The latest fall windows on the calendar close in August. Filter by Fall above to see what is still open.

Why not use my USDA zone?

A zone is the coldest winter night, not a frost date. These dates come from NOAA station records and the extension service.

Can Ezina date plantings for my address?

Yes. Run Ezina Dig on your address and your bed plans are dated from that site's own frost records, on iPhone and Android in the contiguous U.S.

Changes

29 Sept 2026: page published.

Sources

University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard): Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden.

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station freeze probabilities. U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates and 2020 place gazetteer. Days to harvest and re-sowing intervals: Ezina's crop catalog, compiled from state Cooperative Extension guides. Photos: Wikimedia Commons and USDA PLANTS, credited under each photo. Checked Sept 2026.