Frost dates for Gardiner, ME
At Gardiner, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 1 and the median first fall frost is Oct 11, for a typical growing season of 163 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 14. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5b.
- May 1Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 14Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 11First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 163 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 1 | May 14 | May 27 |
| 32°F | Apr 20 | May 1 | May 14 |
| 28°F | Apr 8 | Apr 19 | Apr 30 |
| 24°F | Mar 31 | Apr 8 | Apr 20 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 21 | Oct 1 | Oct 13 |
| 32°F | Sep 30 | Oct 11 | Oct 28 |
| 28°F | Oct 11 | Oct 25 | Nov 8 |
| 24°F | Oct 23 | Nov 6 | Nov 20 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 123 days | 141 days | 157 days |
| 32°F | 144 days | 163 days | 182 days |
| 28°F | 171 days | 189 days | 207 days |
| 24°F | 194 days | 212 days | 228 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04345 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 3 km |
| 04346 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 4 km |
| 04359 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 5 km |
| 04344 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 5 km |
| 04357 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 12 km |
| 04350 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 13 km |
| 04353 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 14 km |
| 04259 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 18 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00173046, at 44.2203, -69.7889, elevation 40 m (133 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 25 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 161.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Augusta State Airport (11 km)
- Newcastle (28 km)
- Wiscasset Airport (29 km)
- Bath (33 km)
- Durham (35 km)
- Waterville Trtmt Plant (36 km)
- Lewiston (37 km)
- Brunswick NAS (37 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.