Frost dates for Ft Kent, ME
NOAA weather station USC00172878 at 610 ft elevation. Based on 30 years within 1991-2020. Last verified 2026-10-17.
Last spring freeze (32°F)
May 23
median: freeze still happened after this date in half of years
May 29 30% risk · Jun 6 10% risk
First fall freeze (32°F)
Sep 24
median: a freeze had happened by this date in half of years
Sep 11 10% chance of a freeze earlier than this
Freeze-free season
121 days
median length between last spring and first fall 32°F freeze
How to read these dates
Spring: a "10% risk" date means NOAA's 1991-2020 data put the chance of a 32°F or colder night after that date at 10%. The "30% risk" date is the convention used by some popular frost calculators (the Old Farmer's Almanac says it uses a 30% probability threshold, source). Fall: a "10%" date means a 10% chance the first freeze comes before it. Source: NOAA readme.
Full table for this station
| Threshold | Spring: latest-freeze date at risk of 10% / 30% / 50% | Fall: first-freeze date at chance of 10% / 50% |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (frost possible) | Jun 17 / Jun 10 / Jun 4 | Aug 31 / Sep 13 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jun 6 / May 29 / May 23 | Sep 11 / Sep 24 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 23 / May 13 / May 9 | Sep 21 / Oct 3 |
Also at 32°F, last-freeze 70% date May 16 and 90% date May 8 (frost still likely after these early dates). Data quality: Standard: 24+ years of qualifying data. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USC00172878, read 2026-10-17.
Is Memorial Day safe here?
Many New England gardeners wait for Memorial Day (it falls between May 25 and May 31). At this station, NOAA's chance of a 32°F or colder night after May 25 is 30-50%, and after May 31 is 10-30%. Your own spot may differ. See all stations.
UMaine Extension gives central-Maine planting dates and says to plant 10-14 days earlier on the coast and 10-14 days later in northern Maine (read 2026-10-17).
Your planting schedule
Pick how cautious you want to be. The dates apply UNH Extension's per-crop rules (UNH fact sheet, read 2026-10-17) to this station's last-freeze date. UNH's sheet does not say which probability its "last frost" means, so you choose. These are planning dates, not instructions; follow your seed packet and the weather.
Showing the schedule for the 2027 season (dates repeat yearly). Table below defaults to Typical; it updates when you choose.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Outdoors | UNH Extension rule used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spinach | Mar 6 – Apr 10 | Set out Apr 17 – May 8 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 3-6 wk before last frost. |
| Broccoli | Mar 20 – Apr 17 | Set out May 1 – May 15 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Brussels sprout | Mar 20 – Apr 17 | Set out May 1 – May 15 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Cabbage | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | Set out May 1 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Kale | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | Set out May 1 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | Set out May 1 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Leek | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Set out May 1 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Lettuce | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | Set out May 1 – May 8 | Start 4-5 wk before set-out; set out 3-4 wk before last frost. |
| Onion | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Set out May 1 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Radish | — | Sow May 1 – May 15 | Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Turnip | — | Sow May 1 – May 15 | Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Parsley | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Set out May 8 – May 15 | Start 9-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk before last frost. |
| Cauliflower | Apr 3 – Apr 17 | Set out May 15 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk before last frost. |
| Potato | — | Sow May 15 – May 22 | Plant seed potatoes 1-2 wk before last frost. |
| Swiss chard | Apr 3 – Apr 17 | Set out May 15; or sow May 1 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk before last frost; or sow seed 4 wk before last frost. |
| Bean | — | Sow on/after May 29 | Sow seed in garden after last frost. |
| Celery | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | Set out on/after May 29 | Start 10-12 wk before set-out; set out after last frost. |
| Parsnip | — | Sow on/after May 29 | Sow seed in garden after last frost. |
| Cucumber | May 8 – May 22 | Set out Jun 5 – Jun 12 Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F | Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 1-2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F. |
| Sweet potato | — | Plant slips Jun 5 – Jun 12 | Plant slips (young plants) 1-2 wk after last frost. |
| Tomato | Apr 10 – May 1 | Set out Jun 5 – Jun 12 | Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 1-2 wk after last frost. |
| Basil | Apr 17 – May 1 | Set out Jun 12 | Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Eggplant | Apr 3 – Apr 24 | Set out Jun 12 – Jun 19 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk after last frost. |
| Melon | May 15 – May 22 | Set out Jun 12 | Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Pepper | Apr 3 – Apr 17 | Set out Jun 12 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Pumpkin | May 15 – May 22 | Set out Jun 12 Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F | Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F. |
| Summer squash | May 15 – May 22 | Set out Jun 12 Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F | Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F. |
| Winter squash | May 15 – May 22 | Set out Jun 12 Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F | Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F. |
| Zucchini | May 15 – May 22 | Set out Jun 12 Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F | Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F. |
| Rutabaga | — | Sow Jun 15 – Jul 15 | Sow seed in garden mid-June to mid-July (fixed dates, not tied to frost). |
| Beet | — | Sow when soil reaches 45°F (use a soil thermometer) | Sow seed in garden when soil warms to 45°F. |
| Carrot | — | Sow when soil reaches 60°F (use a soil thermometer) | Sow seed in garden when soil warms to 60°F. |
| Corn | — | Sow when soil reaches 60°F (use a soil thermometer) | Sow seed in garden when soil warms to 60°F. |
| Pea | — | Sow as soon as soil thaws | Sow seed in garden as soon as soil thaws. |
Fall: when the garden ends
At this station the median first 32°F freeze is Sep 24; there is a 10% chance of one before Sep 11. Tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) can be damaged at 33-36°F (Almanac.com notes some plants are damaged in that range); the 36°F first-frost date here is median Sep 13 and 10% date Aug 31. UNH Extension notes many fall vegetables tolerate mild frosts down to about 28°F (median first 28°F here: Oct 3), and that row covers can extend the season. UNH: Fall vegetable gardening, read 2026-10-17.
Your garden is not the weather station
This station sits at 610 ft. UNH Extension says first-freeze dates vary "even between relatively close locations, based on factors such as elevation" (source), and notes that gardeners who keep garden journals can use their own records. Gardeners on Reddit describe the same thing: elevation and cold spots change when they can plant (for example r/vermont). Treat these dates as a starting point.
Nearby stations
- Frenchville Aroostook AP, ME: 14 mi away, 988 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 6
- Van Buren 2, ME: 32 mi away, 456 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 23
- Caribou Muni AP, ME: 38 mi away, 624 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 7
- Limestone 4 NNW, ME: 39 mi away, 737 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 16
- Presque Isle, ME: 49 mi away, 599 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 14