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Frost dates for Millinocket Muni AP, ME

NOAA weather station USW00014610 at 406 ft elevation. Based on 24 years within 1991-2020. Last verified 2026-10-17.

Last spring freeze (32°F)

May 8

median: freeze still happened after this date in half of years

May 15 30% risk · May 24 10% risk

First fall freeze (32°F)

Oct 1

median: a freeze had happened by this date in half of years

Sep 19 10% chance of a freeze earlier than this

Freeze-free season

143 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

ThresholdSpring: latest-freeze date at risk of 10% / 30% / 50%Fall: first-freeze date at chance of 10% / 50%
36°F (frost possible)Jun 4 / May 28 / May 22Sep 9 / Sep 22
32°F (freeze)May 24 / May 15 / May 8Sep 19 / Oct 1
28°F (hard freeze)May 9 / May 2 / Apr 28Sep 30 / Oct 13

Also at 32°F, last-freeze 70% date May 3 and 90% date Apr 27 (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 USW00014610, 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 under 10%, and after May 31 is under 10%. 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.

Last-frost reference date

Showing the schedule for the 2027 season (dates repeat yearly). Table below defaults to Typical; it updates when you choose.

CropStart seeds indoorsOutdoorsUNH Extension rule used
SpinachFeb 20 – Mar 27Set out Apr 3 – Apr 24Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 3-6 wk before last frost.
BroccoliMar 6 – Apr 3Set out Apr 17 – May 1Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost.
Brussels sproutMar 6 – Apr 3Set out Apr 17 – May 1Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost.
CabbageMar 6 – Mar 20Set out Apr 17Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
KaleMar 6 – Mar 20Set out Apr 17Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
KohlrabiMar 6 – Mar 20Set out Apr 17Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
LeekFeb 6 – Feb 20Set out Apr 17Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
LettuceMar 13 – Mar 27Set out Apr 17 – Apr 24Start 4-5 wk before set-out; set out 3-4 wk before last frost.
OnionFeb 6 – Feb 20Set out Apr 17Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
Radish—Sow Apr 17 – May 1Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost.
Turnip—Sow Apr 17 – May 1Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost.
ParsleyFeb 13 – Feb 27Set out Apr 24 – May 1Start 9-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk before last frost.
CauliflowerMar 20 – Apr 3Set out May 1Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk before last frost.
Potato—Sow May 1 – May 8Plant seed potatoes 1-2 wk before last frost.
Swiss chardMar 20 – Apr 3Set out May 1; or sow Apr 17Start 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 15Sow seed in garden after last frost.
CeleryFeb 20 – Mar 6Set out on/after May 15Start 10-12 wk before set-out; set out after last frost.
Parsnip—Sow on/after May 15Sow seed in garden after last frost.
CucumberApr 24 – May 8Set out May 22 – May 29
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 May 22 – May 29Plant slips (young plants) 1-2 wk after last frost.
TomatoMar 27 – Apr 17Set out May 22 – May 29Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 1-2 wk after last frost.
BasilApr 3 – Apr 17Set out May 29Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost.
EggplantMar 20 – Apr 10Set out May 29 – Jun 5Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk after last frost.
MelonMay 1 – May 8Set out May 29Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost.
PepperMar 20 – Apr 3Set out May 29Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost.
PumpkinMay 1 – May 8Set out May 29
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 squashMay 1 – May 8Set out May 29
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 squashMay 1 – May 8Set out May 29
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.
ZucchiniMay 1 – May 8Set out May 29
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 15Sow 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 thawsSow seed in garden as soon as soil thaws.

Fall: when the garden ends

At this station the median first 32°F freeze is Oct 1; there is a 10% chance of one before Sep 19. 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 22 and 10% date Sep 9. UNH Extension notes many fall vegetables tolerate mild frosts down to about 28°F (median first 28°F here: Oct 13), 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 406 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.

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