Frost dates for Bridgewater, ME
NOAA weather station USC00170833 at 420 ft elevation. Based on 30 years within 1991-2020. Last verified 2026-10-17.
Last spring freeze (32°F)
May 25
median: freeze still happened after this date in half of years
May 31 30% risk · Jun 7 10% risk
First fall freeze (32°F)
Sep 18
median: a freeze had happened by this date in half of years
Sep 4 10% chance of a freeze earlier than this
Freeze-free season
115 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 22 / Jun 13 / Jun 8 | Aug 24 / Sep 6 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jun 7 / May 31 / May 25 | Sep 4 / Sep 18 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 25 / May 16 / May 9 | Sep 17 / Oct 1 |
Also at 32°F, last-freeze 70% date May 18 and 90% date May 9 (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 USC00170833, 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 8 – Apr 12 | Set out Apr 19 – May 10 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 3-6 wk before last frost. |
| Broccoli | Mar 22 – Apr 19 | Set out May 3 – May 17 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Brussels sprout | Mar 22 – Apr 19 | Set out May 3 – May 17 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Cabbage | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | Set out May 3 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Kale | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | Set out May 3 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | Set out May 3 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Leek | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Set out May 3 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Lettuce | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | Set out May 3 – May 10 | Start 4-5 wk before set-out; set out 3-4 wk before last frost. |
| Onion | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Set out May 3 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Radish | — | Sow May 3 – May 17 | Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Turnip | — | Sow May 3 – May 17 | Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Parsley | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | Set out May 10 – May 17 | Start 9-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk before last frost. |
| Cauliflower | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Set out May 17 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk before last frost. |
| Potato | — | Sow May 17 – May 24 | Plant seed potatoes 1-2 wk before last frost. |
| Swiss chard | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Set out May 17; or sow May 3 | 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 31 | Sow seed in garden after last frost. |
| Celery | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | Set out on/after May 31 | Start 10-12 wk before set-out; set out after last frost. |
| Parsnip | — | Sow on/after May 31 | Sow seed in garden after last frost. |
| Cucumber | May 10 – May 24 | Set out Jun 7 – Jun 14 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 7 – Jun 14 | Plant slips (young plants) 1-2 wk after last frost. |
| Tomato | Apr 12 – May 3 | Set out Jun 7 – Jun 14 | Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 1-2 wk after last frost. |
| Basil | Apr 19 – May 3 | Set out Jun 14 | Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Eggplant | Apr 5 – Apr 26 | Set out Jun 14 – Jun 21 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk after last frost. |
| Melon | May 17 – May 24 | Set out Jun 14 | Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Pepper | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Set out Jun 14 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Pumpkin | May 17 – May 24 | Set out Jun 14 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 17 – May 24 | Set out Jun 14 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 17 – May 24 | Set out Jun 14 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 17 – May 24 | Set out Jun 14 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 18; there is a 10% chance of one before Sep 4. 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 6 and 10% date Aug 24. UNH Extension notes many fall vegetables tolerate mild frosts down to about 28°F (median first 28°F here: Oct 1), 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 420 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
- Houlton 5N, ME: 15 mi away, 390 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 19
- Presque Isle, ME: 17 mi away, 599 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 14
- Houlton Intl AP, ME: 21 mi away, 476 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 27
- Caribou Muni AP, ME: 32 mi away, 624 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 7
- Limestone 4 NNW, ME: 37 mi away, 737 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 16