Frost dates for Middle Dam, ME
NOAA weather station USC00175261 at 1,460 ft elevation. Based on 23 years within 1991-2020. Last verified 2026-10-17.
Last spring freeze (32°F)
May 19
median: freeze still happened after this date in half of years
May 24 30% risk · May 31 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
133 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 11 / Jun 4 / May 31 | Sep 5 / Sep 19 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 31 / May 24 / May 19 | Sep 19 / Oct 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 19 / May 10 / May 5 | Sep 30 / Oct 11 |
Also at 32°F, last-freeze 70% date May 13 and 90% date May 5 (frost still likely after these early dates). Data quality: Representative: 10+ years of qualifying data, missing months filled from nearby stations. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USC00175261, 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 10-30%, 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.
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 1 – Apr 5 | Set out Apr 12 – May 3 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 3-6 wk before last frost. |
| Broccoli | Mar 15 – Apr 12 | Set out Apr 26 – May 10 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Brussels sprout | Mar 15 – Apr 12 | Set out Apr 26 – May 10 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Cabbage | Mar 15 – Mar 29 | Set out Apr 26 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Kale | Mar 15 – Mar 29 | Set out Apr 26 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 15 – Mar 29 | Set out Apr 26 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Leek | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Set out Apr 26 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Lettuce | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | Set out Apr 26 – May 3 | Start 4-5 wk before set-out; set out 3-4 wk before last frost. |
| Onion | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Set out Apr 26 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Radish | — | Sow Apr 26 – May 10 | Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Turnip | — | Sow Apr 26 – May 10 | Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Parsley | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Set out May 3 – May 10 | Start 9-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk before last frost. |
| Cauliflower | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | Set out May 10 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk before last frost. |
| Potato | — | Sow May 10 – May 17 | Plant seed potatoes 1-2 wk before last frost. |
| Swiss chard | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | Set out May 10; or sow Apr 26 | 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 24 | Sow seed in garden after last frost. |
| Celery | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | Set out on/after May 24 | Start 10-12 wk before set-out; set out after last frost. |
| Parsnip | — | Sow on/after May 24 | Sow seed in garden after last frost. |
| Cucumber | May 3 – May 17 | Set out May 31 – Jun 7 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 31 – Jun 7 | Plant slips (young plants) 1-2 wk after last frost. |
| Tomato | Apr 5 – Apr 26 | Set out May 31 – Jun 7 | Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 1-2 wk after last frost. |
| Basil | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | Set out Jun 7 | Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Eggplant | Mar 29 – Apr 19 | Set out Jun 7 – Jun 14 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk after last frost. |
| Melon | May 10 – May 17 | Set out Jun 7 | Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Pepper | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | Set out Jun 7 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Pumpkin | May 10 – May 17 | Set out Jun 7 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 10 – May 17 | Set out Jun 7 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 10 – May 17 | Set out Jun 7 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 10 – May 17 | Set out Jun 7 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 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 19 and 10% date Sep 5. UNH Extension notes many fall vegetables tolerate mild frosts down to about 28°F (median first 28°F here: Oct 11), 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 1,460 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
- Rangeley, ME: 19 mi away, 1,530 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 23
- Berlin Muni AP, NH: 19 mi away, 1,158 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 30
- Rangeley 2 NW, ME: 19 mi away, 1,780 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 23
- Rumford 6Sw, ME: 24 mi away, 630 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 12
- Rumford 1 SSE, ME: 25 mi away, 630 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 4