Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for New Portland, ME

New Portland, ME is in USDA zones 4b to 5a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost October 5.

New Portland on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zones4b–5a−25 to −15 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 8
First frostOct 5
Growing season149 days

4b 1 ZIP   5a 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in New Portland, ME

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season149 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 28 and returns around October 18.

From the NOAA station Madison, ME, elevation 220 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in New Portland

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
TomatoesTransplant · May 15 – May 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
BeansSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 8) and first fall frost (Oct 5) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 04961 came on Apr 27 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (May 4).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 4b in Maine

451 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Maine, and rated by the USDA to survive −25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 52

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 86

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bearberry0.5 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −62 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 153

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 144

alpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Vines 5

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in New Portland, ME.

Soil in New Portland, ME

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 04961 is Marlow — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH3.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter85%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Marlow-Peru-Rawsonville association, 12 to 30 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 04961; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in New Portland, ME

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights191nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,643base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 37 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 46 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation43 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall109 inper year; 148 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 23 °F, low 4 °F 23°4° JanFebruary: average high 26 °F, low 5 °F 26°5° FebMarch: average high 35 °F, low 14 °F 35°14° MarApril: average high 47 °F, low 28 °F 47°28° AprMay: average high 62 °F, low 40 °F 62°40° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 46 °F 68°46° SepOctober: average high 54 °F, low 35 °F 54°35° OctNovember: average high 40 °F, low 25 °F 40°25° NovDecember: average high 29 °F, low 14 °F 29°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.79 in precipitation, 22.7 in snowfall 2.8❄23 JanFebruary: 2.43 in precipitation, 22.9 in snowfall 2.4❄23 FebMarch: 3.04 in precipitation, 22.2 in snowfall 3.0❄22 MarApril: 3.79 in precipitation, 7.6 in snowfall 3.8❄8 AprMay: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 4.45 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 4.61 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 4.6❄3 OctNovember: 3.80 in precipitation, 7.2 in snowfall 3.8❄7 NovDecember: 3.76 in precipitation, 23.9 in snowfall 3.8❄24 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Long Falls Dam, ME (5 mi away); precipitation: Long Falls Dam, ME (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in New Portland

049545a
−20 to −15 °F
049614b
−25 to −20 °F

Maine planting zones →

Questions about New Portland

What planting zone is New Portland, ME?

New Portland, ME is in USDA hardiness zones 4b to 5a on the 2023 map (4b: −25 to −20 °F; 5a: −20 to −15 °F).

When is the last frost in New Portland, ME?

The median last spring frost is May 8 and the median first fall frost is October 5 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Madison station).

When can I plant a garden in New Portland, ME?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 27 – Apr 17; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 15, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in New Portland, ME?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 37 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does New Portland, ME get?

About 43 inches of precipitation a year and 109 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).