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

Planting zone for 04008 — Bowdoinham, ME

ZIP code 04008 (Bowdoinham, Sagadahoc County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost October 6.

Where ZIP 04008 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 10
First frostOct 6
2012 zone5b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Bowdoinham, ME…

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 Bowdoinham, ME

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 6median — 10% chance by Sep 25
Growing season149 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 29 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Bath, ME — 8 miles away, elevation 26 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 04008

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesTransplant · May 17 – May 31
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
BeansSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 11 – Aug 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 22 – Oct 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 10) and first fall frost (Oct 6) 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 04008 came on Apr 16 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21).

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 5b in Maine

493 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Maine, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 55

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 98

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 169

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 153

alpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °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 °F

Vines 6

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 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Bowdoinham, ME.

Soil in Bowdoinham, ME

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 04008 is Buxton — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.7moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5.5%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Buxton silt loam, 8 to 15 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 04008; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bowdoinham, ME

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low10 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights162nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,918base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 30 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 53 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation49.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 10 °F 31°10° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 10 °F 34°10° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 20 °F 41°20° MarApril: average high 53 °F, low 31 °F 53°31° AprMay: average high 63 °F, low 41 °F 63°41° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 51 °F 72°51° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 28 °F 47°28° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 18 °F 37°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 JanFebruary: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 FebMarch: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 MarApril: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 AprMay: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 5.43 in precipitation 5.4 OctNovember: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 NovDecember: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bath, ME (8 mi away); precipitation: Dresden 1.5 Nw, ME (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

043575b
Richmond, ME · 5 mi
042875b
Bowdoin, ME · 6 mi
043425b
Dresden, ME · 7 mi
040865b
Topsham, ME · 7 mi
045795b
Woolwich, ME · 7 mi
043505b
Litchfield, ME · 10 mi
045785b
Wiscasset, ME · 10 mi
042525b
Lisbon Falls, ME · 10 mi

Maine planting zones →

Questions about 04008

What planting zone is ZIP code 04008?

ZIP code 04008 (Bowdoinham, ME) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Bowdoinham, ME?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 04008 is May 10; after May 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bath station.

When is the first frost in Bowdoinham, ME?

The median first fall frost near 04008 is October 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 149 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 04008?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 15 – Mar 29 and set transplants outside around May 17 – May 31, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 04008 get?

About 49.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dresden 1.5 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Bowdoinham, ME?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 04008 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Buxton at the center of ZIP 04008: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.7 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Bowdoinham, ME in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 04008 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bowdoinham, ME?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 04008 is 15 h 30 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).