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

Planting zone for 04010 — Brownfield, ME

ZIP code 04010 (Brownfield, Oxford County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost September 25.

Where ZIP 04010 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostMay 17
First frostSep 25
2012 zone5a

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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Brownfield, 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 Brownfield, ME

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 25median — 10% chance by Sep 11
Growing season128 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 4 and returns around October 4.

From the NOAA station Fryeburg E Slopes Airport, ME — 4 miles away, elevation 446 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 04010

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
TomatoesTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 31 – Jun 14
BeansSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 31 – Aug 14
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 11 – Oct 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 17) and first fall frost (Sep 25) 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 04010 came on Apr 17 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 24).

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).

Soil in Brownfield, ME

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 04010 is Skerry — highly decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

TextureHighly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.9strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter80%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Skerry-Becket association, 0 to 15 percent slopes, very stony.

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 04010; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Brownfield, ME

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights178nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,133base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 29 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 54 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation46.9 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 7 °F 31°7° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 9 °F 34°9° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 19 °F 42°19° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 30 °F 56°30° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 42 °F 68°42° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 51 °F 77°51° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 56 °F 82°56° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 54 °F 81°54° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 46 °F 73°46° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 35 °F 59°35° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 26 °F 47°26° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 15 °F 36°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 JanFebruary: 2.94 in precipitation 2.9 FebMarch: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 MarApril: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 AprMay: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 4.73 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 NovDecember: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Fryeburg E Slopes Airport, ME (4 mi away); precipitation: Fryeburg E Slopes Airport, ME (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

040685a
Porter, ME · 7 mi
038325a
Eaton Center, NH · 7 mi
040225a
Denmark, ME · 7 mi
040415a
Hiram, ME · 7 mi
038365a
Freedom, NH · 10 mi
040915a
West Baldwin, ME · 11 mi
038495a
Madison, NH · 11 mi
040375a
Fryeburg, ME · 12 mi

Maine planting zones →

Questions about 04010

What planting zone is ZIP code 04010?

ZIP code 04010 (Brownfield, ME) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Brownfield, ME?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 04010 is May 17; after June 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Fryeburg E Slopes Airport station.

When is the first frost in Brownfield, ME?

The median first fall frost near 04010 is September 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 128 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 04010?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 22 – Apr 5 and set transplants outside around May 24 – Jun 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 04010 get?

About 46.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Fryeburg E Slopes Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Brownfield, ME?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 11 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 04010 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Skerry at the center of ZIP 04010: highly decomposed plant material, moderately well drained, pH about 4.9 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Brownfield, ME in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 04010 came on Apr 17 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Brownfield, ME?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 04010 is 15 h 29 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).