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

Planting zone for 04028 — East Parsonsfield, ME

ZIP code 04028 (East Parsonsfield, York County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost September 30.

Where ZIP 04028 is

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 14
First frostSep 30
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 East Parsonsfield, 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 East Parsonsfield, ME

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 30median — 10% chance by Sep 16
Growing season136 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 10.

From the NOAA station Hollis, ME — 11 miles away, elevation 305 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 04028

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 28 – Jun 11
BeansSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 5 – Aug 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 16 – Oct 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 14) and first fall frost (Sep 30) 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 04028 came on Apr 16 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 22).

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 5a in Maine

483 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Maine, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 53

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 96

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 166

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 151

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 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 East Parsonsfield, ME.

Soil in East Parsonsfield, ME

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 04028 is Skerry — fine sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.0slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter7%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Skerry fine sandy loam, 0 to 8 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 04028; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in East Parsonsfield, ME

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights184nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,960base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 27 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation50.1 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 29 °F, low 8 °F 29°8° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 9 °F 33°9° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 19 °F 41°19° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 30 °F 54°30° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 41 °F 66°41° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 35 °F 58°35° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 26 °F 46°26° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 16 °F 35°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 JanFebruary: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 FebMarch: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 MarApril: 4.31 in precipitation 4.3 AprMay: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.75 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 5.36 in precipitation 5.4 OctNovember: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 NovDecember: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Hollis, ME (11 mi away); precipitation: Parsonsfield 4.2 Ne, ME (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

3 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

040475b
Parsonsfield, ME · 3 mi
040205a
Cornish, ME · 3 mi
040485a
Limerick, ME · 4 mi
040565b
Newfield, ME · 5 mi
040495a
Limington, ME · 7 mi
040415a
Hiram, ME · 8 mi
040955b
West Newfield, ME · 8 mi
040615a
North Waterboro, ME · 8 mi

Maine planting zones →

Questions about 04028

What planting zone is ZIP code 04028?

ZIP code 04028 (East Parsonsfield, 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 East Parsonsfield, ME?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 04028 is May 14; after May 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hollis station.

When is the first frost in East Parsonsfield, ME?

The median first fall frost near 04028 is September 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 136 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 04028?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 19 – Apr 2 and set transplants outside around May 21 – Jun 4, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 04028 get?

About 50.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Parsonsfield 4.2 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in East Parsonsfield, ME?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 04028 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Skerry at the center of ZIP 04028: fine sandy loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.0 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in East Parsonsfield, ME in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 04028 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 22), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in East Parsonsfield, ME?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 04028 is 15 h 27 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).