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

Planting zone for 04088 — Waterford, ME

ZIP code 04088 (Waterford, Oxford County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 2.

Where ZIP 04088 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 6
First frostOct 2
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 Waterford, 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 Waterford, ME

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 2median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season147 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 17.

From the NOAA station Bethel 6 Sse, ME — 8 miles away, elevation 791 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 04088

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 7 – Aug 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 18 – Oct 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 2) 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 04088 came on Apr 17 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25).

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 Waterford, ME.

Soil in Waterford, ME

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 04088 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 classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Skerry-Colonel association, 3 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 04088; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Waterford, ME

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights167nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,978base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 31 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 52 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation50.9 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 28 °F, low 8 °F 28°8° JanFebruary: average high 31 °F, low 11 °F 31°11° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 19 °F 40°19° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 31 °F 52°31° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 52 °F 74°52° 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 47 °F 71°47° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 27 °F 45°27° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 17 °F 34°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 JanFebruary: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 FebMarch: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 MarApril: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 AprMay: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 5.27 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 5.01 in precipitation 5.0 AugSeptember: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 5.28 in precipitation 5.3 OctNovember: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 NovDecember: 4.29 in precipitation 4.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bethel 6 Sse, ME (8 mi away); precipitation: Bethel 6 Sse, ME (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

042675a
North Waterford, ME · 3 mi
042685a
Norway, ME · 6 mi
040405a
Harrison, ME · 7 mi
040575a
North Bridgton, ME · 7 mi
040515a
Lovell, ME · 8 mi
040165a
Center Lovell, ME · 9 mi
042315a
Stoneham, ME · 9 mi
042555a
Greenwood, ME · 9 mi

Maine planting zones →

Questions about 04088

What planting zone is ZIP code 04088?

ZIP code 04088 (Waterford, 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 Waterford, ME?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 04088 is May 6; after May 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bethel 6 Sse station.

When is the first frost in Waterford, ME?

The median first fall frost near 04088 is October 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 147 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 04088?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 04088 get?

About 50.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bethel 6 Sse station).

How hot do summers get in Waterford, ME?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 04088 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Skerry at the center of ZIP 04088: fine sandy loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.0 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Waterford, ME in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 04088 came on Apr 17 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Waterford, ME?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 04088 is 15 h 31 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).