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

Planting zone for 04256 — Mechanic Falls, ME

ZIP code 04256 (Mechanic Falls, Androscoggin County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost October 7.

Where ZIP 04256 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 3
First frostOct 7
2012 zone5a

Was 5a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Mechanic Falls, 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 Mechanic Falls, ME

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 7median — 10% chance by Sep 27
Growing season157 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 21 and returns around October 22.

From the NOAA station Poland, ME — 7 miles away, elevation 571 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 04256

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 17 – May 31
BeansSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 12 – Aug 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 23 – Oct 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (Oct 7) 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 04256 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 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 Mechanic Falls, ME.

Soil in Mechanic Falls, ME

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 04256 is Ninigret — fine sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5.5%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Ninigret 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 04256; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mechanic Falls, ME

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights156nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,979base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 30 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)
Precipitation49.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall80 inper year; 100 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 27 °F, low 11 °F 27°11° JanFebruary: average high 30 °F, low 12 °F 30°12° FebMarch: average high 38 °F, low 21 °F 38°21° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 32 °F 52°32° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 43 °F 64°43° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 59 °F 78°59° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 57 °F 77°57° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 48 °F 69°48° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 38 °F 56°38° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 28 °F 44°28° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 18 °F 34°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.11 in precipitation, 18 in snowfall 3.1❄18 JanFebruary: 3.00 in precipitation, 20.5 in snowfall 3.0❄21 FebMarch: 3.67 in precipitation, 14.8 in snowfall 3.7❄15 MarApril: 4.38 in precipitation, 4.2 in snowfall 4.4❄4 AprMay: 3.70 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.7 MayJune: 4.92 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 5.94 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 5.9❄1 OctNovember: 4.42 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 4.4❄4 NovDecember: 4.20 in precipitation, 17.3 in snowfall 4.2❄17 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

042745b
Poland, ME · 4 mi
042585b
Minot, ME · 4 mi
042305b
East Poland, ME · 5 mi
042885b
West Minot, ME · 5 mi
042915b
West Poland, ME · 5 mi
042385b
Hebron, ME · 6 mi
042705b
Oxford, ME · 6 mi
042105b
Auburn, ME · 8 mi

Maine planting zones →

Questions about 04256

What planting zone is ZIP code 04256?

ZIP code 04256 (Mechanic Falls, 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 Mechanic Falls, ME?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 04256 is May 3; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Poland station.

When is the first frost in Mechanic Falls, ME?

The median first fall frost near 04256 is October 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 157 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 04256?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 8 – Mar 22 and set transplants outside around May 10 – May 24, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 04256 get?

About 49.2 inches of precipitation a year and 80 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Poland station).

How hot do summers get in Mechanic Falls, ME?

The average high peaks at 78 °F in July, with about 4 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 04256 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Ninigret at the center of ZIP 04256: fine sandy loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Mechanic Falls, ME in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 04256 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 Mechanic Falls, ME?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 04256 is 15 h 30 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 04256 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 04256 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.