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

Planting zone for 04342 — Dresden, ME

ZIP code 04342 (Dresden, Lincoln County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost October 7.

Where ZIP 04342 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 8
First frostOct 7
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 Dresden, 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 Dresden, ME

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 7median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season151 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station Wiscasset Airport, ME — 9 miles away, elevation 69 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 04342

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
TomatoesTransplant · May 15 – May 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
BeansSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
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 8) 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 04342 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 Dresden, ME.

Soil in Dresden, ME

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 04342 is Peru — moderately decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

TextureModerately 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: Peru fine sandy loam, 8 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 04342; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Dresden, ME

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights160nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,067base 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)
Precipitation49.3 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 32 °F, low 12 °F 32°12° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 14 °F 35°14° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 23 °F 43°23° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° 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 58 °F 79°58° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 29 °F 48°29° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 20 °F 38°20° 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: Wiscasset Airport, ME (9 mi away); precipitation: Dresden 1.5 Nw, ME (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

043575b
Richmond, ME · 5 mi
045355b
Alna, ME · 5 mi
043595b
South Gardiner, ME · 7 mi
040085b
Bowdoinham, ME · 7 mi
045785b
Wiscasset, ME · 8 mi
043455b
Gardiner, ME · 8 mi
045535b
Newcastle, ME · 9 mi
045795b
Woolwich, ME · 9 mi

Maine planting zones →

Questions about 04342

What planting zone is ZIP code 04342?

ZIP code 04342 (Dresden, 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 Dresden, ME?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 04342 is May 8; after May 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wiscasset Airport station.

When is the first frost in Dresden, ME?

The median first fall frost near 04342 is October 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 151 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 04342?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 13 – Mar 27 and set transplants outside around May 15 – May 29, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 04342 get?

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

How hot do summers get in Dresden, 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 04342 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Peru at the center of ZIP 04342: moderately decomposed plant material, moderately well drained, pH about 4.9 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Dresden, ME in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 04342 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 Dresden, ME?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 04342 is 15 h 30 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).