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

Planting zone for 04351 — Manchester, ME

ZIP code 04351 (Manchester, Kennebec County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost October 16.

Where ZIP 04351 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 frostApr 27
First frostOct 16
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 Manchester, 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 Manchester, ME

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 27median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 16median — 10% chance by Oct 2
Growing season172 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 15 and returns around October 31.

From the NOAA station Augusta State Airport, ME — 4 miles away, elevation 351 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 04351

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Apr 6
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesTransplant · May 4 – May 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 11 – May 25
BeansSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 21 – Sep 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 2 – Nov 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 27) and first fall frost (Oct 16) 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 04351 came on Apr 16 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21).

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 Manchester, ME.

Soil in Manchester, ME

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 04351 is Lyman — moderately decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH3.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter85%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Lyman-Abram-Rock outcrop complex, 15 to 35 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 04351; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Manchester, ME

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights147nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,282base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 32 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 51 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation41.8 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 12 °F 29°12° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 14 °F 32°14° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 23 °F 41°23° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 34 °F 54°34° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 45 °F 66°45° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 54 °F 74°54° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 51 °F 71°51° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 40 °F 58°40° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 30 °F 46°30° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 20 °F 35°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.62 in precipitation 2.6 JanFebruary: 2.32 in precipitation 2.3 FebMarch: 3.21 in precipitation 3.2 MarApril: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 JulAugust: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 4.69 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 3.95 in precipitation 4.0 NovDecember: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

043435b
East Winthrop, ME · 2 mi
043365b
Augusta, ME · 3 mi
043475b
Hallowell, ME · 4 mi
043335b
Augusta, ME · 5 mi
043385b
Augusta, ME · 5 mi
043555b
Readfield, ME · 5 mi
043645b
Winthrop, ME · 5 mi
043305b
Augusta, ME · 6 mi

Maine planting zones →

Questions about 04351

What planting zone is ZIP code 04351?

ZIP code 04351 (Manchester, 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 Manchester, ME?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 04351 is April 27; after May 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Augusta State Airport station.

When is the first frost in Manchester, ME?

The median first fall frost near 04351 is October 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 172 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 04351?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 2 – Mar 16 and set transplants outside around May 4 – May 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 04351 get?

About 41.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Augusta State Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Manchester, ME?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 04351 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lyman at the center of ZIP 04351: moderately decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 3.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Manchester, ME in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 04351 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Manchester, ME?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 04351 is 15 h 32 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).