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

Planting zone for 04359 — South Gardiner, ME

ZIP code 04359 (South Gardiner, Kennebec County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 11.

Where ZIP 04359 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 1
First frostOct 11
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 South Gardiner, 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 South Gardiner, ME

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 11median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season163 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 19 and returns around October 25.

From the NOAA station Gardiner, ME — 3 miles away, elevation 135 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 04359

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 16 – Aug 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 27 – Nov 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 11) 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 04359 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 South Gardiner, ME.

Soil in South Gardiner, ME

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 04359 is Scantic — silt loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.0slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Scantic silt loam, 0 to 3 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 04359; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in South Gardiner, ME

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low9 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights161nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,276base 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)
Precipitation47.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall69 inper year; 91 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 30 °F, low 9 °F 30°9° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 10 °F 33°10° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 21 °F 42°21° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 44 °F 66°44° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 39 °F 60°39° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 29 °F 47°29° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 18 °F 36°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.58 in precipitation, 17.6 in snowfall 3.6❄18 JanFebruary: 2.95 in precipitation, 20 in snowfall 3.0❄20 FebMarch: 3.71 in precipitation, 12.7 in snowfall 3.7❄13 MarApril: 4.18 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 4.2❄3 AprMay: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.40 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 5.39 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 5.4 OctNovember: 4.52 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 4.5❄2 NovDecember: 4.38 in precipitation, 13.3 in snowfall 4.4❄13 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Gardiner, ME (3 mi away); precipitation: Gardiner, ME (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

043455b
Gardiner, ME · 2 mi
043465b
Randolph, ME · 4 mi
043575b
Richmond, ME · 5 mi
043445b
Farmingdale, ME · 6 mi
043425b
Dresden, ME · 7 mi
043535b
Whitefield, ME · 7 mi
043475b
Hallowell, ME · 8 mi
043505b
Litchfield, ME · 9 mi

Maine planting zones →

Questions about 04359

What planting zone is ZIP code 04359?

ZIP code 04359 (South Gardiner, 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 South Gardiner, ME?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 04359 is May 1; after May 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gardiner station.

When is the first frost in South Gardiner, ME?

The median first fall frost near 04359 is October 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 163 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 04359?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 04359 get?

About 47.7 inches of precipitation a year and 69 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gardiner station).

How hot do summers get in South Gardiner, ME?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 04359 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Scantic at the center of ZIP 04359: silt loam, poorly drained, pH about 6.0 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in South Gardiner, ME in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 04359 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 South Gardiner, ME?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 04359 is 15 h 31 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 04359 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 04359 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.