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

Planting zone for 04426 — Dover Foxcroft, ME

ZIP code 04426 (Dover Foxcroft, Piscataquis County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost September 28.

Where ZIP 04426 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 15
First frostSep 28
2012 zone4b

Was 4b 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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Dover Foxcroft, 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 Dover Foxcroft, ME

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 28median — 10% chance by Sep 15
Growing season134 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 2 and returns around October 9.

From the NOAA station Dover-Foxcroft Wwtp, ME — 2 miles away, elevation 371 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 04426

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
BeansSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 3 – Aug 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 14 – Oct 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Sep 28) 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 04426 came on Apr 26 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 27).

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 Dover Foxcroft, ME.

Soil in Dover Foxcroft, ME

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 04426 is Boothbay — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.1strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter4.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Boothbay-Swanville association, gently sloping.

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 04426; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Dover Foxcroft, ME

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low3 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights188nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,835base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 39 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 44 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation44.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall77 inper year; 129 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 26 °F, low 3 °F 26°3° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 5 °F 29°5° FebMarch: average high 38 °F, low 15 °F 38°15° MarApril: average high 51 °F, low 28 °F 51°28° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 40 °F 65°40° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 53 °F 79°53° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 45 °F 71°45° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 25 °F 44°25° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 13 °F 32°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.47 in precipitation, 18.1 in snowfall 3.5❄18 JanFebruary: 2.76 in precipitation, 19.8 in snowfall 2.8❄20 FebMarch: 3.39 in precipitation, 15.1 in snowfall 3.4❄15 MarApril: 3.65 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 3.6❄5 AprMay: 3.34 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.3 MayJune: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 4.82 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 4.8❄1 OctNovember: 4.09 in precipitation, 3.9 in snowfall 4.1❄4 NovDecember: 4.07 in precipitation, 15.1 in snowfall 4.1❄15 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Dover-Foxcroft Wwtp, ME (2 mi away); precipitation: Dover-Foxcroft Wwtp, ME (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

044815a
Sebec, ME · 4 mi
049395a
Garland, ME · 8 mi
044795a
Sangerville, ME · 8 mi
044225a
Charleston, ME · 9 mi
044155a
Brownville Junction, ME · 12 mi
044435a
Guilford, ME · 13 mi
044105a
Bradford, ME · 13 mi
044635a
Milo, ME · 14 mi

Maine planting zones →

Questions about 04426

What planting zone is ZIP code 04426?

ZIP code 04426 (Dover Foxcroft, 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 Dover Foxcroft, ME?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 04426 is May 15; after May 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dover-Foxcroft Wwtp station.

When is the first frost in Dover Foxcroft, ME?

The median first fall frost near 04426 is September 28, giving a median frost-free growing season of 134 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 04426?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 20 – Apr 3 and set transplants outside around May 22 – Jun 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 04426 get?

About 44.7 inches of precipitation a year and 77 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dover-Foxcroft Wwtp station).

How hot do summers get in Dover Foxcroft, ME?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 04426 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Boothbay at the center of ZIP 04426: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 5.1 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Dover Foxcroft, ME in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 04426 came on Apr 26 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Dover Foxcroft, ME?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 04426 is 15 h 39 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 04426 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 04426 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.