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

Planting zone for 04448 — Howland, ME

ZIP code 04448 (Howland, Penobscot County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 6.

Where ZIP 04448 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 4
First frostOct 6
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 Howland, 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 Howland, ME

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 6median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season153 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 24 and returns around October 18.

From the NOAA station Lincoln Sanitary District/Wtp, ME — 12 miles away, elevation 190 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 04448

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesTransplant · May 11 – May 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
BeansSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 11 – Aug 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 22 – Oct 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 6) 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 04448 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 Howland, ME.

Soil in Howland, ME

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 04448 is Monarda — mucky peat, poorly drained.

TextureMucky peattop layer
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter53%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Monarda-Burnham complex, 0 to 3 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 04448; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Howland, ME

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low3 °Faverage low, January
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights167nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,042base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 40 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 43 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation44.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

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 17 °F 38°17° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 30 °F 52°30° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 53 °F 74°53° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 48 °F 70°48° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 27 °F 44°27° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 15 °F 32°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 2.38 in precipitation 2.4 FebMarch: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 MarApril: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.07 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 4.73 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 NovDecember: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lincoln Sanitary District/Wtp, ME (12 mi away); precipitation: Lincoln Sanitary District/Wtp, ME (12 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

044635a
Milo, ME · 8 mi
044535a
Lagrange, ME · 9 mi
044935a
West Enfield, ME · 10 mi
044755a
Passadumkeag, ME · 11 mi
044575a
Lincoln, ME · 13 mi
044105a
Bradford, ME · 18 mi
044185a
Greenbush, ME · 18 mi
044175a
Burlington, ME · 18 mi

Maine planting zones →

Questions about 04448

What planting zone is ZIP code 04448?

ZIP code 04448 (Howland, 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 Howland, ME?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 04448 is May 4; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lincoln Sanitary District/Wtp station.

When is the first frost in Howland, ME?

The median first fall frost near 04448 is October 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 153 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 04448?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 9 – Mar 23 and set transplants outside around May 11 – May 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 04448 get?

About 44.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lincoln Sanitary District/Wtp station).

How hot do summers get in Howland, ME?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 4 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 04448 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Monarda at the center of ZIP 04448: mucky peat, poorly drained.

Did spring come early in Howland, ME in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 04448 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 Howland, ME?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 04448 is 15 h 40 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 04448 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 04448 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.