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

Planting zone for 04541 — Chamberlain, ME

ZIP code 04541 (Chamberlain, Lincoln County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost October 18.

Where ZIP 04541 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostApr 27
First frostOct 18
2012 zone6a

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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Chamberlain, 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 Chamberlain, 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 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 18median — 10% chance by Oct 3
Growing season172 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 14 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Newcastle, ME — 11 miles away, elevation 213 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 04541

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 23 – Sep 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 4 – Nov 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 27) and first fall frost (Oct 18) 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 04541 came on Apr 17 — 5 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 6a in Maine

502 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Maine, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. 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 101

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 173

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 154

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 Chamberlain, ME.

Soil in Chamberlain, ME

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 04541 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-Brayton variant-Rock outcrop complex, 0 to 8 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 04541; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Chamberlain, ME

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights142nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,166base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 28 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 54 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation49.6 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 30 °F, low 15 °F 30°15° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 17 °F 33°17° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 25 °F 41°25° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 35 °F 54°35° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 45 °F 65°45° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 54 °F 73°54° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 60 °F 78°60° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 59 °F 77°59° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 52 °F 69°52° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 42 °F 57°42° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 32 °F 46°32° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 22 °F 36°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 JanFebruary: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 FebMarch: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 MarApril: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 AprMay: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 3.28 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 5.28 in precipitation 5.3 OctNovember: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 NovDecember: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Newcastle, ME (11 mi away); precipitation: Newcastle 2.1 Sw, ME (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

045586a
Pemaquid, ME · 2 mi
045546a
New Harbor, ME · 2 mi
045646a
Round Pond, ME · 3 mi
045686a
South Bristol, ME · 4 mi
045736a
Walpole, ME · 6 mi
045396a
Bristol, ME · 6 mi
045446a
East Boothbay, ME · 7 mi
045516a
Bremen, ME · 7 mi

Maine planting zones →

Questions about 04541

What planting zone is ZIP code 04541?

ZIP code 04541 (Chamberlain, ME) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Chamberlain, ME?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 04541 is April 27; after May 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Newcastle station.

When is the first frost in Chamberlain, ME?

The median first fall frost near 04541 is October 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 172 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 04541?

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 04541 get?

About 49.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Newcastle 2.1 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in Chamberlain, ME?

The average high peaks at 78 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 04541 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lyman at the center of ZIP 04541: moderately decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 3.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Chamberlain, ME in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 04541 came on Apr 17 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 22), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Chamberlain, ME?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 04541 is 15 h 28 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).