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

Planting zone for 04630 — East Machias, ME

ZIP code 04630 (East Machias, Washington County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost October 15.

Where ZIP 04630 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 2
First frostOct 15
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 East Machias, 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 East Machias, ME

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 15median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season164 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 21 and returns around October 29.

From the NOAA station Wesley, ME — 11 miles away, elevation 410 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 04630

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesTransplant · May 9 – May 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 16 – May 30
BeansSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 20 – Sep 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 1 – Nov 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 15) 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 04630 came on Apr 26 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25).

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 East Machias, ME.

Soil in East Machias, ME

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 04630 is Bucksport — muck, very poorly drained.

TextureMucktop layer
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter80%high
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bucksport and Wonsqueak mucks, 0 to 2 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 04630; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in East Machias, ME

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights162nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,934base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 36 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 47 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation52.3 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 27 °F, low 11 °F 27°11° JanFebruary: average high 30 °F, low 12 °F 30°12° FebMarch: average high 38 °F, low 21 °F 38°21° MarApril: average high 51 °F, low 32 °F 51°32° AprMay: average high 63 °F, low 43 °F 63°43° MayJune: average high 71 °F, low 53 °F 71°53° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 58 °F 77°58° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 57 °F 77°57° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 50 °F 68°50° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 40 °F 57°40° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 30 °F 45°30° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 19 °F 34°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 JanFebruary: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 FebMarch: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 MarApril: 4.40 in precipitation 4.4 AprMay: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 4.42 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 5.60 in precipitation 5.6 OctNovember: 5.05 in precipitation 5.0 NovDecember: 5.32 in precipitation 5.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Wesley, ME (11 mi away); precipitation: Cooper 0.5 Se, ME (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

1 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

046575b
Meddybemps, ME · 8 mi
046285b
Dennysville, ME · 10 mi
046545b
Machias, ME · 12 mi
046915b
Whiting, ME · 13 mi
046865b
Wesley, ME · 14 mi
046665b
Pembroke, ME · 14 mi
046556a
Machiasport, ME · 15 mi
046235b
Columbia Falls, ME · 16 mi

Maine planting zones →

Questions about 04630

What planting zone is ZIP code 04630?

ZIP code 04630 (East Machias, 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 East Machias, ME?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 04630 is May 2; after May 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wesley station.

When is the first frost in East Machias, ME?

The median first fall frost near 04630 is October 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 164 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 04630?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 7 – Mar 21 and set transplants outside around May 9 – May 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 04630 get?

About 52.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cooper 0.5 Se station).

How hot do summers get in East Machias, ME?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 04630 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bucksport at the center of ZIP 04630: muck, very poorly drained.

Did spring come early in East Machias, ME in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 04630 came on Apr 26 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in East Machias, ME?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 04630 is 15 h 36 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).