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

Planting zone for 04637 — Grand Lake Stream, ME

ZIP code 04637 (Grand Lake Stream, Washington County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 10.

Where ZIP 04637 is

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 4
First frostOct 10
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 Grand Lake Stream, 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 Grand Lake Stream, 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 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season157 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Grand Lake Stream, ME — within 1 mile, elevation 289 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 04637

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 15 – Aug 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 26 – Oct 31
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 10) 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 04637 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 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 Grand Lake Stream, ME.

Soil in Grand Lake Stream, ME

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 04637 is Hermon — highly decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureHighly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.4strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter85%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hermon-Skerry association, 0 to 15 percent slopes, very bouldery.

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 04637; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Grand Lake Stream, ME

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low9 °Faverage low, January
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights181nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,963base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 38 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)
Precipitation45.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall74 inper year; 76 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 27 °F, low 9 °F 27°9° JanFebruary: average high 30 °F, low 10 °F 30°10° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 20 °F 39°20° MarApril: average high 51 °F, low 32 °F 51°32° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 42 °F 64°42° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 38 °F 57°38° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 29 °F 45°29° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 18 °F 33°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.77 in precipitation, 17.8 in snowfall 3.8❄18 JanFebruary: 3.28 in precipitation, 19.9 in snowfall 3.3❄20 FebMarch: 3.98 in precipitation, 13.4 in snowfall 4.0❄13 MarApril: 3.63 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 3.6❄4 AprMay: 3.33 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.3 MayJune: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 3.29 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 2.77 in precipitation 2.8 AugSeptember: 3.54 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 5.05 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 5.0 OctNovember: 4.41 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 4.4❄3 NovDecember: 4.93 in precipitation, 16.6 in snowfall 4.9❄17 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Grand Lake Stream, ME (within 1 mile); precipitation: Grand Lake Stream, ME (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

046685b
Princeton, ME · 4 mi
044925a
Waite, ME · 12 mi
046865b
Wesley, ME · 13 mi
044905a
Topsfield, ME · 15 mi
046945b
Baileyville, ME · 15 mi
046575b
Meddybemps, ME · 21 mi
044875a
Springfield, ME · 22 mi
044555a
Lee, ME · 25 mi

Maine planting zones →

Questions about 04637

What planting zone is ZIP code 04637?

ZIP code 04637 (Grand Lake Stream, 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 Grand Lake Stream, ME?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 04637 is May 4; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Grand Lake Stream station.

When is the first frost in Grand Lake Stream, ME?

The median first fall frost near 04637 is October 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 157 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 04637?

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 04637 get?

About 45.6 inches of precipitation a year and 74 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Grand Lake Stream station).

How hot do summers get in Grand Lake Stream, ME?

The average high peaks at 78 °F in July, with about 4 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 04637 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hermon at the center of ZIP 04637: highly decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 4.4 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Grand Lake Stream, ME in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 04637 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 Grand Lake Stream, ME?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 04637 is 15 h 38 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 04637 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 04637 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.