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

Planting zone for 04760 — Monticello, ME

ZIP code 04760 (Monticello, Aroostook County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 25 and the first fall frost September 18.

Where ZIP 04760 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.

Zone4a−30 to −25 °F
Coldest night−34.4 to −31.7 °C
Last frostMay 25
First frostSep 18
2012 zone4a

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 4a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Monticello, 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 Monticello, ME

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 18median — 10% chance by Sep 4
Growing season115 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 9 and returns around October 1.

From the NOAA station Bridgewater, ME — 7 miles away, elevation 420 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 04760

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 13 – May 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 4 – May 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 4 – May 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 1 – Jun 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 8 – Jun 22
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 1 – Jun 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 1 – Jun 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 1 – Jun 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 24 – Aug 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 4 – Oct 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 25) and first fall frost (Sep 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 04760 came on Apr 26 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (May 1).

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 4a in Maine

387 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Maine, and rated by the USDA to survive −30 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 48

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 69

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 133

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 bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 125

alpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °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 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 4

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 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Monticello, ME.

Soil in Monticello, ME

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 04760 is Plaisted — highly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureHighly decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter53%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Plaisted-Howland association, 0 to 8 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 04760; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Monticello, ME

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low1 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights186nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,669base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 48 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 36 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation44.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall94 inper year; 131 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 22 °F, low 1 °F 22°1° JanFebruary: average high 26 °F, low 3 °F 26°3° FebMarch: average high 36 °F, low 14 °F 36°14° MarApril: average high 50 °F, low 28 °F 50°28° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 39 °F 65°39° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 52 °F 77°52° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° SepOctober: average high 54 °F, low 35 °F 54°35° OctNovember: average high 40 °F, low 25 °F 40°25° NovDecember: average high 28 °F, low 11 °F 28°11° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.34 in precipitation, 22.2 in snowfall 3.3❄22 JanFebruary: 2.66 in precipitation, 21 in snowfall 2.7❄21 FebMarch: 3.07 in precipitation, 16.9 in snowfall 3.1❄17 MarApril: 3.42 in precipitation, 4.9 in snowfall 3.4❄5 AprMay: 3.66 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.7❄1 MayJune: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.51 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.5 SepOctober: 4.52 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 4.5❄1 OctNovember: 3.91 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 3.9❄6 NovDecember: 4.03 in precipitation, 22.3 in snowfall 4.0❄22 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bridgewater, ME (7 mi away); precipitation: Bridgewater, ME (7 mi away). 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.

047354b
Bridgewater, ME · 6 mi
047304b
Houlton, ME · 10 mi
047344a
Blaine, ME · 10 mi
047874a
Westfield, ME · 14 mi
047614b
New Limerick, ME · 15 mi
047584a
Mars Hill, ME · 16 mi
047634b
Oakfield, ME · 20 mi
047404a
Easton, ME · 21 mi

Maine planting zones →

Questions about 04760

What planting zone is ZIP code 04760?

ZIP code 04760 (Monticello, ME) is in USDA hardiness zone 4a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −30 to −25 °F (−34.4 to −31.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Monticello, ME?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 04760 is May 25; after June 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bridgewater station.

When is the first frost in Monticello, ME?

The median first fall frost near 04760 is September 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 115 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 04760?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 30 – Apr 13 and set transplants outside around Jun 1 – Jun 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 04760 get?

About 44.5 inches of precipitation a year and 94 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bridgewater station).

How hot do summers get in Monticello, 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 04760 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Plaisted at the center of ZIP 04760: highly decomposed plant material, well drained.

Did spring come early in Monticello, ME in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 04760 came on Apr 26 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (May 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Monticello, ME?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 04760 is 15 h 48 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).