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

Planting zone for 04966 — Phillips, ME

ZIP code 04966 (Phillips, Franklin County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 23 and the first fall frost September 27.

Where ZIP 04966 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.

Zone4b−25 to −20 °F
Coldest night−31.7 to −28.9 °C
Last frostMay 23
First frostSep 27
2012 zone4b

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 4b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Phillips, 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 Phillips, ME

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 27median — 10% chance by Sep 14
Growing season127 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 10 and returns around October 7.

From the NOAA station Rangeley, ME — 14 miles away, elevation 1,529 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 04966

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 11 – May 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 2 – May 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 6 – Jun 20
BeansSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 2 – Aug 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 13 – Oct 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 23) and first fall frost (Sep 27) 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 04966 came on May 2 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (May 8).

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 4b in Maine

451 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Maine, and rated by the USDA to survive −25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 52

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 86

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 153

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 144

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 5

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 °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 Phillips, ME.

Soil in Phillips, ME

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 04966 is Saddleback — highly decomposed plant material, well drained.

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

Map unit: Saddleback-Ricker complex, 25 to 60 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 04966; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Phillips, ME

Summer high76 °Faverage high, July
Winter low0 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights200nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,483base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 35 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)
Precipitation48.3 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 23 °F, low 0 °F 23°0° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 0 °F 27°0° FebMarch: average high 36 °F, low 9 °F 36°9° MarApril: average high 48 °F, low 25 °F 48°25° AprMay: average high 63 °F, low 37 °F 63°37° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° JunJuly: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° JulAugust: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° SepOctober: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° OctNovember: average high 40 °F, low 23 °F 40°23° NovDecember: average high 29 °F, low 11 °F 29°11° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 JanFebruary: 2.95 in precipitation 3.0 FebMarch: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 MarApril: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 5.27 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 4.29 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 5.26 in precipitation 5.3 OctNovember: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 NovDecember: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Rangeley, ME (14 mi away); precipitation: Phillips 2, ME (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

042855a
Weld, ME · 8 mi
042755a
Roxbury, ME · 8 mi
042265a
East Andover, ME · 14 mi
049845a
Temple, ME · 15 mi
049835a
Strong, ME · 16 mi
049704b
Rangeley, ME · 16 mi
042575a
Mexico, ME · 16 mi
042765a
Rumford, ME · 16 mi

Maine planting zones →

Questions about 04966

What planting zone is ZIP code 04966?

ZIP code 04966 (Phillips, ME) is in USDA hardiness zone 4b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −25 to −20 °F (−31.7 to −28.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Phillips, ME?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 04966 is May 23; after June 3 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rangeley station.

When is the first frost in Phillips, ME?

The median first fall frost near 04966 is September 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 127 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 04966?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 28 – Apr 11 and set transplants outside around May 30 – Jun 13, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 04966 get?

About 48.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Phillips 2 station).

How hot do summers get in Phillips, ME?

The average high peaks at 76 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 04966 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Saddleback at the center of ZIP 04966: highly decomposed plant material, well drained.

Did spring come early in Phillips, ME in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 04966 came on May 2 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (May 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Phillips, ME?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 04966 is 15 h 35 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).