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

Planting zone for 04986 — Thorndike, ME

ZIP code 04986 (Thorndike, Waldo County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 7 and the first fall frost October 5.

Where ZIP 04986 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostMay 7
First frostOct 5
2012 zone5a

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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Thorndike, 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 Thorndike, ME

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season151 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 27 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Belfast, ME — 16 miles away, elevation 20 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 04986

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
TomatoesTransplant · May 14 – May 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
BeansSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 7) and first fall frost (Oct 5) 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 04986 came on Apr 16 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23).

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 5a in Maine

483 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Maine, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 53

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 96

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 166

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 151

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 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 Thorndike, ME.

Soil in Thorndike, ME

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 04986 is Brayton — highly decomposed plant material, poorly drained.

TextureHighly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter53%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Brayton fine sandy loam, 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 04986; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Thorndike, ME

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low10 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights162nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,802base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 33 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 49 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation46.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall86 inper year; 107 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 30 °F, low 10 °F 30°10° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 12 °F 32°12° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 20 °F 40°20° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 31 °F 52°31° AprMay: average high 63 °F, low 41 °F 63°41° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 51 °F 72°51° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 57 °F 77°57° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 56 °F 76°56° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 48 °F 70°48° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 38 °F 57°38° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 29 °F 46°29° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 18 °F 35°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.73 in precipitation, 19.6 in snowfall 3.7❄20 JanFebruary: 3.00 in precipitation, 19.3 in snowfall 3.0❄19 FebMarch: 3.99 in precipitation, 17 in snowfall 4.0❄17 MarApril: 3.99 in precipitation, 4.3 in snowfall 4.0❄4 AprMay: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 MayJune: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 3.21 in precipitation 3.2 JulAugust: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 5.05 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 5.0❄1 OctNovember: 4.42 in precipitation, 3.4 in snowfall 4.4❄3 NovDecember: 4.49 in precipitation, 21 in snowfall 4.5❄21 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Belfast, ME (16 mi away); precipitation: Albion, ME (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

049215a
Brooks, ME · 4 mi
049415a
Freedom, ME · 7 mi
049885a
Unity, ME · 8 mi
049515a
Monroe, ME · 8 mi
049875a
Troy, ME · 9 mi
049525b
Morrill, ME · 10 mi
049155b
Belfast, ME · 10 mi
049325a
Dixmont, ME · 11 mi

Maine planting zones →

Questions about 04986

What planting zone is ZIP code 04986?

ZIP code 04986 (Thorndike, ME) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Thorndike, ME?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 04986 is May 7; after May 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Belfast station.

When is the first frost in Thorndike, ME?

The median first fall frost near 04986 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 151 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 04986?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 12 – Mar 26 and set transplants outside around May 14 – May 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 04986 get?

About 46.7 inches of precipitation a year and 86 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Albion station).

How hot do summers get in Thorndike, 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 04986 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Brayton at the center of ZIP 04986: highly decomposed plant material, poorly drained, pH about 4.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Thorndike, ME in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 04986 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Thorndike, ME?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 04986 is 15 h 33 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).