When to plant in Jay, ME
Planting dates worked out from Jay's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Safe to plant out
May 29
1 year in 10 has a later frost
Average last frost
May 20
about a 50% chance of a later one
Average first fall frost
Sep 22
1 year in 10 by Sep 13
Frost-free days
124
median, 1991–2020
Station used: Farmington · 22.1 km away · station 125 m, town 112 m. How we match towns to stations
This season
Plan your garden.
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out or sow | Harvest from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 3 – Apr 17 | May 29 – Jun 12 | Jul 23 |
| Sweet pepper | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | May 29 – Jun 12 | Jul 28 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Mar 18 – Mar 25 | Apr 22 – May 6 | Jun 1 |
| Peas | — | Apr 20 – May 18 | Jun 14 |
| Bush beans | — | May 22 – Jun 12 | Jul 11 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 29 – Jun 10 | Jun 28 |
| Beet | — | Apr 28 – Jun 9 | Jun 17 |
| Potato | — | Apr 29 – May 20 | Jul 8 |
| Kale | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | Apr 27 – May 11 | Jun 9 |
| Broccoli | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | Apr 22 – May 13 | Jun 21 |
| Cucumber | May 1 – May 8 | May 29 – Jun 12 | Jul 18 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | May 1 – May 8 | May 29 – Jun 12 | Jul 13 |
| Winter squash | May 1 – May 8 | May 29 – Jun 12 | Aug 17 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 22 – Jun 12 | Jul 21 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | Apr 22 – May 13 | Jul 21 |
| Garlic | — | Sep 8 – Oct 6 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Apr 20 – May 18 | May 28 |
| Basil | Apr 17 – May 1 | May 29 – Jun 12 | Jul 25 |
Jay's weather over time
How the growing season has shifted here, year by year, from the station's own records.
Each year's last spring frostLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Last spring frost |
|---|---|
| 1893 | May 27 |
| 1894 | May 22 |
| 1895 | May 14 |
| 1896 | May 20 |
| 1897 | May 8 |
| 1898 | May 10 |
| 1899 | May 17 |
| 1900 | May 23 |
| 1901 | May 6 |
| 1902 | May 21 |
| 1903 | May 31 |
| 1904 | May 6 |
| 1905 | May 24 |
| 1906 | Jun 12 |
| 1907 | May 26 |
| 1908 | Jun 3 |
| 1910 | May 20 |
| 1911 | May 7 |
| 1912 | Jun 10 |
| 1914 | May 16 |
| 1915 | Jun 3 |
| 1916 | May 14 |
| 1917 | May 31 |
| 1918 | Jun 21 |
| 1919 | May 16 |
| 1920 | May 16 |
| 1921 | May 24 |
| 1922 | May 14 |
| 1923 | May 31 |
| 1924 | May 26 |
| 1925 | May 19 |
| 1926 | Jun 5 |
| 1927 | May 8 |
| 1928 | May 15 |
| 1929 | May 23 |
| 1930 | May 12 |
| 1931 | May 18 |
| 1932 | Jun 8 |
| 1933 | May 17 |
| 1934 | May 19 |
| 1935 | May 23 |
| 1936 | May 22 |
| 1937 | Apr 30 |
| 1938 | May 19 |
| 1939 | May 17 |
| 1940 | May 15 |
| 1941 | May 12 |
| 1942 | May 12 |
| 1943 | May 15 |
| 1944 | Jun 4 |
| 1945 | Jun 3 |
| 1946 | May 14 |
| 1947 | May 16 |
| 1948 | May 6 |
| 1949 | May 26 |
| 1950 | Jun 12 |
| 1951 | May 19 |
| 1952 | May 15 |
| 1953 | May 3 |
| 1954 | May 14 |
| 1955 | May 17 |
| 1956 | May 29 |
| 1957 | May 19 |
| 1958 | Jun 7 |
| 1959 | May 19 |
| 1960 | May 3 |
| 1961 | May 18 |
| 1962 | May 28 |
| 1963 | May 25 |
| 1964 | Jun 6 |
| 1965 | May 15 |
| 1966 | May 12 |
| 1967 | Jun 1 |
| 1968 | May 28 |
| 1969 | Jul 8 |
| 1971 | Jun 11 |
| 1972 | May 27 |
| 1973 | Jun 3 |
| 1974 | Jun 8 |
| 1975 | May 9 |
| 1976 | Jun 13 |
| 1977 | May 12 |
| 1978 | May 23 |
| 1979 | Jun 26 |
| 1980 | Jun 10 |
| 1981 | May 21 |
| 1982 | Jun 4 |
| 1983 | May 20 |
| 1984 | Jun 16 |
| 1985 | May 16 |
| 1986 | Jun 3 |
| 1987 | May 21 |
| 1988 | May 15 |
| 1989 | May 9 |
| 1990 | Jun 6 |
| 1991 | May 20 |
| 1992 | May 27 |
| 1993 | May 15 |
| 1994 | May 29 |
| 1995 | May 9 |
| 1996 | May 28 |
| 1997 | May 28 |
| 1998 | May 27 |
| 1999 | May 15 |
| 2000 | May 20 |
| 2001 | May 14 |
| 2002 | Jun 4 |
| 2003 | May 17 |
| 2004 | May 31 |
| 2005 | May 14 |
| 2006 | May 9 |
| 2007 | May 22 |
| 2008 | May 2 |
| 2009 | May 26 |
| 2010 | May 13 |
| 2011 | May 2 |
| 2012 | May 12 |
| 2013 | May 28 |
| 2014 | May 29 |
| 2015 | May 24 |
| 2016 | May 11 |
| 2017 | May 21 |
| 2018 | May 19 |
| 2019 | May 9 |
| 2020 | Jun 2 |
| 2021 | May 13 |
| 2022 | May 19 |
| 2024 | May 11 |
| 2026 | May 31 |
Each year's frost-free daysLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1893 | 117 |
| 1894 | 112 |
| 1895 | 123 |
| 1896 | 107 |
| 1898 | 125 |
| 1899 | 121 |
| 1900 | 118 |
| 1901 | 136 |
| 1902 | 107 |
| 1903 | 99 |
| 1904 | 138 |
| 1905 | 113 |
| 1906 | 104 |
| 1907 | 115 |
| 1908 | 108 |
| 1910 | 125 |
| 1911 | 129 |
| 1912 | 103 |
| 1914 | 135 |
| 1915 | 119 |
| 1916 | 139 |
| 1917 | 100 |
| 1918 | 81 |
| 1919 | 124 |
| 1920 | 127 |
| 1921 | 119 |
| 1922 | 126 |
| 1923 | 106 |
| 1924 | 121 |
| 1925 | 126 |
| 1926 | 113 |
| 1927 | 139 |
| 1928 | 134 |
| 1929 | 119 |
| 1930 | 121 |
| 1931 | 134 |
| 1932 | 114 |
| 1933 | 150 |
| 1934 | 135 |
| 1935 | 113 |
| 1936 | 126 |
| 1937 | 144 |
| 1938 | 133 |
| 1939 | 127 |
| 1940 | 134 |
| 1941 | 123 |
| 1942 | 136 |
| 1943 | 126 |
| 1944 | 111 |
| 1945 | 105 |
| 1946 | 121 |
| 1947 | 126 |
| 1948 | 131 |
| 1949 | 107 |
| 1950 | 97 |
| 1951 | 133 |
| 1952 | 135 |
| 1953 | 143 |
| 1954 | 121 |
| 1955 | 119 |
| 1956 | 112 |
| 1957 | 128 |
| 1958 | 114 |
| 1959 | 119 |
| 1960 | 136 |
| 1961 | 121 |
| 1962 | 101 |
| 1963 | 102 |
| 1964 | 98 |
| 1965 | 107 |
| 1966 | 122 |
| 1967 | 101 |
| 1968 | 109 |
| 1969 | 72 |
| 1971 | 105 |
| 1972 | 116 |
| 1973 | 109 |
| 1974 | 100 |
| 1975 | 124 |
| 1976 | 103 |
| 1977 | 133 |
| 1978 | 107 |
| 1979 | 85 |
| 1980 | 90 |
| 1981 | 111 |
| 1982 | 78 |
| 1983 | 117 |
| 1984 | 82 |
| 1985 | 118 |
| 1986 | 86 |
| 1987 | 105 |
| 1988 | 123 |
| 1989 | 138 |
| 1990 | 132 |
| 1991 | 115 |
| 1992 | 119 |
| 1993 | 127 |
| 1994 | 125 |
| 1995 | 124 |
| 1996 | 118 |
| 1997 | 116 |
| 1998 | 119 |
| 1999 | 126 |
| 2000 | 108 |
| 2001 | 123 |
| 2002 | 88 |
| 2003 | 136 |
| 2004 | 121 |
| 2005 | 133 |
| 2006 | 140 |
| 2007 | 117 |
| 2008 | 139 |
| 2009 | 116 |
| 2010 | 130 |
| 2011 | 156 |
| 2012 | 130 |
| 2013 | 133 |
| 2014 | 108 |
| 2015 | 124 |
| 2016 | 137 |
| 2017 | 132 |
| 2018 | 126 |
| 2019 | 132 |
| 2020 | 108 |
| 2021 | 163 |
| 2024 | 158 |
Each year's average temperature, April to SeptemberLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1893 | 14.2 °C |
| 1894 | 15.2 °C |
| 1895 | 16.6 °C |
| 1896 | 16.4 °C |
| 1897 | 15.1 °C |
| 1898 | 15.0 °C |
| 1899 | 14.7 °C |
| 1900 | 14.6 °C |
| 1901 | 15.6 °C |
| 1902 | 14.0 °C |
| 1903 | 14.1 °C |
| 1904 | 14.3 °C |
| 1905 | 14.2 °C |
| 1906 | 14.5 °C |
| 1907 | 13.6 °C |
| 1908 | 15.2 °C |
| 1910 | 14.8 °C |
| 1911 | 15.3 °C |
| 1912 | 13.5 °C |
| 1913 | 14.4 °C |
| 1914 | 14.2 °C |
| 1915 | 15.0 °C |
| 1916 | 14.7 °C |
| 1917 | 14.1 °C |
| 1918 | 14.9 °C |
| 1919 | 15.0 °C |
| 1920 | 15.0 °C |
| 1921 | 16.0 °C |
| 1922 | 15.5 °C |
| 1923 | 14.2 °C |
| 1924 | 14.1 °C |
| 1925 | 14.4 °C |
| 1926 | 13.5 °C |
| 1927 | 14.4 °C |
| 1928 | 14.4 °C |
| 1929 | 15.1 °C |
| 1930 | 15.4 °C |
| 1931 | 16.2 °C |
| 1932 | 15.3 °C |
| 1933 | 15.6 °C |
| 1934 | 16.0 °C |
| 1935 | 15.5 °C |
| 1936 | 15.4 °C |
| 1937 | 16.4 °C |
| 1938 | 16.0 °C |
| 1939 | 15.3 °C |
| 1940 | 14.8 °C |
| 1941 | 16.5 °C |
| 1942 | 15.6 °C |
| 1943 | 14.6 °C |
| 1944 | 15.2 °C |
| 1945 | 15.0 °C |
| 1946 | 14.7 °C |
| 1947 | 14.9 °C |
| 1948 | 14.3 °C |
| 1949 | 16.0 °C |
| 1950 | 13.9 °C |
| 1951 | 15.0 °C |
| 1952 | 15.8 °C |
| 1953 | 15.4 °C |
| 1954 | 14.1 °C |
| 1955 | 15.9 °C |
| 1956 | 12.8 °C |
| 1957 | 14.9 °C |
| 1958 | 13.6 °C |
| 1959 | 15.2 °C |
| 1960 | 14.6 °C |
| 1961 | 14.8 °C |
| 1962 | 13.4 °C |
| 1963 | 14.0 °C |
| 1964 | 13.3 °C |
| 1965 | 14.2 °C |
| 1966 | 13.6 °C |
| 1967 | 13.4 °C |
| 1968 | 13.5 °C |
| 1969 | 13.1 °C |
| 1970 | 14.0 °C |
| 1971 | 13.3 °C |
| 1972 | 13.0 °C |
| 1973 | 14.0 °C |
| 1974 | 12.7 °C |
| 1975 | 13.6 °C |
| 1976 | 13.4 °C |
| 1977 | 13.2 °C |
| 1978 | 12.7 °C |
| 1979 | 13.0 °C |
| 1980 | 13.0 °C |
| 1981 | 14.0 °C |
| 1982 | 12.6 °C |
| 1983 | 14.0 °C |
| 1984 | 13.8 °C |
| 1985 | 13.3 °C |
| 1986 | 13.3 °C |
| 1987 | 13.7 °C |
| 1988 | 14.2 °C |
| 1989 | 13.8 °C |
| 1990 | 13.8 °C |
| 1991 | 14.2 °C |
| 1992 | 12.9 °C |
| 1993 | 14.0 °C |
| 1994 | 13.9 °C |
| 1995 | 13.5 °C |
| 1996 | 13.8 °C |
| 1997 | 12.9 °C |
| 1998 | 14.7 °C |
| 1999 | 15.2 °C |
| 2000 | 13.3 °C |
| 2001 | 14.7 °C |
| 2002 | 14.4 °C |
| 2003 | 14.2 °C |
| 2004 | 14.0 °C |
| 2005 | 14.6 °C |
| 2006 | 14.8 °C |
| 2007 | 13.9 °C |
| 2008 | 14.4 °C |
| 2009 | 14.0 °C |
| 2010 | 15.6 °C |
| 2011 | 14.8 °C |
| 2012 | 15.0 °C |
| 2013 | 14.5 °C |
| 2014 | 14.1 °C |
| 2015 | 14.8 °C |
| 2016 | 14.7 °C |
| 2017 | 14.5 °C |
| 2018 | 14.8 °C |
| 2019 | 14.0 °C |
| 2020 | 14.7 °C |
| 2021 | 15.3 °C |
| 2022 | 15.0 °C |
| 2024 | 15.9 °C |
What this means for you: Since 1893, Jay's last spring frost has stayed at about the same time of year. Year-to-year swings are large, so keep using the safe date rather than the trend.
Source: daily records from Farmington (NOAA GHCN-Daily). Years with too many missing days are left out.