When to plant in Kennebunkport, ME
Planting dates worked out from Kennebunkport's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Last spring frost
- Early · riskyApr 309 years in 10 still get a later frost
- TypicalMay 10about half of years get a later frost
- Safe to plant outMay 201 year in 10 gets a later frost
Hardy crops like peas and spinach are timed from the typical date. Wait for the safe date before planting out tomatoes, peppers and squash.
First fall frost
- EarlySep 181 year in 10 has frost by then
- TypicalSep 30about half of years have had frost
- LateOct 139 years in 10 have had frost by then
A typical year has 143 frost-free days. Plan for tender crops to be ripe by the early date.
Station used: Kennebunkport · 0.6 km away · station 6 m, town 3 m. How we match towns to stations
Plan your garden.
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out or sow | Harvest from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | May 21 – Jun 4 | Jul 15 |
| Sweet pepper | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | May 21 – Jun 4 | Jul 20 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Mar 15 – Mar 22 | Apr 19 – May 3 | May 29 |
| Peas | — | Apr 19 – May 17 | Jun 13 |
| Bush beans | — | May 16 – Jun 6 | Jul 5 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 29 – Jun 10 | Jun 28 |
| Beet | — | Apr 29 – Jun 10 | Jun 18 |
| Potato | — | Apr 29 – May 20 | Jul 8 |
| Kale | Mar 15 – Mar 29 | Apr 26 – May 10 | Jun 8 |
| Broccoli | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | Apr 19 – May 10 | Jun 18 |
| Cucumber | Apr 23 – Apr 30 | May 21 – Jun 4 | Jul 10 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | Apr 23 – Apr 30 | May 21 – Jun 4 | Jul 5 |
| Winter squash | Apr 23 – Apr 30 | May 21 – Jun 4 | Aug 9 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 16 – Jun 6 | Jul 15 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | Apr 19 – May 10 | Jul 18 |
| Garlic | — | Sep 16 – Oct 14 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Apr 19 – May 17 | May 27 |
| Basil | Apr 9 – Apr 23 | May 21 – Jun 4 | Jul 17 |
Kennebunkport's weather over time
How the growing season has shifted here, year by year, from the station's own records.
See the data as a table
| Year | Last spring frost |
|---|---|
| 1990 | May 4 |
| 1991 | Apr 26 |
| 1992 | May 26 |
| 1993 | Apr 30 |
| 1994 | May 28 |
| 1995 | May 9 |
| 1996 | May 15 |
| 1997 | May 9 |
| 1998 | May 14 |
| 1999 | May 14 |
| 2000 | May 20 |
| 2001 | May 13 |
| 2002 | May 21 |
| 2003 | May 18 |
| 2004 | May 8 |
| 2005 | May 14 |
| 2006 | Apr 30 |
| 2007 | May 14 |
| 2008 | May 2 |
| 2009 | May 5 |
| 2010 | May 12 |
| 2011 | May 2 |
| 2013 | May 15 |
| 2014 | May 8 |
| 2015 | Apr 26 |
| 2016 | May 10 |
| 2017 | May 10 |
| 2018 | May 1 |
| 2019 | May 9 |
| 2020 | May 14 |
| 2021 | Apr 27 |
| 2022 | May 11 |
| 2023 | May 18 |
| 2024 | May 11 |
| 2025 | May 1 |
| 2026 | May 9 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 165 |
| 1991 | 148 |
| 1992 | 121 |
| 1993 | 142 |
| 1994 | 135 |
| 1995 | 108 |
| 1996 | 129 |
| 1997 | 135 |
| 1998 | 142 |
| 1999 | 144 |
| 2001 | 148 |
| 2002 | 140 |
| 2003 | 140 |
| 2004 | 150 |
| 2005 | 96 |
| 2006 | 160 |
| 2007 | 155 |
| 2008 | 138 |
| 2009 | 159 |
| 2010 | 153 |
| 2011 | 137 |
| 2013 | 151 |
| 2014 | 134 |
| 2015 | 153 |
| 2016 | 153 |
| 2017 | 155 |
| 2018 | 165 |
| 2019 | 148 |
| 2020 | 129 |
| 2021 | 179 |
| 2022 | 150 |
| 2023 | 158 |
| 2024 | 158 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 14.2 °C |
| 1991 | 15.1 °C |
| 1992 | 13.2 °C |
| 1993 | 14.2 °C |
| 1994 | 14.4 °C |
| 1995 | 13.6 °C |
| 1996 | 13.8 °C |
| 1997 | 14.0 °C |
| 1998 | 14.7 °C |
| 1999 | 15.5 °C |
| 2001 | 14.8 °C |
| 2002 | 14.4 °C |
| 2003 | 14.1 °C |
| 2004 | 13.8 °C |
| 2005 | 13.2 °C |
| 2006 | 15.0 °C |
| 2007 | 14.3 °C |
| 2008 | 14.2 °C |
| 2010 | 16.1 °C |
| 2011 | 14.5 °C |
| 2012 | 15.7 °C |
| 2013 | 14.8 °C |
| 2014 | 14.4 °C |
| 2015 | 14.9 °C |
| 2016 | 14.9 °C |
| 2017 | 14.9 °C |
| 2018 | 15.3 °C |
| 2019 | 14.4 °C |
| 2020 | 14.9 °C |
| 2021 | 15.9 °C |
| 2022 | 15.4 °C |
| 2023 | 15.3 °C |
| 2024 | 15.5 °C |
What this means for you: Since 1990, Kennebunkport's last spring frost has come about 2 days earlier per decade, on average. The frost-free season has grown by about 6 days per decade. Year-to-year swings are large, so keep using the safe date rather than the trend.
Source: daily records from Kennebunkport (NOAA GHCN-Daily). Years with too many missing days are left out.