When to plant in Rockport, ME
Planting dates worked out from Rockport's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Last spring frost
- Early · riskyApr 209 years in 10 still get a later frost
- TypicalMay 1about half of years get a later frost
- Safe to plant outMay 131 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
- EarlyOct 81 year in 10 has frost by then
- TypicalOct 21about half of years have had frost
- LateNov 29 years in 10 have had frost by then
A typical year has 174 frost-free days. Plan for tender crops to be ripe by the early date.
Station used: W Rockport 1 Nnw · 5.7 km away · station 110 m, town 16 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 22 – Apr 5 | May 17 – May 31 | Jul 11 |
| Sweet pepper | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | May 17 – May 31 | Jul 16 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Mar 13 – Mar 20 | Apr 17 – May 1 | May 27 |
| Peas | — | Apr 17 – May 15 | Jun 11 |
| Bush beans | — | May 12 – Jun 2 | Jul 1 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 25 – Jun 6 | Jun 24 |
| Beet | — | Apr 25 – Jun 6 | Jun 14 |
| Potato | — | Apr 25 – May 16 | Jul 4 |
| Kale | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | Apr 24 – May 8 | Jun 6 |
| Broccoli | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | Apr 17 – May 8 | Jun 16 |
| Cucumber | Apr 19 – Apr 26 | May 17 – May 31 | Jul 6 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | Apr 19 – Apr 26 | May 17 – May 31 | Jul 1 |
| Winter squash | Apr 19 – Apr 26 | May 17 – May 31 | Aug 5 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 12 – Jun 2 | Jul 11 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | Apr 17 – May 8 | Jul 16 |
| Garlic | — | Sep 30 – Oct 28 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Apr 17 – May 15 | May 25 |
| Basil | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | May 17 – May 31 | Jul 13 |
Rockport'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 |
|---|---|
| 1977 | May 11 |
| 1978 | May 2 |
| 1979 | Apr 21 |
| 1980 | Apr 22 |
| 1981 | May 18 |
| 1982 | Apr 30 |
| 1983 | May 10 |
| 1984 | May 6 |
| 1985 | May 9 |
| 1986 | May 9 |
| 1987 | May 2 |
| 1988 | May 10 |
| 1989 | Apr 26 |
| 1990 | Apr 19 |
| 1991 | Apr 20 |
| 1992 | May 8 |
| 1993 | Apr 29 |
| 1994 | May 3 |
| 1995 | May 7 |
| 1996 | Apr 29 |
| 2002 | Apr 30 |
| 2003 | May 16 |
| 2004 | May 9 |
| 2005 | May 13 |
| 2008 | May 1 |
| 2009 | Apr 20 |
| 2010 | May 11 |
| 2011 | Apr 23 |
| 2012 | Apr 30 |
| 2013 | Apr 23 |
| 2014 | Apr 20 |
| 2015 | May 2 |
| 2017 | Apr 19 |
| 2018 | Apr 22 |
| 2019 | Apr 29 |
| 2020 | May 13 |
| 2021 | Apr 23 |
| 2022 | Apr 21 |
| 2023 | May 18 |
| 2024 | Apr 26 |
| 2025 | Apr 18 |
| 2026 | Apr 25 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1977 | 164 |
| 1978 | 166 |
| 1979 | 151 |
| 1980 | 159 |
| 1981 | 145 |
| 1982 | 162 |
| 1983 | 163 |
| 1984 | 152 |
| 1985 | 160 |
| 1986 | 150 |
| 1987 | 147 |
| 1988 | 135 |
| 1989 | 154 |
| 1990 | 183 |
| 1991 | 183 |
| 1992 | 145 |
| 1993 | 159 |
| 1994 | 177 |
| 1995 | 175 |
| 1996 | 166 |
| 2003 | 143 |
| 2005 | 166 |
| 2008 | 174 |
| 2009 | 174 |
| 2010 | 165 |
| 2011 | 187 |
| 2012 | 165 |
| 2013 | 185 |
| 2014 | 195 |
| 2015 | 168 |
| 2017 | 202 |
| 2018 | 178 |
| 2019 | 186 |
| 2020 | 148 |
| 2021 | 183 |
| 2022 | 201 |
| 2023 | 165 |
| 2024 | 184 |
| 2025 | 197 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1977 | 14.4 °C |
| 1978 | 14.3 °C |
| 1979 | 14.4 °C |
| 1980 | 14.5 °C |
| 1981 | 14.7 °C |
| 1982 | 13.0 °C |
| 1983 | 14.4 °C |
| 1984 | 13.8 °C |
| 1985 | 13.6 °C |
| 1986 | 12.8 °C |
| 1987 | 13.5 °C |
| 1988 | 15.1 °C |
| 1989 | 14.8 °C |
| 1990 | 15.1 °C |
| 1991 | 15.9 °C |
| 1992 | 14.5 °C |
| 1993 | 15.6 °C |
| 1994 | 15.1 °C |
| 1995 | 14.7 °C |
| 1996 | 14.2 °C |
| 2001 | 15.6 °C |
| 2005 | 14.6 °C |
| 2008 | 14.8 °C |
| 2009 | 15.0 °C |
| 2010 | 16.5 °C |
| 2011 | 15.5 °C |
| 2012 | 15.8 °C |
| 2013 | 15.3 °C |
| 2014 | 15.1 °C |
| 2015 | 15.6 °C |
| 2017 | 15.4 °C |
| 2018 | 15.7 °C |
| 2019 | 15.0 °C |
| 2020 | 15.4 °C |
| 2021 | 16.4 °C |
| 2022 | 16.1 °C |
| 2023 | 15.7 °C |
| 2024 | 16.3 °C |
| 2025 | 15.8 °C |
| 2026 | 16.0 °C |
What this means for you: Since 1977, Rockport's last spring frost has come about 2 days earlier per decade, on average. The frost-free season has grown by about 7 days per decade. Year-to-year swings are large, so keep using the safe date rather than the trend.
Source: daily records from W Rockport 1 Nnw (NOAA GHCN-Daily). Years with too many missing days are left out.