May is the month Maine gardeners actually get to use the soil, but the safe planting list changes by the week and by the county.

March in Maine is not a planting month for open ground, not for most of the state.

By June, coastal Maine has cleared its last frost window of April 22 to May 1, and the soil has finally warmed enough to take the crops that sat waiting…

By July, Maine gardens are past the frost risk entirely, sitting weeks beyond the last spring freeze window of April 22 to May 1.

Nothing goes into open ground in Maine in January. The soil sits frozen solid from Kittery to Fort Kent, buried under snow more often than not.

Nothing goes into open Maine ground in February. Frost isn’t clearing until April 22 at the earliest, and often not until May 1, so the soil sits frozen…

By December, Maine’s growing season is closed for direct outdoor planting almost everywhere in the state.

August in Maine sits in the thick of the growing season, past the spring frost window and still weeks from the first fall freeze.

In Maine, April planting means cold-hardy crops only: peas, spinach, and other cool-season greens direct-sown once the soil is workable, onion sets and…