How Late Can You Plant Trees and Shrubs in Fall in Maine?
In Portland, the safe target for planting trees and shrubs in fall is August 28 to September 9, which is six weeks before the first fall frost (October 9…
Gardening in Maine
Everything we have worked out for Maine: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Portland, the last spring freeze runs April 22 to May 1 and the first fall freeze runs October 9 to October 21, USDA zones 3b-6a, 2,408 growing degree days in the year.
That is enough for early varieties, tight for anything late. Garlic does well: 30.4 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Maine: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
When to Mulch Strawberries and Perennials for Winter in Maine
In Maine, winter mulch goes on after the ground starts to freeze, not when the first frost shows up.
When to Dig Up Dahlias, Cannas and Gladiolus in Maine
In Maine, all three come out of the ground every fall. Lift dahlias, cannas and gladiolus after a frost blackens the foliage, which at Portland falls…
What Eats Beet in Maine, and When
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension documents ten insect pests for Maine, and most of them have no interest in a beet row.
When to Pull Carrots in Maine, and How to Keep Them
Carrots are ready when the shoulders swell up at the soil line and the tops look full, which in Maine usually means 70 to 100 days after seeding.
Hedge Plants for Maine: What Holds, and What Only Looks Hardy
Of the 12 hedge species tracked for Maine, six survive winter anywhere in the state, six survive only in part of it, and none fail everywhere.
What Do Homes in Maine Cool With?
Most Maine homes cool with something other than central air. Seventy percent of households run air-conditioning equipment of some kind, but only 10% have…
How High Can a Hedge Be in Maine? What the Law Actually Says
Maine has no statewide hedge height limit. If you search for one, you won’t find it, because it doesn’t exist.
What Eats Pepper in Maine, and When
No source used here identifies specific insects that feed on pepper plants in Maine by name.
What Eats Carrot in Maine, and When
The confirmed record behind this page does not include a species-by-species pest list for carrots grown in Maine.