When to Sow Autumn Spinach in Maine
In coastal Maine, sow spring spinach in early April, about two to three weeks before the April 22 to May 1 average last frost.
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.
Will Spinach Bolt Early in Maine?
Spinach bolts early almost everywhere in Maine, and the reason isn’t really the state’s mild summer heat. It’s daylight.
Will Maine Soil Hold an Asparagus Bed for Fifteen Years?
Yes, in most cases. The soil that represents Maine, the Chesuncook series, is described as moderately well drained, and drainage is the one soil…
When to Plant Asparagus Crowns in Maine
Plant asparagus crowns in Maine in early spring, once the ground has thawed and dried out enough to dig, timed loosely to the region’s last spring frost…
Growing Sweet Corn in Maine: Will It Ripen?
Yes, in most of Maine, though the calendar runs tighter than many gardeners assume.
Growing Asparagus in Maine: Fifteen Years in One Spot
A bed of asparagus in Maine ties up one patch of ground for 10 to 15 years, so the real question isn’t whether the crop will grow here, it’s whether the…
When to Sow Pumpkins in Maine
The short version: soil needs to hit 65 F before pumpkin seed goes in the ground, which in coastal Maine usually lands in late May to early June, well…
Will Pumpkins Ripen Before Frost in Maine?
Maine’s first fall frost typically lands between October 9 and October 21, and a pumpkin needs 45 to 55 days after its flower opens, not after the seed…
When to Sow Parsnips in Maine
Sow parsnips in Maine two to three weeks before your last spring frost. Along the coast near Portland, that frost typically falls between April 22 and…
Will Parsnips Sweeten in Maine?
Yes, parsnips grown in Maine will sweeten, and the coastal reference station makes the case: a mean minimum of 15.6°F in the coldest month means the crop…