When to Plant Potatoes in Maine: Counting Back From Your Last Frost
Soil temperature decides potato planting day in Maine, not a date on a seed packet.
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.
Harvesting and Storing Potatoes in Maine
Maine’s growing season ends fast once fall arrives, and that timing decides everything about how this crop gets handled.
Potato Varieties That Suit Maine
For most of Maine, early and mid-season potato varieties are the safer bet, since the state’s cool summers and short frost-free window favor potatoes…
When Does the Heating Season Start in Maine?
In Maine, heating demand typically begins in September, when the average monthly temperature first drops below the 65°F threshold used to calculate…
What to Plant in Maine in September
Late summer heat in Maine hides a fast-closing window. The first fall frost lands somewhere between October 9 and October 21 depending on where you…
What to Plant in Maine in October
Garlic and shallot cloves are the headline task this month in Maine, going into the ground while the soil still turns easily.
What to Plant in Maine in November
By November, most of Maine has already had its first fall frost, which lands somewhere between October 9 and October 21 along the coast, according to NOAA.
What to Plant in Maine in May
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.
What to Plant in Maine in March
March in Maine is not a planting month for open ground, not for most of the state.
What to Plant in Maine in June
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…