Frost Dates for Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Last spring frost May 8 · First fall frost October 3 · 148 frost-free days · USDA Zone 6a
ZIP 04609 has about 5,240 people.
Moderate season: 148 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 25–May 23 (28 days). Fall frost risk spans September 21–October 14 (23 days).
Frost probability for 04609
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 23 | May 8 | April 25 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 21 | October 3 | October 14 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at ORONO (65.5 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 148-day season in Bar Harbor
In Bar Harbor (148 frost-free days, a moderate season), 34 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 21 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 3 | May 22–May 29 | 106 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 106 available after May 22. | Jun 3 |
| Pepper | Mar 27 | May 22–May 29 | 106 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 106 available after May 22. | Jun 8 |
| Lettuce | Mar 13 | Apr 10–Apr 17 | 183 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 12 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 17–Apr 24 | 190 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 190 available after Apr 17. | Aug 1 |
| Cucumber | Apr 17 | May 22–May 29 | 120 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 120 available after May 22. | Jul 7 |
| Beans | — | May 15–May 29 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 15 and again by Jul 14; both mature before Sep 26. | Jul 14 |
| Peas | — | Mar 13–May 22 | 211 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 211 available after Mar 13. | Jul 23 |
| Zucchini | Apr 24 | May 22–May 29 | 120 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 120 available after May 22. | Jul 12 |
| Onion | Feb 13 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 183 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 183 available after Apr 10. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 13–May 1 | 225 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 13 and again by Aug 31; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 31 |
| Kale | Feb 27 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 197 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 16 |
| Broccoli | Mar 13 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 183 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 183 available after Apr 10. | Jul 8 |
| Cabbage | Mar 13 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 197 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 197 available after Apr 10. | Aug 1 |
| Radish | — | Mar 13–Jun 5 | 211 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 13 and again by Sep 1; both mature before Oct 10. | Sep 1 |
| Beets | — | Mar 13–Jun 5 | 211 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 13 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 2 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 24–May 1 | 169 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 169 available after Apr 24. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 3 | 253 | overwinter: Plant Oct 3 to Oct 24; harvest the following summer. | Oct 24 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 3–May 29 | 204 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 3; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 10 | May 15–May 22 | 120 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 120 available after May 15. | Jun 15 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 24 | May 22–May 22 | 113 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 113 available after May 22. | — |
| Cauliflower | Mar 27 | May 1–May 15 | 162 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 162 available after May 1. | Jul 13 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 13 | Apr 24–Apr 24 | 169 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 24 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 2 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 13–Jun 5 | 225 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 13 and again by Aug 31; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 31 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 13 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 197 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 197 available after Apr 10. | Jul 2 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 24 | May 22–May 29 | 113 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 113 available after May 22. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 20 | May 22–May 29 | 106 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 106 available after May 22. | Jun 13 |
| Okra | Apr 10 | May 15–May 22 | 127 | two-plantings: Plant May 15 and again by Jul 12; both mature before Sep 19. | Jul 12 |
| Basil | Apr 3 | May 29–May 29 | 113 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 113 available after May 29. | Jul 7 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 10–May 1 | 183 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 7 |
| Parsley | Feb 27 | May 15–May 22 | 148 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 148 available after May 15. | Jul 18 |
| Celery | Feb 27 | May 15–May 29 | 148 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 148 available after May 15. | May 29 |
| Scallions | Feb 27 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 197 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 11 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 197 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 21 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 27–Apr 10 | 211 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 27 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 16 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 10 | May 1–May 8 | 162 | two-plantings: Plant May 1 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 12 |
| Collards | Feb 27 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 197 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 11 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 24 | May 22–May 29 | 106 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 106 available after May 22. | May 29 |
| Chives | Feb 13 | May 15–May 22 | 162 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 162 available after May 15. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 13–Jun 5 | 211 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 13 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 2 |
| Oregano | Feb 27 | May 15–May 22 | 162 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 162 available after May 15. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 13 | May 15–May 22 | 148 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 148 available after May 15. | — |
| Sage | Mar 13 | May 15–May 22 | 162 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 162 available after May 15. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 27 | May 15–May 22 | 162 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 162 available after May 15. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 27 | Apr 24–May 8 | 169 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 24 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 7 |
| Cosmos | Apr 10 | May 8–May 22 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 8 and again by Jul 7; both mature before Sep 19. | Jul 7 |
| Lavender | Feb 13 | May 8–May 22 | 169 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 169 available after May 8. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 27 | May 8–May 15 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 8 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 19. | Jul 17 |
| Melons | Apr 24 | May 22–May 29 | 106 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 106 available after May 22. | May 29 |
| Mint | — | May 8–May 22 | 169 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 169 available after May 8. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 10 | May 8–May 15 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 8 and again by Jul 12; both mature before Sep 19. | Jul 12 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 15–May 29 | 127 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 127 available after May 15. | Jul 2 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 24 | May 22–May 29 | 113 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 113 available after May 22. | May 31 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 8–May 22 | 134 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 134 available after May 8. | Jun 27 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 13 | May 15–May 22 | 113 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 113 available after May 15. | Jun 8 |
| Watermelon | Apr 24 | May 15–May 22 | 113 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 113 available after May 15. | Jun 3 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 24 | May 22–May 29 | 120 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 120 available after May 22. | Jul 12 |
| Zinnias | Apr 10 | May 8–May 22 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 8 and again by Jul 7; both mature before Sep 19. | Jul 7 |
Month by month in Bar Harbor
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 13), Lavender (Feb 13), Onion (Feb 13), Rosemary (Feb 13), Celery (Feb 27), Collards (Feb 27), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 13), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 13), Cabbage (Mar 13), Lettuce (Mar 13), Sage (Mar 13), Swiss Chard (Mar 13), +6 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 13), Beets (Mar 13), Dill (Mar 13), Peas (Mar 13), Radish (Mar 13), Spinach (Mar 13), +1 more. |
| April | Start indoors: Basil (Apr 3), Tomato (Apr 3), Bok Choy (Apr 10), Corn (Apr 10), Cosmos (Apr 10), Nasturtiums (Apr 10), +11 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 10), Turnip (Apr 10), Carrots (Apr 17), Potatoes (Apr 24). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 10), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 10), Cabbage (Apr 10), Collards (Apr 10), Kale (Apr 10), Lettuce (Apr 10), +4 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 3). |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 8), Beans (May 15), Pole Beans (May 15). Transplant from: Bok Choy (May 1), Cauliflower (May 1), Cosmos (May 8), Lavender (May 8), Marigolds (May 8), Mint (May 8), +25 more. Last frost around May 8. Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (May 29), Celery (May 29), Melons (May 29), Spaghetti Squash (May 31). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Tomato (Jun 3), Watermelon (Jun 3), Pepper (Jun 8), Tomatillos (Jun 8), Eggplant (Jun 13), Corn (Jun 15), +1 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Brussel Sprouts (Jul 2), Pole Beans (Jul 2), Basil (Jul 7), Cosmos (Jul 7), Cucumber (Jul 7), Zinnias (Jul 7), +10 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Cabbage (Aug 1), Carrots (Aug 1), Beets (Aug 2), Dill (Aug 2), Swiss Chard (Aug 2), Calendula (Aug 7), +10 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Radish (Sep 1). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 3). First frost around October 3. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 24). |
| November | Harvest remaining cold-hardy crops: kale, carrots, and beets. Plant garlic bulbs for next year. |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Bar Harbor, ME (ZIP 04609)?
The median last spring frost date for Bar Harbor, ME (ZIP code 04609) is around May 8. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before April 25; one in ten it runs past May 23.
What is the first fall frost date in Bar Harbor, ME?
The median first fall frost date for Bar Harbor, ME is around October 3. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around September 21 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Bar Harbor, ME?
The frost-free growing season in Bar Harbor is about 148 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Bar Harbor (148 frost-free days, a moderate season), 34 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 21 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Bar Harbor, ME?
Bar Harbor, ME is in USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Bar Harbor, ME?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 3 and plant out May 22 in Bar Harbor. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Bar Harbor?
Two: plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 10.
When do I plant garlic in Bar Harbor?
Oct 3 to Oct 24; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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