Frost Dates for Bath, ME 04530
Last spring frost April 30 · First fall frost October 8 · 161 frost-free days · USDA Zone 6a
ZIP 04530 has about 11,300 people.
Moderate season: 161 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 19–May 11 (22 days). Fall frost risk spans September 27–October 19 (22 days).
Frost probability for 04530
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 11 | April 30 | April 19 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 27 | October 8 | October 19 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at NEWCASTLE (28.9 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 161-day season in Bath
In Bath (161 frost-free days, a moderate season), 32 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 23 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 26 | May 14–May 21 | 119 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 119 available after May 14. | Jun 8 |
| Pepper | Mar 19 | May 14–May 21 | 119 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 119 available after May 14. | Jun 13 |
| Lettuce | Mar 5 | Apr 2–Apr 9 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 17 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 9–Apr 16 | 203 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 203 available after Apr 9. | Aug 6 |
| Cucumber | Apr 9 | May 14–May 21 | 133 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 133 available after May 14. | Jul 12 |
| Beans | — | May 7–May 21 | 147 | two-plantings: Plant May 7 and again by Jul 19; both mature before Oct 1. | Jul 19 |
| Peas | — | Mar 5–May 14 | 224 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 224 available after Mar 5. | Jul 28 |
| Zucchini | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 133 | two-plantings: Plant May 14 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 17 |
| Onion | Feb 5 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 196 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 196 available after Apr 2. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 5–Apr 23 | 238 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 5 and again by Sep 5; both mature before Oct 29. | Sep 5 |
| Kale | Feb 19 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 21 |
| Broccoli | Mar 5 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 196 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 196 available after Apr 2. | Jul 13 |
| Cabbage | Mar 5 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 210 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 210 available after Apr 2. | Aug 6 |
| Radish | — | Mar 5–May 28 | 224 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 5 and again by Sep 6; both mature before Oct 15. | Sep 6 |
| Beets | — | Mar 5–May 28 | 224 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 5 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 7 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 16–Apr 23 | 182 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 182 available after Apr 16. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 8 | 266 | overwinter: Plant Oct 8 to Oct 29; harvest the following summer. | Oct 29 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 26–May 21 | 217 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 26; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 2 | May 7–May 14 | 133 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 133 available after May 7. | Jun 20 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 16 | May 14–May 14 | 126 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 126 available after May 14. | May 26 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 19 | Apr 23–May 7 | 175 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 175 available after Apr 23. | Jul 18 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 5 | Apr 16–Apr 16 | 182 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 7 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 5–May 28 | 238 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 5 and again by Sep 5; both mature before Oct 29. | Sep 5 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 5 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 210 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 210 available after Apr 2. | Jul 7 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 126 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 126 available after May 14. | May 26 |
| Eggplant | Mar 12 | May 14–May 21 | 119 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 119 available after May 14. | Jun 18 |
| Okra | Apr 2 | May 7–May 14 | 140 | two-plantings: Plant May 7 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 17 |
| Basil | Mar 26 | May 21–May 21 | 126 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 126 available after May 21. | Jul 12 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 2–Apr 23 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 12 |
| Parsley | Feb 19 | May 7–May 14 | 161 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 161 available after May 7. | Jul 23 |
| Celery | Feb 19 | May 7–May 21 | 161 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 161 available after May 7. | Jun 3 |
| Scallions | Feb 19 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 16 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 26 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 19–Apr 2 | 224 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 21 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 2 | Apr 23–Apr 30 | 175 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 23 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 17 |
| Collards | Feb 19 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 16 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 119 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 119 available after May 14. | Jun 3 |
| Chives | Feb 5 | May 7–May 14 | 175 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 175 available after May 7. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 5–May 28 | 224 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 5 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 7 |
| Oregano | Feb 19 | May 7–May 14 | 175 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 175 available after May 7. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 5 | May 7–May 14 | 161 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 161 available after May 7. | — |
| Sage | Mar 5 | May 7–May 14 | 175 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 175 available after May 7. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 19 | May 7–May 14 | 175 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 175 available after May 7. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 19 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 182 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 12 |
| Cosmos | Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 | 147 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Jul 12; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 12 |
| Lavender | Feb 5 | Apr 30–May 14 | 182 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 182 available after Apr 30. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 19 | Apr 30–May 7 | 147 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Jul 22; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 22 |
| Melons | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 119 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 119 available after May 14. | Jun 3 |
| Mint | — | Apr 30–May 14 | 182 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 182 available after Apr 30. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 7 | 147 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 17 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 7–May 21 | 140 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 140 available after May 7. | Jul 7 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 126 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 126 available after May 14. | Jun 5 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 30–May 14 | 147 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 147 available after Apr 30. | Jul 2 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 5 | May 7–May 14 | 126 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 126 available after May 7. | Jun 13 |
| Watermelon | Apr 16 | May 7–May 14 | 126 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 126 available after May 7. | Jun 8 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 133 | two-plantings: Plant May 14 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 17 |
| Zinnias | Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 | 147 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Jul 12; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 12 |
Month by month in Bath
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 5), Lavender (Feb 5), Onion (Feb 5), Rosemary (Feb 5), Celery (Feb 19), Collards (Feb 19), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 5), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 5), Cabbage (Mar 5), Lettuce (Mar 5), Sage (Mar 5), Swiss Chard (Mar 5), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 5), Beets (Mar 5), Dill (Mar 5), Peas (Mar 5), Radish (Mar 5), Spinach (Mar 5), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 26). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 2), Corn (Apr 2), Cosmos (Apr 2), Nasturtiums (Apr 2), Okra (Apr 2), Zinnias (Apr 2), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 2), Turnip (Apr 2), Carrots (Apr 9), Potatoes (Apr 16), Sunflowers (Apr 30). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 2), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 2), Cabbage (Apr 2), Collards (Apr 2), Kale (Apr 2), Lettuce (Apr 2), +12 more. Last frost around April 30. |
| May | Direct sow from: Beans (May 7), Pole Beans (May 7). Transplant from: Celery (May 7), Chives (May 7), Corn (May 7), Okra (May 7), Oregano (May 7), Parsley (May 7), +17 more. Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (May 26), Pumpkin (May 26). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (Jun 3), Celery (Jun 3), Melons (Jun 3), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 5), Tomato (Jun 8), Watermelon (Jun 8), +4 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Sunflowers (Jul 2), Brussel Sprouts (Jul 7), Pole Beans (Jul 7), Basil (Jul 12), Cosmos (Jul 12), Cucumber (Jul 12), +11 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Cabbage (Aug 6), Carrots (Aug 6), Beets (Aug 7), Dill (Aug 7), Swiss Chard (Aug 7), Calendula (Aug 12), +8 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Arugula (Sep 5), Spinach (Sep 5), Radish (Sep 6). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 8). First frost around October 8. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 29). |
| 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 Bath, ME (ZIP 04530)?
The median last spring frost date for Bath, ME (ZIP code 04530) is around April 30. 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 19; one in ten it runs past May 11.
What is the first fall frost date in Bath, ME?
The median first fall frost date for Bath, ME is around October 8. 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 27 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Bath, ME?
The frost-free growing season in Bath is about 161 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 Bath (161 frost-free days, a moderate season), 32 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 23 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Bath, ME?
Bath, 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 Bath, ME?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 26 and plant out May 14 in Bath. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Bath?
Two: plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 15.
When do I plant garlic in Bath?
Oct 8 to Oct 29; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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