When to plant in Lewiston, ME
USDA Zone 5bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Lewiston, Maine — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 5b means Lewiston sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
The average first fall frost in Lewiston is now 8 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
LEWISTON · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Lewiston’s own odds, recorded at LEWISTON.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 18 | May 6 | Apr 25 | Sep 27 | Oct 6 | Oct 21 |
| 32°F | May 6 | Apr 25 | Apr 11 | Oct 5 | Oct 19 | Nov 3 |
| 28°F | Apr 24 | Apr 11 | Apr 2 | Oct 17 | Nov 1 | Nov 15 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Lewiston, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 18 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Lewiston planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Lewiston, ME?
Plan for the last spring frost in Lewiston around April 25 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Lewiston, ME?
The first fall frost in Lewiston typically arrives around October 19 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Lewiston in?
Lewiston is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. In zone 5b, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Lewiston?
There are roughly 177 frost-free days in Lewiston (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 25 to the first fall frost near October 19.
When should I plant tomatoes in Lewiston?
In Lewiston, start tomato seeds indoors around February 28–March 14, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 2 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Lewiston
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Lewiston’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Auburn · 6 km
- Brunswick · 29 km
- Augusta · 44 km
- Westbrook · 45 km
- Portland · 51 km
- South Portland · 52 km
- Waterville · 65 km
- Saco · 66 km
Frost dates recorded at LEWISTON, 4 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Lewiston, ME — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00174566. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/maine/lewiston.