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Planting Calendar for Houlton, ME | Almanac.com
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Planting Calendar for Houlton, ME

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The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they could still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-seasons crops such as kale and lettuce do not grow well in hot temperatures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus, several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you've already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost, but many are frost-tolerant and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

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Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on June 2 (at HOULTON INTL AP, ME climate station, elevation 475 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost May 12-26
Moon May 12-23
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Aug 16
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost May 19-Jun 2
Moon May 24-Jun 2
Jun 2
BasilFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost Jun 16-30
Moon Jun 16-21
Frost Jun 16-30
Moon Jun 16-21
Aug 2
BeetsN/AFrost May 19-Jun 2
Moon May 24-Jun 2
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 5-6
Jun 16
Bell PeppersFrost Mar 24-Apr 7
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
N/AJun 21
Bok ChoyFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
Jul 14
BroccoliFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost May 19-Jun 2
Moon May 19-23
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Jul 12
Brussels SproutsFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost May 19-Jun 2
Moon May 19-23
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Jun 7
CabbageFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost May 19-Jun 2
Moon May 19-23
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
May 31
CantaloupesFrost May 12-26
Moon May 12-23
Frost Jun 2-16
Moon Jun 6-16
Frost Jun 9-16
Moon Jun 9-16
Jun 7
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost May 5-19
Moon May 5-6
Jul 5
CauliflowerFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost May 26-Jun 9
Moon Jun 6-9
N/AJul 5
CeleryFrost Mar 9-24
Frost Jun 9-23
Moon Jun 9-21
Frost Jun 2
Jul 5
ChivesFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Jul 19
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Jun 2-16
Moon Jun 6-16
Jun 23
CollardsFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost May 19-Jun 2
Moon May 19-23
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Jul 5
CucumbersFrost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost Jun 9-23
Moon Jun 9-21
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
Jul 5
DillN/AN/AFrost May 26-Jun 16
Moon Jun 6-16
Jul 19
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
Jun 7
EggplantsFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
N/AJul 5
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Jun 16
FennelFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost Jun 9-16
Moon Jun 9-16
Frost Jun 2-16
Moon Jun 6-16
Jun 28
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Jun 9-30
Moon Jun 9-21
Jul 5
Honeydew MelonsFrost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
Jun 14
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Mar 24-Apr 7
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
N/A
KaleFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost May 19-Jun 2
Moon May 19-23
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Jun 16
KohlrabiFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Jun 16
LeeksFrost Mar 24-Apr 7
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost May 12-26
Moon May 12-23
N/AMay 31
LettuceFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Jun 16
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost May 5-19
Moon May 7-19
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
Frost Jun 16-30
Moon Jun 16-21
Jul 5
OnionsN/AFrost May 5-19
Moon May 5-6
N/AJun 7
OreganoFrost Mar 24-Apr 21
Moon Mar 24-25, Apr 8-21
Frost Jun 9-23
Moon Jun 9-21
N/AJul 5
ParsleyFrost Mar 24-Apr 7
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Jun 9-23
Moon Jun 9-21
Frost May 5-Jun 9
Moon May 7-23
Jun 28
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost May 5-12
Moon May 5-6
Jun 7
PeasN/AN/AFrost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Jun 16
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 5-19
Moon May 5-6
Jul 5
PumpkinsFrost May 12-26
Moon May 12-23
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
May 31
RadishesN/AN/AFrost May 5-12
Moon May 5-6
Jul 19
RosemaryFrost Mar 9-24
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
N/AJul 19
SageFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost Jun 9-23
Moon Jun 9-21
N/AJun 28
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost May 5-19
Moon May 5-6
Jun 7
SpinachFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Jun 16
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost Jun 16-30
Moon Jun 16-21
Jun 28
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Jun 16-30
Moon Jun 22-30
May 31
Swiss ChardFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost May 19-Jun 2
Moon May 19-23
Frost May 12-Jun 2
Moon May 12-23
Jun 16
ThymeFrost Mar 24-Apr 7
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Jun 9-16
Moon Jun 9-16
N/AJun 21
TomatillosFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost Jun 16-30
Moon Jun 16-21
N/AJun 28
TomatoesFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
N/AJun 14
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost May 5-12
Moon May 5-6
Aug 16
WatermelonsFrost May 12-26
Moon May 12-23
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
Frost Jun 9-16
Moon Jun 9-16
Jun 14
Winter SquashFrost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost Jun 9-23
Moon Jun 9-21
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
May 24
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost Jun 9-23
Moon Jun 9-21
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
Jul 12

Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on September 13 (at HOULTON INTL AP, ME climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Jul 26-Aug 30
Moon Aug 4-19
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jun 21-Jul 19
Moon Jun 22-Jul 4
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Jul 5-26
Moon Jul 5-21
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jun 14-21
Moon Jun 14-21
Frost Jul 5-19
Moon Jul 5-19
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost May 24-Jun 7
Moon Jun 6-7
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jun 14-21
Moon Jun 14-21
Frost Jul 5-12
Moon Jul 5-12
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Jun 28-Jul 5
Moon Jun 28-Jul 4
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jun 7-14
Moon Jun 7-14
Frost Jun 21-28
Moon Jun 21
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jun 21-Jul 19
Moon Jun 21, Jul 6-19
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jun 14-28
Moon Jun 14-21
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Sep 27-Oct 11
Moon Sep 27-Oct 1
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Jun 28-Jul 12
Moon Jul 5-12
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Jul 5-19
Moon Jul 5-19
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Jul 12-Aug 2
Moon Jul 12-21
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Jul 5-19
Moon Jul 5-19
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Jul 12-Aug 2
Moon Jul 12-21
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Jul 5-19
Moon Jul 5-19
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Aug 2-16
Moon Aug 2-3
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Jul 26-Aug 16
Moon Aug 4-16
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Jul 5-19
Moon Jul 5-19
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Jul 12-26
Moon Jul 22-26
N/A50Frost-tolerant
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