Washington County, in Maine, sits in USDA hardiness zone 5b — room for a real mix of vegetables, fruit, and perennials matched to the local frost calendar.
Expect potato, blueberry, apple, and white pine to be strong candidates here; the deciding factors on any one parcel stay local — soil, sun, and drainage.
Grounded in USDA PHZM 2023 · Growable Ground suitability scoring · NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals
Washington County holds more than one microclimate.
Soils and elevations shift across Washington County, so your frost dates and drainage aren't the county average. Enter your address and we'll score 1,112 plants against your land's actual soil, sun, and frost.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Quick Facts
USDA Zones
5b
Last Hard Freeze (28°F)
Apr 17
County normal — light frosts run a few weeks later
First Hard Freeze (28°F)
Nov 8
County normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier
County Area
1.6M acres
Hardiness Zone Range
Zone maps are averages across Washington County. Your yard's slope, trees, and frost pockets shift what actually grows — see your land's exact reading.
Soil in Washington County
Across Washington County, the ground is predominantly Spodosols, where Colonel, Telos, and Peru are the most extensive named soil series. The soil is generally somewhat poorly drained with a fine sandy loam surface. Topsoil pH runs about 4.2–5.0, very strongly acidic. Rainfall drains through hydrologic group D soils.
Soil order
Spodosols
Drainage
Somewhat poorly drained
Prime farmland
1%
Hydric soils
33%
Soil still varies lot by lot — soil types explained.
What Grows in Washington County
Plants matched to Washington County's USDA zones 5b — each links to its full growing profile.
Is it too late to plant in Washington County?
Almost never — the real question is what to plant next. Cool-season crops can go in from around Mar 20; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Apr 17 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 8 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. With a season this long, “too late” mostly means “switch crops” — second sowings and a full fall garden are the norm, with garlic closing the year.
Growing Challenges in Maine
What an experienced grower plans around here — each one has a move.
Very short growing season (100-140 frost-free days)
Fast varieties, transplants started indoors, and a cold frame on each end — Maine growers make 120 days behave like 160.
Rocky glacial soils require significant clearing
Build up instead of digging out — a raised bed over cleared ground beats a season of boulder harvesting.
Harsh winters with heavy snow and ice
Plant to your true zone and let the snow work for you — it is excellent insulation for well-chosen perennials.
For cultivar selection, pest pressure, and planting-time guidance specific to Maine, the UMaine Cooperative Extension is the authoritative local source.
Safe to Grow Here?
What the federal record shows across Washington County — and how to grow with it.
We checked the federal record across Washington County — 446 documented sites across 6 of the 9 source types we track.
The most significant on record: 3 Superfund sites. Sites tracked in EPA's Superfund program — from assessment-stage CERCLIS entries to confirmed National Priorities List cleanup sites.
Washington County carries one of the heavier federal records we track — and that's not a verdict on your yard. Proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis: nothing here says any particular parcel is affected. It does earn one concrete step — before food beds go in the ground, a professional soil test tells you exactly what you're working with, and raised beds with clean imported soil grow well almost anywhere in the meantime.
Sources: EPA, USGS — 1.8M documented sites tracked nationwide across 9 federal source types.
Environmental Intelligence
Understanding what's nearby helps you make informed decisions about where and how to grow.
Sources Checked
across Washington County
Severity Distribution
across Washington County
Highest-Severity Sites
A note from Gnorman
What an experienced grower watches for around here
In and around Washington County, Mining runs higher than the national average — 57 sites nearby. It's not cause for alarm — it's worth knowing, and there's a sensible way to grow around it.
Mining: Mining sites — both historic and active — can leach heavy metals (arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury) into soil and water for centuries after operations cease.
Test soil for heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury) — this is essential near any mining site.
Check your specific parcel in Washington County
Get exact proximity distances to contamination sources for your specific parcel — plus soil, sun, drainage, and 1,112 plant recommendations.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Your Specific Parcel Matters
Washington County Average
- ●USDA Zones 5b
- ●Generic soil type for the area
- ●State-average frost dates
YOUR Parcel
- ✓Your exact hardiness zone
- ✓Your SSURGO soil type & pH
- ✓Your sun exposure, cast in 3D
See MY Growing Report
Read your parcel in Washington County
Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in Washington County, Maine — soil, sun, drainage, frost risk, and scored plant recommendations.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Key Growing Facts for Washington County, Maine
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5b (USDA PHZM 2023)
- Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Apr 17 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
- First Hard Freeze (28°F): Nov 8 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
- Days Between Hard Freezes: ~205 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
- County Land Area: 1.6M acres (US Census TIGER 2025)
Zone data: USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Climate data: NOAA NCEI. County boundaries: US Census TIGER/Line 2025.
Frost dates here are the Washington County average. Low spots and tree cover move them by days on any one yard — see your exact frost windows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zone is Washington County, Maine?
Washington County sits in USDA hardiness zone 5b, per the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Zones reflect average annual extreme minimum temperatures from 1991–2020 weather data.
Is it too late to plant in Washington County?
Almost never — the real question is what to plant next. Cool-season crops can go in from around Mar 20; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Apr 17 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 8 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. With a season this long, “too late” mostly means “switch crops” — second sowings and a full fall garden are the norm, with garlic closing the year.
When does frost risk typically end in Washington County?
The last hard freeze (28°F) in Washington County typically lands around Apr 17, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals — an earlier marker than the light-frost dates many planting charts quote. That marks the hard freeze, not the last light frost — light frosts can still bite for a few more weeks, so tender transplants usually wait another 2–3 weeks.
How long is the growing season in Washington County?
Measured between 28°F hard freezes, Washington County sees about 205 frost-free days — roughly Apr 17 through Nov 8, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. Tender crops get a somewhat shorter practical window, since lighter frosts reach a few weeks past the hard-freeze dates on both ends.
What vegetables grow in Washington County?
Washington County's zone 5b supports a wide range — strong performers include Potato, Blueberry, Apple, White Pine, and Kale. What actually takes on any one site comes down to its soil, sun, and drainage, and we score each plant against the real conditions at your address.
Which hardiness zone is Washington County, really?
Officially, Washington County sits in USDA zone 5b (USDA PHZM 2023) — but a zone is a 30-year average of winter's coldest night across an area, and it can't see any one yard. A south-facing slope, a tree line, or a low frost pocket can shift a single site by half a zone either way, which is why neighboring gardeners often quote different numbers. We read the conditions at your exact address — soil, sun, slope, and frost — and score 1,112 plants against what's actually there.
Is the soil safe to grow vegetables in Washington County?
The federal record around Washington County runs heavier than most — 446 documented sites — so test the soil before planting food in the ground, and raised beds with clean imported soil grow well in the meantime. Even here, proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard; the contamination map shows exactly what's recorded and where.
Just moved to Washington County — what should I know before planting?
Start with three facts. Washington County sits in USDA zone 5b, which sets what survives winter; the last 28°F hard freeze typically clears around Apr 17, with about 205 frost-free days to work with (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and 446 documented sites sit on the federal record here, so a soil test before food beds is the smart first step. From there, matching plants to your actual soil and sun is the fun part.
Everything on this page is a Washington County average. Your yard writes its own version — we read soil, sun, drainage, and frost at your exact address. Try it for 14 days — no card required.
Will It Grow Here?
Zone fit is the first question — each answer below reads Maine's frost window, season length, and soil profile against the plant's real requirements.