When to plant in Connecticut
Most of Connecticut sees its last spring frost between Apr 14 and May 1, and its first fall frost between Oct 12 and Oct 27. The middle of the state is around April 18 and October 23: that's what the dates below use.
Hardiness zones in Connecticut: 6a (12%), 6b (61%), 7a (27%).
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest | Plant for fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 15 | May 3 – May 17 | Jul 12 – Oct 4 | — |
| Pepper | Mar 1 | May 3 – May 17 | Jul 17 – Oct 9 | — |
| Cucumber | — | May 3 – May 17 | Jun 27 – Aug 15 | — |
| Zucchini / Summer squash | — | May 3 – May 17 | Jun 22 – Aug 31 | — |
| Winter squash | — | May 3 – May 17 | Aug 6 – Sep 10 | — |
| Green beans (bush) | — | May 3 – May 17 | Jun 27 – Aug 8 | — |
| Peas | — | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | May 6 – Jun 10 | Aug 3 – Aug 17 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 3 – May 17 | Jul 17 – Aug 14 | — |
| Lettuce | — | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | May 5 – Jun 16 | Aug 25 – Sep 8 |
| Spinach | — | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | Apr 16 – May 28 | Sep 13 – Sep 27 |
| Kale | Feb 7 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | May 15 – Aug 7 | Sep 12 – Sep 26 |
| Broccoli | Feb 14 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 | May 27 – Jul 1 | Aug 17 – Aug 31 |
| Cabbage | Feb 7 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | May 30 – Jul 4 | Aug 14 – Aug 28 |
| Carrot | — | Mar 28 – Apr 11 | Jun 6 – Jul 18 | Aug 14 – Aug 28 |
| Beet | — | Mar 28 – Apr 11 | May 22 – Jul 3 | Aug 22 – Sep 5 |
| Radish | — | Mar 14 – Mar 28 | Apr 8 – May 6 | Sep 14 – Sep 28 |
| Onion (sets) | — | Mar 14 – Mar 28 | Jun 22 – Jul 27 | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 16 – Nov 6 (fall) | Jun 13 – Jul 4 next year | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 28 – Apr 11 | Jun 26 – Jul 31 | — |
| Sweet potato | Mar 28 | May 9 – May 23 | Aug 17 – Sep 14 | — |
| Watermelon | — | May 9 – May 23 | Aug 2 – Sep 6 | — |
| Basil | Mar 22 | May 3 – May 17 | Jun 2 – Sep 8 | — |
| Strawberry (June-bearing) | — | Mar 28 – Apr 11 | May 16 – Jun 13 (once established) | — |
| Sunflower | — | May 3 – May 17 | Jul 22 – Aug 26 | — |
Dates for a typical spot in Connecticut. Colder and higher places plant later, warmer ones earlier: enter your ZIP code for yours, or see the calendar for your zone.
Frost dates around Connecticut
| Place | Zone | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 6b | Apr 17 | Oct 26 |
| New Haven | 7a | Apr 18 | Oct 26 |
| Waterbury | 6b | Apr 18 | Oct 26 |
| Stamford | 7a | Apr 17 | Oct 23 |
| Bridgeport | 7a | Apr 5 | Nov 6 |
| Norwalk | 7a | Apr 17 | Oct 23 |
| W Hartford | 6b | Apr 17 | Oct 26 |
| East Hartford | 6b | Apr 17 | Oct 26 |
| New Britain | 6b | Apr 17 | Oct 26 |
| Westport | 7a | Apr 20 | Oct 23 |
Average dates from the nearest NOAA weather stations (1991–2020). Click a place for its full planting calendar.