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Bridgeport, Connecticut planting calendar and frost dates

Bridgeport is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 5 and the first fall frost around November 6, giving about 216 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 7a
Typical last frost
April 5
Typical first frost
November 6
Frost-free season
216 days

Frost dates in Bridgeport

Last spring frost

  • March 25Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • April 5Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • April 17Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • October 25Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • November 6Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • November 20Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 216 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around March 26 and returns around November 19.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport, 4 miles E of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.

What to plant each month in Bridgeport

  1. January

    Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons

  2. February

    Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard

    Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers

  3. March

    Start indoors: basil, celery, cilantro, eggplants, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes

    Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers

  4. April

    Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme

  5. May

    Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, peppers, perennial ryegrass, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet peas, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

  6. June

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  7. July

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

    Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, potatoes, sweet corn

  8. August

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips

  9. September

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips

  10. October

    Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips

  11. November

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

  12. December

    Start indoors: onions

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Bridgeport

All 6 of Bridgeport's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 7a.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
066047aBridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport, 4 mi EApr 5Nov 6
066057aBridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport, 4 mi EApr 5Nov 6
066067aBridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport, 4 mi EApr 5Nov 6
066077aBridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport, 4 mi EApr 5Nov 6
066087aBridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport, 4 mi EApr 5Nov 6
066107aBridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport, 4 mi EApr 5Nov 6

Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport also supplies the frost dates for New Haven, Norwalk and Milford city, so their planting calendars match Bridgeport's.

Planting dates for popular crops in Bridgeport

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 21 to Apr 4May 16 to 30—
Strawberries—Feb 22 to Mar 8—
LettuceFeb 8 to 22Mar 29 to Apr 12Aug 7 to Sep 11
CilantroFeb 22 to Mar 8Apr 5 to 12—
BasilMar 28 to Apr 11May 16 to 23—
Potatoes—Apr 16 to 23Jul 17 to 24
Garlic—Feb 22 to Mar 8Nov 6 to 20
OnionsDec 14 to Jan 25Mar 8 to 22—
CucumbersApr 18 to May 2May 16 to 30—
PumpkinsApr 18 to May 2May 16 to 30—
PeppersFeb 28 to Mar 28May 16 to 30—
Carrots—Mar 15 to Apr 5Aug 14 to Sep 4
Sweet Potatoes—Jun 2 to 9—
WatermelonsApr 11 to 25May 16 to 30—
Sweet Corn—Apr 16 to 30Jul 31 to Aug 14
Green Beans—May 16 to 30—
ZucchiniApr 18 to May 2May 16 to 30—
BroccoliJan 18 to Feb 8Mar 8 to 22Aug 21 to Sep 18
Peas—Feb 22 to Mar 8Aug 14 to 28
SpinachFeb 22 to Mar 1Mar 29 to Apr 12Aug 28 to Oct 2
Sunflowers—Apr 16 to May 7—
ZinniasMay 20 to 27Jun 17 to Jul 1—
Tulips——Sep 25 to Nov 20
Daffodils——Sep 25 to Nov 6
Grass Seed—Feb 22 to Mar 8Sep 25 to Oct 9

Nearby cities

Planting in ConnecticutAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Bridgeport

Questions

When is the last frost in Bridgeport?

Around April 5 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 17.

What planting zone is Bridgeport in?

USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.

When should I plant tomatoes in Bridgeport?

Start seeds indoors March 21 to April 4 and set plants out May 16 to 30.

When is the first frost in Bridgeport?

Around November 6 in a typical year, and before October 25 about 1 year in 10.