Bristol, Connecticut planting calendar and frost dates
Bristol is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 25 and the first fall frost around October 18, giving about 172 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6b
- Typical last frost
- April 25
- Typical first frost
- October 18
- Frost-free season
- 172 days
Frost dates in Bristol
Last spring frost
- April 12Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 25Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 10Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 4Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 18Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 1Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 172 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 April 13 and returns around October 30.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Burlington, 7.8 miles N of the city center and 101 feet higher. 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 Bristol
January
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Planting dates for popular crops in Bristol
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 14 to 28 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Apr 18 to May 2 | Jul 19 to Aug 23 |
| Cilantro | Mar 14 to 28 | Apr 25 to May 2 | — |
| Basil | Apr 2 to 16 | May 21 to 28 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 21 to 28 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 14 to 28 | Oct 18 to Nov 1 |
| Onions | Jan 3 to Feb 14 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 5 to Apr 2 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 4 to 25 | Jul 26 to Aug 16 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 7 to 14 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 16 to 30 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 25 to May 9 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 7 to 28 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Aug 2 to 30 |
| Peas | — | Mar 14 to 28 | Jul 26 to Aug 9 |
| Spinach | Mar 14 to 21 | Apr 18 to May 2 | Aug 9 to Sep 13 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 25 to May 16 | — |
| Zinnias | May 27 to Jun 3 | Jun 24 to Jul 8 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 6 to Nov 1 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 6 to Oct 18 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 14 to 28 | Sep 6 to 20 |
Nearby cities
- New Britain, CT zone 6b, last frost Apr 17
- Waterbury, CT zone 6b, last frost Apr 26
- Meriden, CT zone 6b, last frost Apr 26
- Hartford, CT zone 6b, last frost Apr 17
- New Haven, CT zone 7a, last frost Apr 5
- West Haven, CT zone 7a, last frost Apr 17
Planting in ConnecticutAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Bristol
Questions
When is the last frost in Bristol?
Around April 25 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Burlington. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 10.
What planting zone is Bristol in?
USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Bristol?
Start seeds indoors March 26 to April 9 and set plants out May 21 to June 4.
When is the first frost in Bristol?
Around October 18 in a typical year, and before October 4 about 1 year in 10.