Hartford, Connecticut planting calendar and frost dates
Hartford is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 17 and the first fall frost around October 26, giving about 191 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6b
- Typical last frost
- April 17
- Typical first frost
- October 26
- Frost-free season
- 191 days
Frost dates in Hartford
Last spring frost
- April 1Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 17Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 1Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 12Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 26Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 7Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 191 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 3 and returns around November 5.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Hartford Brainard Fld, 2.6 miles SE 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 Hartford
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, 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, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, 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, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Hartford
All 6 of Hartford's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Hartford Brainard Fld, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06103 | 6b | Hartford Brainard Fld, 2.6 mi SE | Apr 17 | Oct 26 |
| 06105 | 6b | Hartford Brainard Fld, 2.6 mi SE | Apr 17 | Oct 26 |
| 06106 | 6b | Hartford Brainard Fld, 2.6 mi SE | Apr 17 | Oct 26 |
| 06112 | 6b | Hartford Brainard Fld, 2.6 mi SE | Apr 17 | Oct 26 |
| 06114 | 6b | Hartford Brainard Fld, 2.6 mi SE | Apr 17 | Oct 26 |
| 06120 | 6b | Hartford Brainard Fld, 2.6 mi SE | Apr 17 | Oct 26 |
Hartford Brainard Fld also supplies the frost dates for New Britain, so their planting calendars match Hartford's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Hartford
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 6 to 20 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Apr 10 to 24 | Jul 27 to Aug 31 |
| Cilantro | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 17 to 24 | — |
| Basil | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | May 15 to 22 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 16 to 23 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 6 to 20 | Oct 26 to Nov 9 |
| Onions | Dec 26 to Feb 6 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 17 to May 1 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 17 to May 1 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 27 to Mar 27 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 27 to Apr 17 | Aug 3 to 24 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 1 to 8 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 10 to 24 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 17 to May 1 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 17 to May 1 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 30 to Feb 20 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Aug 10 to Sep 7 |
| Peas | — | Mar 6 to 20 | Aug 3 to 17 |
| Spinach | Mar 6 to 13 | Apr 10 to 24 | Aug 17 to Sep 21 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 17 to May 8 | — |
| Zinnias | May 20 to 27 | Jun 17 to Jul 1 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 14 to Nov 9 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 14 to Oct 26 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 6 to 20 | Sep 14 to 28 |
Nearby cities
- New Britain, CT zone 6b, last frost Apr 17
- Bristol, CT zone 6b, last frost Apr 25
- Meriden, CT zone 6b, last frost Apr 26
- Waterbury, CT zone 6b, last frost Apr 26
- Springfield, MA zone 6a, last frost May 3
- Chicopee, MA zone 6a, last frost May 3
Planting in ConnecticutAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Hartford
Questions
When is the last frost in Hartford?
Around April 17 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Hartford Brainard Fld. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 1.
What planting zone is Hartford 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 Hartford?
Start seeds indoors March 20 to April 3 and set plants out May 15 to 29.
When is the first frost in Hartford?
Around October 26 in a typical year, and before October 12 about 1 year in 10.