New Haven, Connecticut planting calendar and frost dates
New Haven 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.
- Typical last frost
- April 5
- Typical first frost
- November 6
- Frost-free season
- 216 days
Frost dates in New Haven
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. New Haven shares this station with Bridgeport, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in New Haven
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
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
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
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
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
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, potatoes, sweet corn
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
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
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
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in New Haven
All 5 of New Haven'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 code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06511 | 7a | Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport, 4 mi E | Apr 5 | Nov 6 |
| 06512 | 7a | Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport, 4 mi E | Apr 5 | Nov 6 |
| 06513 | 7a | Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport, 4 mi E | Apr 5 | Nov 6 |
| 06515 | 7a | Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport, 4 mi E | Apr 5 | Nov 6 |
| 06519 | 7a | Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport, 4 mi E | Apr 5 | Nov 6 |
Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport also supplies the frost dates for Bridgeport, Norwalk and Milford city, so their planting calendars match New Haven's.
Planting dates for popular crops in New Haven
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 8 to 22 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Aug 7 to Sep 11 |
| Cilantro | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 5 to 12 | — |
| Basil | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | May 16 to 23 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 16 to 23 | Jul 17 to 24 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Nov 6 to 20 |
| Onions | Dec 14 to Jan 25 | Mar 8 to 22 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 18 to May 2 | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 18 to May 2 | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 28 to Mar 28 | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 15 to Apr 5 | Aug 14 to Sep 4 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 2 to 9 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 11 to 25 | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 16 to 30 | Jul 31 to Aug 14 |
| Green Beans | — | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 18 to May 2 | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 18 to Feb 8 | Mar 8 to 22 | Aug 21 to Sep 18 |
| Peas | — | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Aug 14 to 28 |
| Spinach | Feb 22 to Mar 1 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Aug 28 to Oct 2 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 16 to May 7 | — |
| Zinnias | May 20 to 27 | Jun 17 to Jul 1 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 25 to Nov 20 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 25 to Nov 6 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Sep 25 to Oct 9 |
Nearby cities
- West Haven, CT zone 7a, last frost Apr 17
- Milford city, CT zone 7a, last frost Apr 5
- Bridgeport, CT zone 7a, last frost Apr 5
- Meriden, CT zone 6b, last frost Apr 26
- Waterbury, CT zone 6b, last frost Apr 26
- Bristol, CT zone 6b, last frost Apr 25
Planting in ConnecticutAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for New Haven
Questions
When is the last frost in New Haven?
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 New Haven in?
USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 6b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in New Haven?
Start seeds indoors March 21 to April 4 and set plants out May 16 to 30.
When is the first frost in New Haven?
Around November 6 in a typical year, and before October 25 about 1 year in 10.