Stamford, Connecticut planting calendar and frost dates
Stamford is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 12 and the first fall frost around October 31, giving about 200 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7a
- Typical last frost
- April 12
- Typical first frost
- October 31
- Frost-free season
- 200 days
Frost dates in Stamford
Last spring frost
- April 1Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 12Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 27Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 15Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 31Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 14Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 200 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 1 and returns around November 13.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Westchester Co Airport, 8.8 miles W of the city center and 363 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 Stamford
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, 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, 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, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, 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 corn, sweet peas, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: 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, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, 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, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Stamford
All 6 of Stamford's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Westchester Co 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06831 | 7a | Westchester Co Airport, 8.8 mi W | Apr 12 | Oct 31 |
| 06902 | 7a | Westchester Co Airport, 8.8 mi W | Apr 12 | Oct 31 |
| 06903 | 7a | Westchester Co Airport, 8.8 mi W | Apr 12 | Oct 31 |
| 06905 | 7a | Westchester Co Airport, 8.8 mi W | Apr 12 | Oct 31 |
| 06906 | 7a | Westchester Co Airport, 8.8 mi W | Apr 12 | Oct 31 |
| 06907 | 7a | Westchester Co Airport, 8.8 mi W | Apr 12 | Oct 31 |
Westchester Co Airport also supplies the frost dates for New Rochelle and White Plains, so their planting calendars match Stamford's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Stamford
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 1 to 15 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Apr 5 to 19 | Aug 1 to Sep 5 |
| Cilantro | Mar 1 to 15 | Apr 12 to 19 | — |
| Basil | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | May 18 to 25 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 17 to 24 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 1 to 15 | Oct 31 to Nov 14 |
| Onions | Dec 21 to Feb 1 | Mar 15 to 29 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 2 to 30 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 22 to Apr 12 | Aug 8 to 29 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 5 to 12 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 13 to 27 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 17 to May 1 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 25 to Feb 15 | Mar 15 to 29 | Aug 15 to Sep 12 |
| Peas | — | Mar 1 to 15 | Aug 8 to 22 |
| Spinach | Mar 1 to 8 | Apr 5 to 19 | Aug 22 to Sep 26 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 17 to May 8 | — |
| Zinnias | May 23 to 30 | Jun 20 to Jul 4 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 19 to Nov 14 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 19 to Oct 31 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 1 to 15 | Sep 19 to Oct 3 |
Nearby cities
- Norwalk, CT zone 7a, last frost Apr 5
- White Plains, NY zone 7a, last frost Apr 12
- New Rochelle, NY zone 7b, last frost Apr 12
- Mount Vernon, NY zone 7b, last frost Mar 30
- Yonkers, NY zone 7b, last frost Mar 30
- Bridgeport, CT zone 7a, last frost Apr 5
Planting in ConnecticutAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Stamford
Questions
When is the last frost in Stamford?
Around April 12 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Westchester Co Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 27.
What planting zone is Stamford 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 Stamford?
Start seeds indoors March 23 to April 6 and set plants out May 18 to June 1.
When is the first frost in Stamford?
Around October 31 in a typical year, and before October 15 about 1 year in 10.