West Haven, Connecticut planting calendar and frost dates
West Haven is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 17 and the first fall frost around October 27, giving about 193 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7a
- Typical last frost
- April 17
- Typical first frost
- October 27
- Frost-free season
- 193 days
Frost dates in West Haven
Last spring frost
- April 2Risky: 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 11Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 27Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 8Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 193 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 4 and returns around November 6.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for New Haven Tweed Airport, 4.1 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 West Haven
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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
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, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, 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, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, 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
Planting dates for popular crops in West Haven
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 6 to 20 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Apr 10 to 24 | Jul 28 to Sep 1 |
| Cilantro | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 17 to 24 | — |
| Basil | Apr 2 to 16 | May 21 to 28 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 20 to 27 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 6 to 20 | Oct 27 to Nov 10 |
| Onions | Dec 26 to Feb 6 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | — |
| 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 | — | Mar 27 to Apr 17 | Aug 4 to 25 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 7 to 14 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 16 to 30 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 20 to May 4 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 30 to Feb 20 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Aug 11 to Sep 8 |
| Peas | — | Mar 6 to 20 | Aug 4 to 18 |
| Spinach | Mar 6 to 13 | Apr 10 to 24 | Aug 18 to Sep 22 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 20 to May 11 | — |
| Zinnias | May 26 to Jun 2 | Jun 23 to Jul 7 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 15 to Nov 10 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 15 to Oct 27 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 6 to 20 | Sep 15 to 29 |
Nearby cities
- New Haven, CT zone 7a, last frost Apr 5
- Milford city, CT zone 7a, last frost Apr 5
- Bridgeport, CT zone 7a, last frost Apr 5
- Waterbury, CT zone 6b, last frost Apr 26
- Meriden, CT zone 6b, last frost Apr 26
- Norwalk, CT zone 7a, last frost Apr 5
Planting in ConnecticutAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for West Haven
Questions
When is the last frost in West Haven?
Around April 17 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for New Haven Tweed Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 1.
What planting zone is West Haven 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 West Haven?
Start seeds indoors March 26 to April 9 and set plants out May 21 to June 4.
When is the first frost in West Haven?
Around October 27 in a typical year, and before October 11 about 1 year in 10.