When to plant in Bethel, CT
USDA Zone 6bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Bethel, Connecticut — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 6b means Bethel sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
The average first fall frost in Bethel is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
DANBURY · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Bethel’s own odds, recorded at DANBURY.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 19 | May 3 | Apr 19 | Sep 27 | Oct 9 | Oct 24 |
| 32°F | May 6 | Apr 20 | Apr 7 | Oct 5 | Oct 20 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F | Apr 21 | Apr 7 | Mar 26 | Oct 15 | Nov 1 | Nov 15 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Bethel, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 24 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Bethel planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Bethel, CT?
Plan for the last spring frost in Bethel around April 20 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Bethel, CT?
The first fall frost in Bethel typically arrives around October 20 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Bethel in?
Bethel is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. In zone 6b, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Bethel?
There are roughly 183 frost-free days in Bethel (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 20 to the first fall frost near October 20.
When should I plant tomatoes in Bethel?
In Bethel, start tomato seeds indoors around February 23–March 9, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 27 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Bethel
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Bethel’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Danbury · 7 km
- Trumbull Center · 23 km
- Shelton · 24 km
- Bridgeport · 26 km
- Derby · 28 km
- Ansonia · 29 km
- Norwalk · 30 km
- Mount Kisco · 32 km
Frost dates recorded at DANBURY, 4 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Bethel, CT — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00061762. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/connecticut/bethel.