When to plant in Bristol, CT
USDA Zone 6bBristol, Connecticut frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 6b means Bristol 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 Bristol is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
BURLINGTON · 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 Bristol’s own odds, recorded at BURLINGTON.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 22 | May 6 | Apr 24 | Sep 26 | Oct 6 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F | May 10 | Apr 25 | Apr 12 | Oct 4 | Oct 18 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Apr 29 | Apr 13 | Apr 2 | Oct 14 | Oct 30 | Nov 14 |
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 Bristol, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 21 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.
Bristol planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Bristol, CT?
Plan for the last spring frost in Bristol around April 25 (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 Bristol, CT?
Expect Bristol's first fall frost near October 18 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Bristol in?
Bristol 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 Bristol?
There are roughly 176 frost-free days in Bristol (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 25 to the first fall frost near October 18.
When should I plant tomatoes in Bristol?
In Bristol, start tomato seeds indoors around February 28–March 14, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 2 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Bristol
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Bristol’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- New Britain · 13 km
- Waterbury · 16 km
- Newington · 17 km
- West Hartford · 18 km
- Meriden · 20 km
- Wethersfield · 23 km
- Torrington · 23 km
- Naugatuck · 23 km
Frost dates recorded at BURLINGTON, 13 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 Bristol, CT — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00060973. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/connecticut/bristol.