When to plant in Hartford, CT
USDA Zone 6bHartford, 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 Hartford sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
HARTFORD BRAINARD FLD · 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 Hartford’s own odds, recorded at HARTFORD BRAINARD FLD.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 14 | Apr 30 | Apr 17 | Oct 2 | Oct 14 | Oct 29 |
| 32°F | May 1 | Apr 17 | Apr 1 | Oct 12 | Oct 26 | Nov 7 |
| 28°F | Apr 21 | Apr 3 | Mar 21 | Oct 22 | Nov 5 | Nov 20 |
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 Hartford, 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.
Hartford planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Hartford, CT?
Plan for the last spring frost in Hartford around April 17 (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 Hartford, CT?
The first fall frost in Hartford typically arrives around October 26 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Hartford in?
Hartford 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 Hartford?
There are roughly 192 frost-free days in Hartford (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 17 to the first fall frost near October 26.
When should I plant tomatoes in Hartford?
In Hartford, start tomato seeds indoors around February 20–March 6, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 24 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Hartford
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Hartford’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- West Hartford · 6 km
- East Hartford · 6 km
- Wethersfield · 7 km
- Newington · 10 km
- New Britain · 13 km
- Manchester · 13 km
- Windsor Locks · 18 km
- Bristol · 23 km
Frost dates recorded at HARTFORD BRAINARD FLD, 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 Hartford, CT — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014752. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/connecticut/hartford.