Skip to content

What Can Grow in Connecticut?

Growing Zone Zone 6a
Frost-Free Days 213
Last Frost early April
First Frost late October

Connecticut has a humid continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. Four distinct seasons support a classic New England growing calendar.

Find your exact zone:
Connecticut spans 3 different growing zones. The planting calendar below uses the most common zone (Zone 6a). Use the search above or browse all zones here:

πŸ“… Planting Calendar for Connecticut

When to start seeds indoors and transplant outdoors, based on your frost dates.

Plant Start Indoors Transplant Out Direct Sow Harvest
🌾 Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira) Mar 4 Apr 1 β€” May 21 – Jun 15
πŸ₯¦ Artichoke Feb 4 Apr 1 β€” Jun 25 – Jul 10
πŸ₯¬ Arugula β€” β€” Apr 1 Apr 22 – May 11
❀️ Beets β€” β€” Apr 1 May 21 – Jun 10
πŸ«‘ Bell Pepper Feb 4 Apr 1 β€” Jun 10 – Jun 30
πŸ₯¬ Bok Choy Mar 4 Apr 1 β€” May 16 – May 31
πŸ₯¦ Broccoli Feb 18 Apr 1 β€” May 31 – Jun 20
πŸ«› Brussels Sprouts Feb 4 Apr 1 β€” Jun 30 – Sep 28
πŸ₯¬ Cabbage Feb 18 Apr 1 β€” Jun 10 – Jul 30
πŸ₯• Carrot β€” β€” Apr 1 Jun 10 – Jun 20
πŸ₯” Celeriac Jan 21 Apr 1 β€” Jul 20 – Jul 30
πŸ’ Cherry Tomato Feb 18 Apr 1 β€” May 26 – Jun 10
🌢️ Chili Pepper Feb 4 Apr 1 β€” Jun 5 – Jun 20
πŸ₯¬ Collard Greens Mar 4 Apr 1 β€” May 31 – Jun 20
🌽 Corn β€” β€” Apr 1 May 31 – Jun 30
πŸ₯’ Cucumber Mar 11 Apr 1 β€” May 21 – Jun 10
πŸ«› Edamame (Soybean) β€” β€” Apr 1 Jun 10 – Jul 5
πŸ† Eggplant Feb 4 Apr 1 β€” Jun 5 – Jun 20
🫘 Fava Beans β€” β€” Apr 1 Jun 20 – Jul 10
🌿 Florence Fennel β€” β€” Apr 1 Jun 5 – Jun 30
πŸ§„ Garlic β€” β€” Oct 1 – Oct 31 Jun – Jul (following year)
🫘 Green Beans β€” β€” Apr 1 May 21 – Jun 5
🍬 Ground Cherry Feb 18 Apr 1 β€” Jun 10 – Jun 25
πŸ₯¬ Kale Mar 4 Apr 1 β€” May 26 – Jun 15
πŸ₯¬ Kohlrabi Mar 4 Apr 1 β€” May 16 – May 31
πŸ§… Leek Jan 7 Apr 1 β€” Jul 10 – Aug 29
πŸ₯¬ Lettuce β€” β€” Apr 1 May 1 – May 31
🌱 Microgreens β€” β€” Apr 1 Apr 8 – Apr 22
πŸ₯¬ Mustard Greens β€” β€” Apr 1 May 1 – May 11
πŸ§… Onion Feb 4 Apr 1 β€” Jun 30 – Jul 30
πŸ₯• Parsnip β€” β€” Apr 1 Jul 10 – Aug 9
πŸ«› Peas β€” β€” Apr 1 May 26 – Jun 10
πŸ₯” Potato β€” β€” Apr 1 Jun 10 – Jul 30
πŸŽƒ Pumpkin Mar 11 Apr 1 β€” Jun 15 – Jul 10
πŸ”΄ Radish β€” β€” Apr 1 Apr 23 – May 1
πŸ₯” Rutabaga β€” β€” Apr 1 Jun 30 – Jul 15
πŸ«› Snap Peas β€” β€” Apr 1 May 31 – Jun 10
πŸ₯¬ Spinach β€” β€” Apr 1 May 11 – May 21
🍠 Sweet Potato β€” β€” Apr 1 Jun 30 – Jul 30
πŸ₯¬ Swiss Chard β€” β€” Apr 1 May 21 – May 31
πŸ«‘ Tomatillo Feb 18 Apr 1 β€” Jun 15 – Jul 10
πŸ… Tomato Feb 18 Apr 1 β€” May 31 – Jun 25
πŸ«› Turnip β€” β€” Apr 1 May 16 – May 31
πŸ₯¬ Zucchini Mar 11 Apr 1 β€” May 16 – May 31
🌿 Basil Mar 4 Apr 1 β€” May 1 – May 31
πŸ’™ Borage β€” β€” Apr 1 May 21 – May 31
🌿 Cilantro β€” β€” Apr 1 Apr 22 – May 16
🌿 Dill β€” β€” Apr 1 May 11 – May 31
🌱 Fenugreek (Methi) β€” β€” Apr 1 Apr 21 – May 1
🌿 French Tarragon β€” β€” Apr 1 May 31 – Jun 30
🌼 German Chamomile β€” β€” Apr 1 May 31 – Jun 30
πŸƒ Lemon Balm Feb 18 Apr 1 β€” May 31 – Jun 10
🌿 Parsley β€” β€” Apr 1 Jun 10 – Jun 30
πŸ‰ Watermelon Mar 4 Apr 1 β€” Jun 10 – Jun 30
🌻 Sunflower β€” β€” Apr 1 May 31 – Jun 20

Dates are averages based on Zone 6a frost dates (last frost: early April, first frost: late October). Adjust for your specific microclimate.

πŸ₯¦ Vegetables

πŸ“ Fruits

🌿 Herbs

⚠️ Worth Trying (Marginal)

These plants are outside the ideal zone range but possible with the right approach.

πŸ—ΊοΈ USDA Plant Hardiness Zones

Zone 6 is shown in this colour on the map below
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map β€” zones 1 to 13

2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map β€” public domain. USDA Agricultural Research Service

USDA zones run 1a–13b (26 half-zones). Each full zone above covers both the a and b half-zones. Browse all US zones β†’

Browse Related Zones

Frequently Asked Questions

Connecticut has a humid continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. Four distinct seasons support a classic New England growing calendar. Vegetables like Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira), Artichoke, Arugula, Asparagus, Beets all grow well here.
With 213 frost-free days, you can grow two cool-season crops per year β€” one in spring (plant after early April) and one in late summer for fall harvest before late October.
Top vegetables for Connecticut: Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira), Artichoke, Arugula, Asparagus, Beets. For beginners, Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira) and Arugula are the easiest to start with.
Apple, Blackberry, Blueberry, Elderberry all grow well in Connecticut. Zone 6a is suitable for most temperate fruits.