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New Britain, CT Planting Calendar & Frost Dates

USDA hardiness zone 6b · ZIP 06051 · elevation 154′ · NOAA & USDA data

New Britain is in USDA hardiness zone 6b (winters can dip to -5 to 0°F), with a growing season of about 191 days between the average last spring frost (April 17) and first fall frost (October 26). The warmest month is July (avg high 83.7°F); the coldest is January (avg low 17°F). It averages 53.5″ of precipitation a year and 38.6″ of snow, mostly mid-winter. Start cool-season crops several weeks before the last frost; wait until after it for tomatoes, peppers and other tender crops.

Hardiness zone
6b
min temp -5 to 0°F
Last spring frost
April 17
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
First fall frost
October 26
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
Growing season
191 days
frost-free window
Warmest month
July
avg high 83.7°F

Month-by-month typical weather in New Britain

Average conditions from the NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals at Burlington, CT (12.2 mi away). Temperatures °F, precipitation & snow in inches.

MonthAvg highAvg lowMeanPrecip (in)Snow (in)
January 36.3 17 26.6 3.7 11.1
February 39.1 18.3 28.7 3.4 11.8
March 46.6 25.9 36.3 4.2 5.5
April 59.5 36.1 47.8 4.3 0.5
May 70.4 46.8 58.6 4.2 0
June 78.5 56.6 67.6 4.8 0
July 83.7 62.1 72.9 4.4 0
August 82 60.2 71.1 5.1 0
September 75.3 52.5 63.9 5 0
October 63.3 40.8 52 5.7 0.6
November 52.1 32.2 42.2 3.9 0.8
December 41.4 24 32.7 4.8 8.3

What to plant when in New Britain

CropSeasonWhat to do & when
TomatoeswarmStart seeds indoors: March 6 · Transplant out: April 24
PepperswarmStart seeds indoors: February 20 · Transplant out: May 1
CucumberswarmDirect sow: April 24
Zucchini / squashwarmDirect sow: April 24
Bush beanswarmDirect sow: April 24
Sweet cornwarmDirect sow: April 24
BasilwarmTransplant out: April 24
PeascoolSow (spring): March 13 · Sow (fall): August 31
SpinachcoolSow (spring): March 6 · Sow (fall): August 31
LettucecoolSow (spring): March 20 · Sow (fall): August 31
KalecoolTransplant (spring): March 27 · Sow (fall): August 17
BroccolicoolTransplant (spring): April 3
CarrotscoolSow (spring): March 27 · Sow (fall): August 17
OnionscoolTransplant (spring): March 20
PotatoescoolPlant seed potatoes: April 3
RadishescoolSow (spring): March 20 · Sow (fall): September 14

Dates are computed from New Britain's average frost dates using standard cool-/warm-season timing. They're a starting point — a cold spring, a warm microclimate, or a fast-maturing variety can shift them by a week or two.

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Gear that helps you plant on time

Some links below are Amazon affiliate links (tag theboringthin-20). If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it keeps this almanac free. We only list generic, genuinely-useful categories.

Soil thermometer →Know when the ground is warm enough to sow — the honest signal, not the calendar.Seed-starting trays + dome →Start tomatoes & peppers indoors on the schedule below.Seedling heat mat →Warms the soil for faster, more even germination indoors.Floating row cover / frost cloth →Buys you 4–8°F to beat an early or late frost.Raised garden bed kit →Warms and drains faster in spring than in-ground soil.Garden gloves →Basic kit for transplant day.

Nearby cities in Connecticut

Bristol, CTMeriden, CTHartford, CTMiddletown, CTWaterbury, CTNew Haven, CTWest Haven, CTShelton, CT

Sources & method. Hardiness zone: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University). Frost dates & growing season: NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, nearest station with published freeze normals — Hartford Brainard Fld, CT, 7.9 mi (confidence: high). Monthly weather normals: Burlington, CT, 12.2 mi (confidence: medium). ZIP centroid from U.S. Census 2023 ZCTA data. Frost dates are the 50%-probability date — half of years frost occurs outside the stated date. Nothing here is invented; where the nearest station is far, we say so. Last updated 2026-07-22.