Frost Report

All states Connecticut

Frost dates for Bridgeport, CT

When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.

Last spring frost

April 5

typical year

Safe to plant

April 17

frost is over in 9 of 10 years

First fall frost

November 6

typical year

Growing season

216 days

frost-free, typical year

When to plant

Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.

CropStart indoorsPlant outsideFall planting
Cool-season crops
Peas – Mar 8 – 22 –
Spinach – Feb 22 – Mar 15 Sep 11 – 25
Lettuce – Mar 8 – 29 Sep 11 – 25
Radishes – Mar 8 – Apr 19 Sep 25 – Oct 9
Onions – Mar 8 – 22 –
Potatoes – Mar 15 – 29 –
Carrots – Mar 15 – Apr 5 Aug 14 – 28
Beets – Mar 8 – 22 Aug 28 – Sep 11
Kale Jan 25 – Feb 8 Mar 8 – 22 Aug 28 – Sep 11
Broccoli Jan 25 – Feb 8 Mar 22 – Apr 5 Aug 28 – Sep 11
Cabbage Jan 11 – 25 Mar 8 – 22 Aug 28 – Sep 11
Garlic – – Sep 25 – Oct 16
Warm-season crops
Tomatoes Feb 20 – Mar 6 Apr 17 – May 1 –
Peppers Feb 13 – 27 Apr 24 – May 8 –
Cucumbers – Apr 17 – May 8 –
Zucchini – Apr 17 – May 15 –
Pumpkins – Apr 17 – May 8 –
Green beans – Apr 17 – Aug 28 –
Sweet corn – Apr 17 – May 15 –
Basil Mar 13 – 27 Apr 24 – May 1 –

Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.

The year at a glance

Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting

The chance of frost, by date

1 year in 10Half of years9 years in 10
Spring frost after April 17April 5March 25
Fall frost before October 25November 6November 20

Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.

Hard freeze (28°F)

A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around March 26 (April 6 in a late year), and the first one in fall around November 19.

Towns that use these dates

This is the nearest NOAA station with frost records for 2 towns.

Bridgeport, Milford

Where these dates come from

NOAA weather station BRIDGEPORT SIKORSKY MEM AP, CT US (USW00094702), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 13 zip codes, all within 8 miles:

06460, 06461, 06604, 06605, 06606, 06607, 06608, 06610, 06614, 06615, 06824, 06825, 06890

Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.