Frost dates for W Thompson Lake, 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
May 1
typical year
Safe to plant
May 17
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
October 9
typical year
Growing season
161 days
frost-free, typical year
Frost watch this week
Tonight's and the next six nights' lows from the National Weather Service forecast for the station's location. Frost: 32°F or colder. Possible frost: 33–36°F, mostly in low spots on clear, still nights.
When to plant
Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-season crops | |||
| Peas | – | Apr 3 – 17 | – |
| Spinach | – | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | Aug 14 – 28 |
| Lettuce | – | Apr 3 – 24 | Aug 14 – 28 |
| Radishes | – | Apr 3 – May 15 | Aug 28 – Sep 11 |
| Onions | – | Apr 3 – 17 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Apr 10 – 24 | – |
| Carrots | – | Apr 10 – May 1 | Jul 17 – 31 |
| Beets | – | Apr 3 – 17 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| Kale | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Apr 3 – 17 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| Broccoli | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| Cabbage | Feb 6 – 20 | Apr 3 – 17 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 28 – Sep 18 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | May 17 – 31 | – |
| Peppers | Mar 15 – 29 | May 24 – Jun 7 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | May 17 – Jun 7 | – |
| Zucchini | – | May 17 – Jun 14 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | May 17 – Jun 7 | – |
| Green beans | – | May 17 – Jul 31 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 17 – Jun 14 | – |
| Basil | Apr 12 – 26 | May 24 – 31 | – |
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 10 | Half of years | 9 years in 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring frost after | May 17 | May 1 | April 20 |
| Fall frost before | September 30 | October 9 | October 26 |
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 April 19 (May 2 in a late year), and the first one in fall around October 21.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station W THOMPSON LAKE, CT US (USC00069388), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 8 zip codes, all within 7 miles:
06255, 06258, 06259, 06260, 06262, 06263, 06277, 06281
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.