Best time to plant in CT (Season-by-season breakdown) | T&J Landscaping and Masonry (2024)

FAQs

What can I plant right now in CT? ›

Sow indoors/undercover: broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, leek, lettuce, onion, peas, pepper, swiss chard, and tomato. Sow outdoors: brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, onion, peas, spinach, and turnip. Deciduous trees and shrubs can be planted until the end of the month.

The best time to plant any plant is during the dormant season – in North America, this is usually late fall through early spring. While it's okay to plant during the rest of the year, it will require more maintenance from you in the form of watering, fertilizers, etc.

September is a great time of year to plant perennial flowers. Most gardeners shy away from fall planting because they worry the plants won't survive winter. But if you plant in September, your perennials will have plenty of time to put down their roots before the cold.

The best time of the year to successfully start grass seed in Connecticut is between August 15 and September 15. During this period, the seeds germinate quickly and the seedlings grow rapidly. Another time to start grass seed is in late winter or early spring.

Connecticut is in USDA plant hardiness zones 5-7. Use your last and first frost dates below to calculate your planting schedule.

Planting barefoot perennials, as long as they are dormant, can be done in early spring. You can also plant dormant trees and shrubs and cold tolerant annuals as early as April.

March is a good time to sow a huge variety of seeds, some of which can be sown direct and others sown indoors to be planted out after all risk of frost has passed. Some crops, such as chillies and tomatoes, should be sown early in the year to give them the long growing season they need.

According to Mr. Rondal, off-season vegetable production technology is the application of practical knowledge in growing vegetable crops that are not in season (from the month of June to November in the Philippines).

What is the best month to start gardening? ›

According to Witz, late summer or early fall is the perfect time for “tilling the ground and adding organic matter, like compost or manure, to improve soil structure and nutrient levels,” because “the cold winter months provide ample time for the organic matter to break down and mingle with the dirt.”

Outside, you can sow peas, carrots, beetroot, summer and autumn cabbages, herbs, leeks, spinach, turnips, spring onions, broad beans, Brussels sprouts and parsnips. This is also a good time to start planting out early potatoes, onions, garlic and shallots.

Vegetable seeds to sow in March

Start sowing cool-weather crops like peas, lettuce, radishes, kohlrabi, mustard greens, collards, turnips, spinach, beetroot, carrots, and onions (seeds and sets) outdoors when your soil is warm enough. Or, use phenology to decide when to plant: when daffodils bloom, plant those crops.

In general, when there hasn't been a frost for two weeks, you are SAFE to plant your spring flowers outside in Connecticut!

If you are determined to have a green lawn by summer, you could plant grass seed in Connecticut in late April or early May, as long as the danger of frost has passed. A better time to plant grass seed is early fall (mid-August to mid-September).

Is it possible to lay turf in the spring? Yes, of course it is, and here are some top tips to ensure that your new lawn turf will not just survive but thrive! The quality of your lawn will depend on the quality of your preparation.

Best time to attempt spring grass seeding

The best time to seed in the spring is mid-March through early April. Like fall seeding, the soil must first be prepared. The recommended method is verticutting. A verticut slices grooves in the soil that allows for the necessary seed and soil contact for germination.

For example, a gardener in Northwest Connecticut (hardiness zone 5) will confidently plant a variety that has been rated hardy to zone 4, but would generally not plant a variety that is only rated hardy to zone 6, because the zone 6 plant would not likely survive their typical winter.

Zipcode 06840 - New Canaan Connecticut is in Hardiness Zones 6b.

What should I plant in March April? ›

Sow seed outdoors for beetroot, carrots, Swiss chard, summer cauliflower, kohl rabi, lettuce, leeks, radish, turnip, spring and pickling onions, peas and perpetual spinach in well-prepared soil. Try sowing unusual vegetables such as salsify, Hamburg parsley, or scorzonera.

Towards the end of the month, you can plant evergreen shrubs and trees left unplanted since the autumn. In warmer areas, evergreen trees and shrubs can be moved in late March. It is better to wait until early April in colder areas.

In late February to early March, start cabbages, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, leeks, endive, escarole, fennel, lettuce, and artichokes indoors. In mid- to late March, direct sow peas, spinach, fava beans, and arugula outdoors. Start peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, Swiss chard, and tomatillos indoors.

Carrot seeds can also be sown, as well as beetroot, kale, leeks, broccoli, horseradish, chicory, and turnips. Spring onions are also great early vegetables to plant in March, as well as spinach (make sure the soil is enriched with organic matter), peas, shallots and parsnips.

March is the end of the planting season for deciduous and bare-rooted trees and shrubs. Although container grown stock can be planted virtually all the year round. Evergreens and conifers can be planted now, as well as the more delicate grey or silver-leaved shrubs such as artemisia, lavender, rosemary and santolina.

April is the best time to plant most of your vegetable seeds after your last frost for all zones. It's still not too late to plant tomatoes and peppers from seeds as well! Check out the below vegetables that can be started in April. Be sure to check your gardening zone for last frost dates.

What should you not do when planting? ›

The latest time to plant for most vegetables would be the second week in June with a short harvest time. If planting crops that mature within 50 days, you could plant those as late as the last week in June, but keep in mind the weather will be turning cooler, especially at night. Cool crops are best for late plantings.

What Vegetables to Plant in April. Plant seeds of cool-season vegetables directly in the garden as soon as the soil dries enough to be worked. You can direct-sow these crops: peas, lettuce, spinach, carrots, beets, turnips, parsnips, and Swiss chard.

Is it too late to start a garden? The answer is usually no, it's not too late! Generally speaking, April and May are the best time to start a vegetable garden. But if you've missed that deadline, there are several ways to extend your planting window.

Don't bother to plant before the soil and air temperatures have warmed up above this point in spring or early summer because the seeds and plants simply won't grow. Wait until about two weeks after the average last frost date for your region to plant warm-season crops.

The best time to start seeds is usually late March to late May. Only the southern zones are suitable for starting plants from seed in the earlier months. Give the plant enough time to germinate and grow to an appropriate transplant size.

November to March is the ideal time to plant bare-root plants. These are plants that have been been grown in open ground, then dug up for despatch and planting during the dormant season. They are called 'bare-root' plants as they are supplied with no soil around their roots.

Early spring is an ideal time to plant herbaceous perennials, including Geranium, Astrantia and Oriental poppies. Plant summer-flowering bulbs.

Plant Cold-Hardy Annuals in February

Choose species that can take a light frost such as pansy, dianthus, sweet alyssum, dusty miller, sweet pea, osteospermum, and calendula.

When can I put plants outside in spring? ›

It's safe to move your plants outside when the outdoor temperatures stay consistently above 50°F. Pay attention to the weather report. If nighttime temperatures are set to fall below 50°F, bring your plants in for the night. Bring them back outside when temperatures rise.

The best time to plant is during the frost-free growing season that starts some time around early-May and ends around mid-October. Planting during this time period allows you to avoid plant-damaging frost and frozen soil and gives your plants a better chance of flourishing.

Find out which flowers to plant in March with our guide to this month's sowing. Early spring is the time to propagate a plethora of seeds ready for summer flowering. Make sure you sow marigolds, sweet peas, delphiniums, and sunflowers now, along with a host of other lovely varieties of flowering plants.

While it's best to hold off until a few weeks after the last frost to plant warm-weather flower seeds, April is the best time to direct sow cool-weather seeds. The following seeds thrive with a cooler weather head-start: sweet peas. larkspur.

Now, for all the summer vegetables like beans, cowpeas, corn, squashes, pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelons, gourds and sunflowers, you should plant those seeds directly into the ground around April 26, or if your soil is still very cold, once the soil is near 60° F in temperature.

Start with fresh seed and sow them about 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date. That would be around the end of March or early April in most Connecticut gardens. Sow 2 seeds in a 2-inch diameter pot filled with seed starting potting soil.

The best time to start your vegetable garden is six to eight weeks before the last frost around springtime. Start seeds indoors, then transplant seedlings outside about two weeks after the last frost. Usually, the best time to start seeds outdoors is around late March to May, unless you live in a warmer area.

If you are determined to have a green lawn by summer, you could plant grass seed in Connecticut in late April or early May, as long as the danger of frost has passed. A better time to plant grass seed is early fall (mid-August to mid-September).

There are number of vegetables that you can start seeding indoors (or in a greenhouse) in March, including brussels sprouts, cauliflower, spinach, squash and perennial herbs (all under cover), chili and sweet peppers and celery. If you have a greenhouse, you can also start sowing cucumbers, gherkins and tomato seeds.

What vegetables should not be planted? ›

Tomatoes are a warm-season crop and they don't like frost. It's usually best to plant seeds in late spring through summer.

In general, when there hasn't been a frost for two weeks, you are SAFE to plant your potatoes outside in Connecticut! For your reference, I have created this table for average frost dates for most major cities in Connecticut.

Planting too early causes a whole host of problems for tender, young tomato plants. From potential frost and freeze damage, to rot and mold. Allow warmer weather to settle in so that soil temperatures can heat up as well. Don't rush planting those transplants until the soil has warmed.

Loosening the soil in new beds before sowing or planting helps roots to grow more easily and access the water and nutrients they need. There are two methods: tilling with a mechanical device such as a rototiller or digging by hand. The first one is a good method when you need to mix in large amounts of amendments.

Is it too late to start a garden? The answer is usually no, it's not too late! Generally speaking, April and May are the best time to start a vegetable garden.

You may think it's too late to grow all your favorite vegetables from seeds, but warm May temperatures have made the soil perfect for sowing seeds. Warm soil will allow for fast germination and growing plants! Good choices are summertime kitchen garden staples like squash, beans, cucumbers and melons.

For best results, lawn seed should be sown in spring (from March to May) or early autumn (September to mid October), when the soil is moist and warm. Before laying a new lawn, take some time to think about the part it will play in your overall garden layout.

If you have your heart set on planting grass in spring, early April is, in fact, the best time to do it.