Connecticut Vegetable Planting Calendar (2024)

FAQs

When to plant vegetables in CT? ›

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.

Root veggies are excellent, well bearing crops suited perfectly for growing in a Connecticut garden. These include carrots, beets, radishes, and turnips. These vegetables are also naturally disease resistant, making them enjoyable for even the most novice of gardeners.

Crops that should be seeded when soil temperatures are greater than 60oF and after the danger of frost is past (about mid May) include beans, corn, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, and squash.

Late March to early May is a good time to plant potatoes in the northern states. In the warmer areas of the South they can be planted in late fall or early winter.

Planting. All danger of frost must be over before tomatoes can be safely placed outdoors. In fact, chill injury may occur at temperatures below 50ºF for many varieties. The average last frost date in Connecticut is mid- to late May, but varies considerably with season, location and site.

In 2012 there was a significant area of Northwest Connecticut in zone 5 (winter minimum temperatures between minus 10 and 20). That area is gone. Most of Connecticut is firmly established in hardiness zone 6 (winter minimums of zero to minus 10) with a large area along the Long Island Sound in hardiness zone 7.

Do you want to grow tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants? Start these indoors around February 16. Then, around April 22 you should start watching the weather forecast and, as soon as no frost is forecast, go ahead and transplant those into the ground.

Greenhouse and nursery products account for over 50% of Connecticut's agricultural production, while other important crops include apples, hay, dairy products, shellfish (including clams and oysters) and tobacco.

In March, begin tomatoes, spinach, onions, lettuce, kale, carrots, cabbage and beets inside. April: Plant beets, cabbage, carrots, kale, lettuce and spinach outside. Begin Brussels sprouts inside. May: Plant onions, peppers and tomatoes outside.

Peas are a good choice because they germinate in cool soils and need cool air temperatures to produce their best. However, mid-March is a little premature. It's best to wait until early April in warmer parts of the state or late April everywhere else.

When to plant onions in CT? ›

Sow transplants in late February or early March, 10-12 weeks before setting in field. Direct seed onions in spring as soon as soil can be worked. Seeding should be completed by late April or mid-May at the very latest to allow time for adequate plant growth before bulb initiation occurs.

Plant all tomatoes in the late spring or early summer after the potential for frost has passed. Some gardeners begin their seeds indoors prior to that time. You can plant seeds indoors up to four to six weeks before the last frost date and then transplant seedlings once warm weather arrives.

o Parsnips – Plant by seed in April, harvest the following February or March for a sweet fresh vegetable in the cold months. Page 2 2 o Carrots – plant by seed late April to Mid-June for summer harvest, then Mid-August through September to harvest through November, but save some to harvest for February and March.

Aiming for a planting 4 to 6 weeks before first hard frost is recommended for Connecticut growers to allow garlic the 9-month growing window it needs before harvest. This typically shakes out to early- to late-November, but can shift slightly year to year, so keeping an eye on the forecast remains important.

For the best results, plant spring flowering bulbs like Tulips, Daffodils and Crocus etc in the fall. The general rule is not to plant bulbs before the soil temperature drops below 55 degrees. This is usually around the first night frost. If you find bulbs in March, always give it a try and plant them ASAP.

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.