Hartford, Connecticut · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in Hartford

This month's sowing list for Hartford, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.

October

1 vegetable to sow or plant now

1 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around April 29, and frost is unlikely after about May 15.

Sow or plant in Hartford in October

Start seeds indoors

Nothing this month.

Direct sow

Nothing this month.

Transplant

Garlic

Ready to pick in October

Arugula
Beets
Bok choy
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Bush beans
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Celeriac
Celery
Chives
Cilantro
Dill
Kale
Leek
Lettuce
Parsley
Pole beans
Potato
Radish
Scallions
Spinach
Strawberry
Swiss chard
Tomato
Turnip
Winter squash

Coming up in November

Nothing new starts in November. This month's list carries on.

When to plant the favourites in Hartford

Tomatoes

Start seeds indoors: April to May.

Transplant: May to July.

Best time to start: May.

Pick: August to October.

First pick about 17 weeks after starting.

Potatoes

Plant: April to August.

Best time to start: April to August.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 9 weeks after starting.

Garlic

Plant: September to November.

Best time to start: September to November.

Pick: June to August.

First pick about 36 weeks after starting.

Lettuce

Direct sow: April to May and August to September.

Best time to start: April to May and August to September.

Pick: June to December.

First pick about 6 weeks after starting.

Carrots

Direct sow: April to August.

Best time to start: April to May and July to August.

Pick: June to December.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Bush beans

Direct sow: May to July.

Best time to start: May to July.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 8 weeks after starting.

Onions

Start seeds indoors: February to April.

Transplant: April to May.

Best time to start: April to May.

Pick: July to September.

First pick about 20 weeks after starting.

Strawberries

Plant: April to June.

Best time to start: April to June.

Pick: August to November.

First pick about 14 weeks after starting.

Winter squash

Start seeds indoors: May to June.

Direct sow: May to June.

Transplant: May to June.

Best time to start: May to June.

Pick: August to October.

First pick about 14 weeks after starting.

Zucchini

Start seeds indoors: May to July.

Direct sow: May to July.

Transplant: May to August.

Best time to start: May to July.

Pick: July to September.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

The planting year in Hartford

Start seeds indoors
Direct sow
Transplant
Pick
Paler: possible, but not the best time

Vegetable	O	N	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	First pick
Arugula					S	S	S		S	S	about 4 weeks
Basil						T	S	S	P		about 7 weeks
Beets					S	S	S	S	S	S	about 6 weeks
Bell pepper				T	T	P	P	P			about 17 weeks
Bok choy					S	S	S	S	S	S	about 4 weeks
Broccoli				T	P	P	T	T	P		about 12 weeks
Brussels sprouts							T	P			about 19 weeks
Bush beans						S	S	S			about 8 weeks
Cabbage				T	P	P	P	P	P		about 13 weeks
Cantaloupe						T	S	P			about 10 weeks
Carrot					S	S	S	S	S		about 7 weeks
Cauliflower								T	P		about 14 weeks
Celeriac			T		P						about 23 weeks
Celery			T	T	P	P	P				about 19 weeks
Chives				T	S	S	S	S	S	P	about 7 weeks
Cilantro					S	S				S	about 6 weeks
Cucumber						S	S	S	P		about 7 weeks
Dill					S	S	S	S	S	S	about 5 weeks
Eggplant					T	P	P				about 18 weeks
Fava beans				S	S	S					about 11 weeks
Garlic	P	P								P	about 36 weeks
Hot pepper				T	T	P	P				about 19 weeks
Kale				T	S	S	S	S	S	S	about 6 weeks
Leek			T	T	P	P	P	P	P		about 17 weeks
Lettuce					S	S			S	S	about 6 weeks
Okra							S	S			about 7 weeks
Onion			T	T	P	P					about 20 weeks
Parsley				T	S	S	S	S	S	P	about 7 weeks
Peas				S	S	S					about 9 weeks
Pole beans						S	S	S			about 9 weeks
Potato					P	P	P	P	P		about 9 weeks
Radish				S	S	S	S	S	S	S	about 3 weeks
Runner beans								S			about 9 weeks
Scallions					S	S	S	S	S	S	about 6 weeks
Spinach				S	S	S				S	about 7 weeks
Strawberry					P	P	P				about 14 weeks
Sweet corn						S	S	S			about 10 weeks
Sweet potato							P				about 10 weeks
Swiss chard					S	S	S	S	S	S	about 6 weeks
Tomato					T	P	P	P			about 17 weeks
Turnip					S	S			S	S	about 6 weeks
Watermelon						T	S				about 11 weeks
Winter squash						S	S				about 14 weeks
Zucchini						S	S	S	P		about 7 weeks

The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.

Choose a quick-maturing (early) variety of: sweet potato.

Choose a heat-tolerant variety of: fava beans.

Hartford season by season

Spring March to May

Time to start: arugula, basil, beets, bell pepper, bok choy, broccoli, bush beans, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrot, celeriac, chives, cilantro, cucumber, dill, eggplant, fava beans, hot pepper, kale, lettuce, parsley, peas, pole beans, potato, radish, scallions, spinach, strawberry, sweet corn, Swiss chard, tomato, turnip, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Last chance for: celeriac, cilantro, fava beans, lettuce, onion, peas, spinach and turnip.

Summer June to August

Time to start: arugula, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, lettuce, okra, runner beans, sweet potato and turnip.

Last chance for: arugula, basil, bell pepper, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrot, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, leek, okra, pole beans, potato, runner beans, strawberry, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Fall September to November

Time to start: cilantro, garlic and spinach.

Last chance for: arugula, beets, bok choy, chives, cilantro, dill, garlic, kale, lettuce, parsley, radish, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard and turnip.

Winter December to February

Time to start: celeriac, celery, leek and onion.

Last chance for: celeriac.

Frost in Hartford

Last frost, most years: around April 29
Frost is unlikely after: about May 15
First frost, most years: around October 17
Frost-free days in a year: about 171

The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, winter squash and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.

Harder to grow in Hartford

Needs a greenhouse or a warm, sheltered spot: rutabaga.

Too cold here: parsnip.

Questions about planting in Hartford

What can I plant now in Hartford?

In October, 1 vegetables can be sown or planted in Hartford, including garlic. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.

When should I plant tomatoes in Hartford?

In Hartford, sow tomatoes indoors from April to May and transplant them from May to July. The best time to start is in May. Picking runs from August to October.

When should I plant potatoes in Hartford?

In Hartford, plant potatoes from April to August. The best time to start is from April to August. Picking runs from July to October.

When should I plant garlic in Hartford?

In Hartford, plant garlic from September to November. The best time to start is from September to November. Picking runs from June to August.

When is the last frost in Hartford?

In most years the last frost in Hartford comes around April 29. Frost is unlikely after about May 15, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around October 17.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Hartford?

The quick ones are radish (about 3 weeks), arugula (about 4 weeks), bok choy (about 4 weeks), beets (about 6 weeks), cilantro (about 6 weeks), lettuce (about 6 weeks), scallions (about 6 weeks) and Swiss chard (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.

Other cities

These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Hartford. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).