Growing Asparagus in Connecticut: Fifteen Years in One Spot
Connecticut can grow a productive asparagus bed for a decade and a half, but only if the ground you choose drains well before you ever set a crown in it.
Gardening in Connecticut
Everything we have worked out for Connecticut: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Bridgeport, the last spring freeze runs April 2 to April 12 and the first fall freeze runs October 28 to November 10, USDA zones 6a-7b, 3,314 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 21.8 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Connecticut: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
When to Sow Autumn Spinach in Connecticut
Connecticut gardeners get one reliable answer: sow the autumn spinach crop between mid-August and late September, counting back from the first fall frost.
Will Spinach Bolt Early in Connecticut?
Connecticut spinach faces a double bind: long summer days push the plant toward flowering no matter how mild the season feels, and the state’s coastal…
When to Sow Pumpkins in Connecticut
In coastal Connecticut, aim to have your pumpkin vines flowering by early-to-mid September, and sow seed once your soil has warmed to 65°F, typically…
Will Pumpkins Ripen Before Frost in Connecticut?
Yes, in most Connecticut gardens a pumpkin planted on a normal schedule has time to ripen before frost, but the margin is thin, especially inland.
When to Sow Parsnips in Connecticut
In coastal Connecticut, aim to sow parsnip seed directly into the garden bed sometime between mid-March and late March, two to three weeks ahead of the…
Will Parsnips Sweeten in Connecticut?
Yes, Connecticut delivers the frost exposure parsnips need. The reference station at Bridgeport records a mean daily minimum of 24.4°F in the coldest…
Growing Spinach in Connecticut: When Will It Bolt?
Spinach sown in Connecticut in spring typically bolts by late May or early June, pushed by the lengthening days as much as by warm weather.
When to Sow Carrots in Connecticut: Counting Back From the Last Frost
Connecticut gardeners can drop carrot seed in the ground weeks before the last spring frost, since the crop tolerates cool soil and shrugs off a light…
Will Carrots Fork in Connecticut Soil?
Connecticut’s representative soil, the Windsor series, runs 82 percent sand and just 2 percent clay, and it’s classified as excessively drained.