Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for 06027 — East Hartland, CT

ZIP code 06027 (East Hartland, Northwest Hills County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 17.

Where ZIP 06027 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostApr 30
First frostOct 17
2012 zone5b

Was 5b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for East Hartland, CT…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in East Hartland, CT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 17median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season168 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 16 and returns around October 29.

From the NOAA station Barkhamsted, CT — 6 miles away, elevation 709 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in 06027

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 22 – Sep 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 3 – Nov 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 17) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 06027 came on Apr 12 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 6a in Connecticut

528 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Connecticut, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 64

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 105

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 185

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 149

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 8

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in East Hartland, CT.

Soil in East Hartland, CT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 06027 is Woodbridge — moderately decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter95%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Woodbridge fine sandy loam, 3 to 15 percent slopes, extremely stony.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 06027; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in East Hartland, CT

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days15days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights151nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,681base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 15 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 07 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation52.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 34 °F, low 14 °F 34°14° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 15 °F 37°15° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 24 °F 46°24° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 35 °F 59°35° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 45 °F 70°45° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 60 °F 84°60° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 30 °F 50°30° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 JanFebruary: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 FebMarch: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 MarApril: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 AprMay: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 4.82 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 4.83 in precipitation 4.8 AugSeptember: 4.76 in precipitation 4.8 SepOctober: 5.22 in precipitation 5.2 OctNovember: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 NovDecember: 4.88 in precipitation 4.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Barkhamsted, CT (6 mi away); precipitation: North Granby 1.3 Ene, CT (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

1 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

060606a
North Granby, CT · 3 mi
060916a
West Hartland, CT · 4 mi
060906a
West Granby, CT · 5 mi
060656a
Riverton, CT · 5 mi
060636a
Barkhamsted, CT · 6 mi
060356b
Granby, CT · 6 mi
010346a
Granville, MA · 7 mi
060216a
Colebrook, CT · 8 mi

Connecticut planting zones →

Questions about 06027

What planting zone is ZIP code 06027?

ZIP code 06027 (East Hartland, CT) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in East Hartland, CT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 06027 is April 30; after May 15 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Barkhamsted station.

When is the first frost in East Hartland, CT?

The median first fall frost near 06027 is October 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 168 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 06027?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 06027 get?

About 52.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, North Granby 1.3 Ene station).

How hot do summers get in East Hartland, CT?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 15 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 06027 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Woodbridge at the center of ZIP 06027: moderately decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

Did spring come early in East Hartland, CT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 06027 came on Apr 12 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in East Hartland, CT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 06027 is 15 h 15 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 06027 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 06027 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.