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

Planting zone for 06076 — Stafford Springs, CT

ZIP code 06076 (Stafford Springs, Capitol Region County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 7 and the first fall frost October 12.

Where ZIP 06076 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostMay 7
First frostOct 12
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Stafford Springs, 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 Stafford Springs, CT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 12median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season159 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 24.

From the NOAA station Staffordville, CT — within 1 mile, elevation 735 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 06076

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
TomatoesTransplant · May 14 – May 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
BeansSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 17 – Aug 31
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 28 – Nov 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 7) and first fall frost (Oct 12) 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 06076 came on Apr 5 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14).

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 6b in Connecticut

533 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Connecticut, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. 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 187

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 151

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAtlantic mannagrass3 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −8 °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 °F

Vines 9

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 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Stafford Springs, CT.

Soil in Stafford Springs, CT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 06076 is Nipmuck — moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter67.3%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Nipmuck-Brimfield-Rock outcrop complex, 3 to 15 percent slopes.

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 06076; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Stafford Springs, CT

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights152nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,310base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 14 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)
Precipitation50.2 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 36 °F, low 15 °F 36°15° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 22 °F 44°22° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 33 °F 57°33° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 51 °F 73°51° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 39 °F 60°39° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 30 °F 49°30° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 JanFebruary: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 FebMarch: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 MarApril: 4.28 in precipitation 4.3 AprMay: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 4.28 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 4.88 in precipitation 4.9 OctNovember: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 NovDecember: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Staffordville, CT (within 1 mile); precipitation: Staffordville, CT (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

060776a
Staffordville, CT · <1 mi
060756a
Stafford, CT · 1 mi
010816b
Wales, MA · 6 mi
062796b
Willington, CT · 6 mi
015216a
Holland, MA · 6 mi
062786b
Ashford, CT · 8 mi
010576a
Monson, MA · 8 mi
060846b
Tolland, CT · 9 mi

Connecticut planting zones →

Questions about 06076

What planting zone is ZIP code 06076?

ZIP code 06076 (Stafford Springs, CT) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Stafford Springs, CT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 06076 is May 7; after May 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Staffordville station.

When is the first frost in Stafford Springs, CT?

The median first fall frost near 06076 is October 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 159 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 06076?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 12 – Mar 26 and set transplants outside around May 14 – May 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 06076 get?

About 50.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Staffordville station).

How hot do summers get in Stafford Springs, CT?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 06076 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Nipmuck at the center of ZIP 06076: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

Did spring come early in Stafford Springs, CT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 06076 came on Apr 5 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Stafford Springs, CT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 06076 is 15 h 14 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 06076 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 06076 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.