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

Planting zone for 06259 — Pomfret Center, CT

ZIP code 06259 (Pomfret Center, Northeastern Connecticut County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 9.

Where ZIP 06259 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 1
First frostOct 9
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 Pomfret Center, 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 Pomfret Center, CT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 9median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season161 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 19 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station W Thompson Lake, CT — 7 miles away, elevation 361 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 06259

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 14 – Aug 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 25 – Oct 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 9) 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 06259 came on Apr 3 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11).

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).

Soil in Pomfret Center, CT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 06259 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 classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Woodbridge fine sandy loam, 0 to 8 percent slopes, very 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 06259; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Pomfret Center, CT

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights156nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,489base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 08 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation50.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall39 inper year; 44 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 35 °F, low 15 °F 35°15° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 17 °F 38°17° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 24 °F 46°24° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 34 °F 58°34° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 51 °F 73°51° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 38 °F 61°38° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 30 °F 50°30° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 22 °F 40°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.78 in precipitation, 10.6 in snowfall 3.8❄11 JanFebruary: 3.53 in precipitation, 11.6 in snowfall 3.5❄12 FebMarch: 4.45 in precipitation, 7.2 in snowfall 4.5❄7 MarApril: 4.57 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 4.6❄2 AprMay: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 MayJune: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 4.77 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.8 OctNovember: 4.18 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 4.2❄1 NovDecember: 4.72 in precipitation, 6.5 in snowfall 4.7❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: W Thompson Lake, CT (7 mi away); precipitation: W Thompson Lake, CT (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

062636b
Rogers, CT · 5 mi
062676b
South Woodstock, CT · 5 mi
062346b
Brooklyn, CT · 6 mi
062426b
Eastford, CT · 6 mi
062336b
Ballouville, CT · 7 mi
062606b
Putnam, CT · 7 mi
062816b
Woodstock, CT · 7 mi
062416b
Dayville, CT · 7 mi

Connecticut planting zones →

Questions about 06259

What planting zone is ZIP code 06259?

ZIP code 06259 (Pomfret Center, 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 Pomfret Center, CT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 06259 is May 1; after May 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, W Thompson Lake station.

When is the first frost in Pomfret Center, CT?

The median first fall frost near 06259 is October 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 161 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 06259?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 06259 get?

About 50.1 inches of precipitation a year and 39 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, W Thompson Lake station).

How hot do summers get in Pomfret Center, CT?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 06259 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Woodbridge at the center of ZIP 06259: moderately decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

Did spring come early in Pomfret Center, CT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 06259 came on Apr 3 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Pomfret Center, CT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 06259 is 15 h 14 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 06259 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 06259 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.