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

Planting zone for 06268 — Storrs Mansfield, CT

ZIP code 06268 (Storrs Mansfield, Tolland County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost October 22.

Where ZIP 06268 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 frostApr 19
First frostOct 22
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 Storrs Mansfield, 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 Storrs Mansfield, CT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 22median — 10% chance by Oct 6
Growing season186 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 6 and returns around November 4.

From the NOAA station Storrs, CT — within 1 mile, elevation 666 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 06268

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 29
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 3 – May 17
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 27 – Sep 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 8 – Nov 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 19) and first fall frost (Oct 22) 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 06268 came on Apr 3 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10).

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 Storrs Mansfield, CT.

Soil in Storrs Mansfield, CT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 06268 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-Brookfield complex, 3 to 15 percent slopes, very rocky.

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 06268; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Storrs Mansfield, CT

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights123nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,683base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 13 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)
Precipitation49.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall39 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 35 °F, low 19 °F 35°19° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 20 °F 37°20° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 28 °F 45°28° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 38 °F 57°38° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 48 °F 68°48° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 57 °F 76°57° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 63 °F 81°63° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 61 °F 79°61° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 54 °F 73°54° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 43 °F 61°43° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 34 °F 50°34° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 25 °F 40°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.65 in precipitation, 8.3 in snowfall 3.6❄8 JanFebruary: 2.99 in precipitation, 14.1 in snowfall 3.0❄14 FebMarch: 4.38 in precipitation, 6.3 in snowfall 4.4❄6 MarApril: 4.23 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 4.2❄2 AprMay: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 4.58 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 4.6 OctNovember: 3.90 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 3.9❄1 NovDecember: 4.50 in precipitation, 7.2 in snowfall 4.5❄7 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

062696b
Storrs Mansfield, CT · <1 mi
062516b
Mansfield Depot, CT · 3 mi
062506b
Mansfield Center, CT · 3 mi
062656b
South Willington, CT · 5 mi
062386b
Coventry, CT · 5 mi
062356b
Chaplin, CT · 6 mi
062566b
North Windham, CT · 7 mi
062266b
Willimantic, CT · 7 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Storrs Mansfield → · Connecticut planting zones →

Questions about 06268

What planting zone is ZIP code 06268?

ZIP code 06268 (Storrs Mansfield, 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 Storrs Mansfield, CT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 06268 is April 19; after May 3 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Storrs station.

When is the first frost in Storrs Mansfield, CT?

The median first fall frost near 06268 is October 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 186 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 06268?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 22 – Mar 8 and set transplants outside around Apr 26 – May 10, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 06268 get?

About 49.3 inches of precipitation a year and 39 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Storrs station).

How hot do summers get in Storrs Mansfield, CT?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 06268 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Nipmuck at the center of ZIP 06268: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

Did spring come early in Storrs Mansfield, CT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 06268 came on Apr 3 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Storrs Mansfield, CT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 06268 is 15 h 13 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 06268 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 06268 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.