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

Planting zone for 06360 — Norwich, CT

ZIP code 06360 (Norwich, Southeastern Connecticut County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost October 24.

Where ZIP 06360 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 14
First frostOct 24
2012 zone6b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. 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 Norwich, 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 Norwich, CT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 9
Growing season192 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 1 and returns around November 5.

From the NOAA station Norwich Public Utility Plt, CT — 2 miles away, elevation 20 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 06360

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 14) and first fall frost (Oct 24) 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 06360 came on Apr 3 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3).

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 Norwich, CT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 06360 is Merrimac — fine sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.1strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4.12%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Merrimac fine sandy loam, 3 to 8 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 06360; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Norwich, CT

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights124nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,066base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 11 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 10 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation52.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall28 inper year; 30 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 38 °F, low 21 °F 38°21° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 23 °F 41°23° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 29 °F 48°29° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 39 °F 59°39° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 59 °F 78°59° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 65 °F 84°65° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 63 °F 83°63° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 55 °F 76°55° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 44 °F 64°44° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 34 °F 53°34° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 27 °F 43°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.89 in precipitation, 9 in snowfall 3.9❄9 JanFebruary: 3.75 in precipitation, 7.1 in snowfall 3.8❄7 FebMarch: 5.09 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 5.1❄5 MarApril: 4.71 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 4.7❄1 AprMay: 3.64 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 4.41 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 SepOctober: 4.86 in precipitation 4.9 OctNovember: 4.17 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 4.2 NovDecember: 4.97 in precipitation, 5.6 in snowfall 5.0❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Norwich Public Utility Plt, CT (2 mi away); precipitation: Norwich Public Utility Plt, CT (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

063896b
Yantic, CT · 2 mi
063806b
Taftville, CT · 2 mi
063346b
Bozrah, CT · 4 mi
063836b
Versailles, CT · 4 mi
063656b
Preston, CT · 5 mi
062546b
North Franklin, CT · 6 mi
063366b
Gilman, CT · 6 mi
063306b
Baltic, CT · 6 mi

Connecticut planting zones →

Questions about 06360

What planting zone is ZIP code 06360?

ZIP code 06360 (Norwich, 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 Norwich, CT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 06360 is April 14; after April 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Norwich Public Utility Plt station.

When is the first frost in Norwich, CT?

The median first fall frost near 06360 is October 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 192 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 06360?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 17 – Mar 3 and set transplants outside around Apr 21 – May 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 06360 get?

About 52.2 inches of precipitation a year and 28 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Norwich Public Utility Plt station).

How hot do summers get in Norwich, CT?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 14 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 06360 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Merrimac at the center of ZIP 06360: fine sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 5.1 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Norwich, CT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 06360 came on Apr 3 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Norwich, CT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 06360 is 15 h 11 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).