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

Planting zone for 06461 — Milford, CT

ZIP code 06461 (Milford, South Central Regional County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost November 6.

Where ZIP 06461 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 5
First frostNov 6
2012 zone7a

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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Milford, 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 Milford, CT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 6median — 10% chance by Oct 25
Growing season216 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 26 and returns around November 19.

From the NOAA station Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport, CT — 6 miles away, elevation 7 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 06461

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 11 – Sep 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 23 – Nov 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 5) and first fall frost (Nov 6) 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 06461 came on Apr 2 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1).

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 7a in Connecticut

546 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Connecticut, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 65

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 106

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 191

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 157

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 10

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °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 °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 Milford, CT.

Soil in Milford, CT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 06461 is Canton — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5.75%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Canton and Charlton fine sandy loams, 8 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 06461; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Milford, CT

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights92nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,347base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 09 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 12 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation44.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall34 inper year; 34 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 24 °F 38°24° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 26 °F 41°26° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 32 °F 47°32° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 42 °F 58°42° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 52 °F 68°52° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 62 °F 78°62° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 68 °F 83°68° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 67 °F 82°67° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 60 °F 75°60° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 48 °F 64°48° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 38 °F 54°38° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 30 °F 44°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.18 in precipitation, 8.5 in snowfall 3.2❄9 JanFebruary: 3.12 in precipitation, 10.7 in snowfall 3.1❄11 FebMarch: 4.09 in precipitation, 7 in snowfall 4.1❄7 MarApril: 4.16 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 4.2❄1 AprMay: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 3.84 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.8 OctNovember: 3.11 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 3.1❄1 NovDecember: 3.98 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 4.0❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport, CT (6 mi away); precipitation: Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport, CT (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

064607a
Milford, CT · 2 mi
066147a
Stratford, CT · 3 mi
064777a
Orange, CT · 4 mi
066107a
Bridgeport, CT · 5 mi
064846b
Shelton, CT · 6 mi
064186b
Derby, CT · 6 mi
066157a
Stratford, CT · 6 mi
065167a
West Haven, CT · 6 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Milford → · Connecticut planting zones →

Questions about 06461

What planting zone is ZIP code 06461?

ZIP code 06461 (Milford, CT) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Milford, CT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 06461 is April 5; after April 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport station.

When is the first frost in Milford, CT?

The median first fall frost near 06461 is November 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 216 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 06461?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 8 – Feb 22 and set transplants outside around Apr 12 – Apr 26, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 06461 get?

About 44.1 inches of precipitation a year and 34 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Milford, CT?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 9 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 06461 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Canton at the center of ZIP 06461: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Milford, CT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 06461 came on Apr 2 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Milford, CT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 06461 is 15 h 09 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).