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

Planting zone for 06482 — Sandy Hook, CT

ZIP code 06482 (Sandy Hook, Western Connecticut County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost October 17.

Where ZIP 06482 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 25
First frostOct 17
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 Sandy Hook, 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 Sandy Hook, CT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 17median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season175 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 10 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station Ansonia 1 Ne, CT — 9 miles away, elevation 138 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 06482

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Apr 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
TomatoesTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 9 – May 23
BeansSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 22 – Sep 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 3 – Nov 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 25) and first fall frost (Oct 17) 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 06482 came on Apr 2 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

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 Sandy Hook, CT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 06482 is Woodbridge — fine sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.2strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter7.01%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Woodbridge 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 06482; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Sandy Hook, CT

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights130nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,823base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 10 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 11 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation45 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 36 °F, low 18 °F 36°18° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 19 °F 38°19° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 27 °F 47°27° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 38 °F 58°38° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 47 °F 69°47° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 58 °F 77°58° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 63 °F 82°63° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 41 °F 63°41° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 32 °F 52°32° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 23 °F 41°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 JanFebruary: 2.15 in precipitation 2.1 FebMarch: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 MarApril: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 MayJune: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.33 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 4.78 in precipitation 4.8 AugSeptember: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 4.70 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 NovDecember: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ansonia 1 Ne, CT (9 mi away); precipitation: Stevenson Dam, CT (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

064046b
Botsford, CT · 3 mi
064916b
Stevenson, CT · 3 mi
064706b
Newtown, CT · 4 mi
064876b
South Britain, CT · 4 mi
064886b
Southbury, CT · 5 mi
064686b
Monroe, CT · 5 mi
064786b
Oxford, CT · 5 mi
064406b
Hawleyville, CT · 6 mi

Connecticut planting zones →

Questions about 06482

What planting zone is ZIP code 06482?

ZIP code 06482 (Sandy Hook, 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 Sandy Hook, CT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 06482 is April 25; after May 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ansonia 1 Ne station.

When is the first frost in Sandy Hook, CT?

The median first fall frost near 06482 is October 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 175 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 06482?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 28 – Mar 14 and set transplants outside around May 2 – May 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 06482 get?

About 45 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Stevenson Dam station).

How hot do summers get in Sandy Hook, CT?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 06482 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Woodbridge at the center of ZIP 06482: fine sandy loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.2 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Sandy Hook, CT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 06482 came on Apr 2 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Sandy Hook, CT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 06482 is 15 h 10 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).