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

Planting zone for 06790 — Torrington, CT

ZIP code 06790 (Torrington, Northwest Hills County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost October 5.

Where ZIP 06790 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 8
First frostOct 5
2012 zone6a

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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Torrington, 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 Torrington, CT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 25
Growing season151 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 18.

From the NOAA station Bakersville, CT — 6 miles away, elevation 686 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 06790

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
TomatoesTransplant · May 15 – May 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
BeansSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 8) and first fall frost (Oct 5) 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 06790 came on Apr 5 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13).

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 6a in Connecticut

528 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Connecticut, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. 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 185

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 149

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 8

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 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Torrington, CT.

Soil in Torrington, CT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 06790 is Charlton — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Charlton-Chatfield complex, 15 to 45 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 06790; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Torrington, CT

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights158nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,345base 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)
Precipitation54.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall59 inper year; 80 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 33 °F, low 15 °F 33°15° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 16 °F 37°16° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 23 °F 45°23° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 33 °F 59°33° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 38 °F 60°38° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 29 °F 49°29° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 21 °F 38°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.94 in precipitation, 13.1 in snowfall 3.9❄13 JanFebruary: 3.52 in precipitation, 15.8 in snowfall 3.5❄16 FebMarch: 4.61 in precipitation, 12.7 in snowfall 4.6❄13 MarApril: 4.35 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 4.3❄3 AprMay: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.89 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 4.85 in precipitation 4.8 AugSeptember: 4.99 in precipitation 5.0 SepOctober: 5.40 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 5.4 OctNovember: 4.21 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 4.2❄3 NovDecember: 5.00 in precipitation, 12 in snowfall 5.0❄12 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

060946a
Winchester Center, CT · 4 mi
067566a
Goshen, CT · 6 mi
067916a
Harwinton, CT · 6 mi
060986a
Winsted, CT · 7 mi
067926a
Torrington, CT · 7 mi
067596a
Litchfield, CT · 7 mi
060576a
New Hartford, CT · 7 mi
067786a
Northfield, CT · 8 mi

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

Questions about 06790

What planting zone is ZIP code 06790?

ZIP code 06790 (Torrington, CT) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Torrington, CT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 06790 is May 8; after May 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bakersville station.

When is the first frost in Torrington, CT?

The median first fall frost near 06790 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 151 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 06790?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 13 – Mar 27 and set transplants outside around May 15 – May 29, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 06790 get?

About 54.3 inches of precipitation a year and 59 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bakersville station).

How hot do summers get in Torrington, CT?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 06790 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Charlton at the center of ZIP 06790: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Torrington, CT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 06790 came on Apr 5 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Torrington, CT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 06790 is 15 h 13 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).