Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 06039 (Lakeville, CT)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Falls Village, CT (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)146 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
55°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 49°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Millbrook 3 W (19 mi).
4-inch depth
58°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 54°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Millbrook 3 W (19 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 06039 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 58°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Apr 27 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 11 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 27 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Sep 21 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 4 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 18 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 23 | Sep 26 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 11 | Oct 4 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 30 | Oct 15 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 06039
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 11) and first fall frost (Oct 4). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 16–30 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 2–16 | May 25–Jun 8 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 2–16 | May 25–Jun 8 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 16–30 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 16–30 | Apr 20–May 11 (transplant) Apr 13–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–30 (transplant) Jul 26–Aug 23 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 30–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–30 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 16–30 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 12–Aug 9 (transplant) Jun 28–Jul 26 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 16–30 | Apr 13–May 11 (transplant) Apr 13–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 12–Aug 9 (transplant) Jun 28–Jul 26 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 2–16 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jun 28–Jul 26 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 2–16 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jun 28–Jul 26 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 2–16 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jun 28–Jul 26 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jun 14–Jul 5 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 16–30 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 13–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 13–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Apr 27–May 18 (transplant) Apr 27–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 13–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 20–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 12–26 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 6–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 13–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 20–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 16–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 12–26 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 30–Apr 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 23–Sep 20 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jun 14–28 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 25–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 13–20 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 13–20 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 13–20 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 13–20 | May 25–Jun 8 (transplant) May 25–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 13–20 | May 25–Jun 8 (transplant) May 25–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 30–Apr 13 | May 25–Jun 8 (transplant) May 25–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 16–Mar 2 | May 18–25 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 30–Apr 13 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 27–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 2–16 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) Apr 20–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Falls Village, CT (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00062658), elevation 550 ft, 4.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk 2 SW, CT | 11 mi | May 3 | Oct 11 |
| Copake, NY | 12 mi | May 4 | Oct 11 |
| Millbrook 3 W, NY | 20 mi | May 4 | Oct 7 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 8 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 06039
When is the last frost in 06039?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 06039 is May 11. For a more cautious planting date, use May 27, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 06039?
The average first fall freeze is October 4. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 21.
What hardiness zone is 06039?
ZIP 06039 is in USDA zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 06039 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
06068 12546 Millerton 06079 06031 Falls Village 06069 Sharon 06796 West Cornwall 06018 Canaan 12503
Other ZIP codes in Litchfield County
06018 06021 06024 06031 06057 06058 06061 06063 06068 06069 06079 06098 06750 06751 06752 06753 06754 06755 06756 06757 06758 06759 06763 06776 All Litchfield County frost dates · Connecticut frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.