New Jersey frost dates

Average last spring and first fall frost dates for New Jersey’s largest cities, with each city’s USDA hardiness zone.

Reviewed October 2026

Among New Jersey’s 20 largest cities, the average last spring frost ranges from Mar 30 in Camden to Apr 24 in Vineland. Elevation, distance from the coast and city heat all shift the date, so use your own ZIP code below for the closest match.

City	Average last spring frost	Average first fall frost	Frost-free days	Hardiness zone	Weather station used
Newark	Apr 4	Nov 6	216	7a–7b	Harrison, NJ, 2 mi
Jersey City	Apr 4	Nov 6	216	7b	Harrison, NJ, 5 mi
Paterson	Apr 15	Oct 28	196	7a	Little Falls, NJ, 4 mi
Elizabeth	Apr 2	Nov 10	222	7b	Newark Intl Airport, NJ, 2 mi
Trenton	Apr 17	Oct 28	194	7a–7b	Trenton State College, NJ, 4 mi
Clifton	Apr 15	Oct 28	196	7a–7b	Little Falls, NJ, 4 mi
Bayonne	Apr 2	Nov 10	222	7b	Newark Intl Airport, NJ, 3 mi
East Orange	Apr 4	Nov 6	216	7a–7b	Harrison, NJ, 3 mi
Camden	Mar 30	Nov 17	232	7b	Phila Franklin Inst, PA, 4 mi
Passaic	Apr 3	Nov 4	215	7a–7b	Teterboro Airport, NJ, 4 mi
Union City	Mar 30	Nov 20	235	7b	New York Cntrl Pk Twr, NY, 3 mi
Vineland	Apr 24	Oct 23	182	7a	Millville Muni Airport, NJ, 8 mi
Hoboken	Mar 30	Nov 20	235	7b	New York Cntrl Pk Twr, NY, 4 mi
New Brunswick	Apr 15	Oct 26	194	7a	New Brunswick 3 Se, NJ
Perth Amboy	Apr 15	Oct 26	194	7a–7b	New Brunswick 3 Se, NJ, 9 mi
Plainfield	Apr 11	Oct 28	200	7a	Plainfield, NJ
West New York	Mar 30	Nov 20	235	7b	New York Cntrl Pk Twr, NY, 2 mi
Sayreville	Apr 15	Oct 26	194	7a–7b	New Brunswick 3 Se, NJ, 5 mi
Hackensack	Apr 3	Nov 4	215	7b	Teterboro Airport, NJ, 3 mi
Linden	Apr 2	Nov 10	222	7a–7b	Newark Intl Airport, NJ, 5 mi

Frost dates are the dates after (spring) or before (fall) which the chance of a 32°F freeze is below 50%, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the weather station nearest each city’s center. Zones are from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the ZIP codes around each city; a range means nearby ZIP codes differ. Cities are the 20 largest by Census Bureau 2024 population estimates.

An average is not a guarantee. There’s still about a 1 in 2 chance of frost after the average last spring date. Many gardeners wait an extra week or two before setting out tomatoes, peppers and basil, and keep covers handy.

Planting dates for Newark

Timed from Newark’s average last frost of Apr 4, using University of New Hampshire Extension’s planting guidance. For your exact dates, enter your ZIP code in the calendar below.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant outside
Tomatoes	Feb 14 to Feb 28	Apr 11 to Apr 18
Peppers	Feb 7 to Feb 21	Apr 18
Lettuce	Jan 31 to Feb 7	Mar 7 to Mar 14
Broccoli	Jan 24 to Feb 7	Mar 7 to Mar 21
Cucumbers	Mar 14 to Mar 21	Apr 11 to Apr 18
Basil	Feb 21 to Mar 7	Apr 18

When to plant, for your garden

Your seed-starting and planting dates, timed from your last spring frost. Full calendar, 12 crops.

ZIP code

Last frost date

Enter your ZIP code to look up your average last frost date and hardiness zone, or type the date in yourself.

Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Hardiness zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023, ZIP code data from PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed Oct. 20, 2026.

More about frost dates

How to find your last frost date, and what your zone means · Full planting calendar · How to start seeds indoors

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