When to plant in New Jersey
Most of New Jersey sees its last spring frost between Apr 2 and Apr 25, and its first fall frost between Oct 18 and Nov 9. The middle of the state is around April 15 and October 28: that's what the dates below use.
Hardiness zones in New Jersey: 6b (11%), 7a (47%), 7b (40%).
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest | Plant for fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 13 | May 1 – May 15 | Jul 10 – Oct 2 | — |
| Pepper | Feb 27 | May 1 – May 15 | Jul 15 – Oct 7 | — |
| Cucumber | — | May 1 – May 15 | Jun 25 – Aug 13 | — |
| Zucchini / Summer squash | — | May 1 – May 15 | Jun 20 – Aug 29 | — |
| Winter squash | — | May 1 – May 15 | Aug 4 – Sep 8 | — |
| Green beans (bush) | — | May 1 – May 15 | Jun 25 – Aug 6 | — |
| Peas | — | Mar 4 – Mar 18 | May 3 – Jun 7 | Aug 8 – Aug 22 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 1 – May 15 | Jul 15 – Aug 12 | — |
| Lettuce | — | Mar 18 – Apr 1 | May 2 – Jun 13 | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
| Spinach | — | Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Apr 13 – May 25 | Sep 18 – Oct 2 |
| Kale | Feb 4 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 | May 12 – Aug 4 | Sep 17 – Oct 1 |
| Broccoli | Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | May 24 – Jun 28 | Aug 22 – Sep 5 |
| Cabbage | Feb 4 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 | May 27 – Jul 1 | Aug 19 – Sep 2 |
| Carrot | — | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | Jun 3 – Jul 15 | Aug 19 – Sep 2 |
| Beet | — | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | May 19 – Jun 30 | Aug 27 – Sep 10 |
| Radish | — | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | Apr 5 – May 3 | Sep 19 – Oct 3 |
| Onion (sets) | — | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | Jun 19 – Jul 24 | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 21 – Nov 11 (fall) | Jun 10 – Jul 1 next year | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | Jun 23 – Jul 28 | — |
| Sweet potato | Mar 25 | May 6 – May 20 | Aug 14 – Sep 11 | — |
| Watermelon | — | May 6 – May 20 | Jul 30 – Sep 3 | — |
| Basil | Mar 20 | May 1 – May 15 | May 31 – Sep 6 | — |
| Strawberry (June-bearing) | — | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | May 13 – Jun 10 (once established) | — |
| Sunflower | — | May 1 – May 15 | Jul 20 – Aug 24 | — |
Dates for a typical spot in New Jersey. Colder and higher places plant later, warmer ones earlier: enter your ZIP code for yours, or see the calendar for your zone.
Frost dates around New Jersey
| Place | Zone | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton | 7a | Apr 17 | Oct 28 |
| Newark | 7b | Apr 18 | Nov 6 |
| Paterson | 7a | Apr 15 | Oct 28 |
| Jersey City | 7b | Apr 4 | Nov 6 |
| Camden | 7b | Mar 30 | Nov 17 |
| Clifton | 7a | Apr 15 | Oct 28 |
| Edison | 7a | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
| Elizabeth | 7b | Apr 2 | Nov 10 |
| New Brunswick | 7a | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
| Princeton | 7a | Apr 25 | Oct 16 |
Average dates from the nearest NOAA weather stations (1991–2020). Click a place for its full planting calendar.