Frost dates in New Jersey
Across New Jersey's 48 NOAA stations with a frost every year, the typical last spring frost ranges from March 26 at Margate (20 feet above sea level) to May 1 at Sussex Airport (420 feet above sea level). The middle station's date is April 17.
Look up your ZIP code
Last frost across New Jersey
The frost-free season runs from 163 days at Sussex 3 WNW to 243 days at Margate.
These are typical dates: in half of springs the last frost comes later. Each place's page, and each ZIP code lookup, also gives the late-year date, after which only 1 spring in 10 has a frost. That's the safer date for tender plants.
Frost dates for New Jersey's larger places
| Place | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Season | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark | April 2 | November 10 | 222 days | 7b |
| Paterson | April 14 | October 28 | 196 days | 7a |
| Trenton | April 10 | November 1 | 202 days |
Typical (1-in-2) dates. Each place's page has the early and late years, a planting calendar and a printable planner. Zones are for the ZIP code nearest each place's center.
Hardiness zones in New Jersey
New Jersey's 715 ZIP codes in the USDA list fall in zones 6b to 8a: 6b (11 percent), 7a (47 percent), 7b (40 percent) and 8a (2 percent). Compared with the 2012 map, 68 percent of them moved to a warmer half zone (2 by a full zone or more) and 32 percent stayed the same.
A hardiness zone is about the coldest night of winter, which decides which shrubs, trees and perennials survive. Frost dates are about spring and fall, which decide when to plant. You need both. Read more about what the zones mean and what changed in 2023.
Every NOAA station in New Jersey
All 48 stations in New Jersey with frost statistics in NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, from A to Z. Station names are usually a town, an airport, or a distance and direction from a town. Find one near you and at a similar elevation.
| Station | Elevation (feet) | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andover Aeroflex Airport | 580 | April 25 | October 19 | 175 |
| Atlantic City | 10 | March 26 | November 21 | 240 |
| Atlantic City International Airport | 60 | April 18 | October 29 | 190 |
| Belleplain Station Forest | 30 | April 24 | October 22 | 181 |
| Belvidere Bridge | 260 | April 30 | October 18 | 168 |
| Boonton 1 SE | 280 | April 17 | October 23 | 189 |
| Brant Beach-Beach Haven | 10 | April 1 | November 15 | 230 |
| Caldwell Essex Co Airport | 170 | April 14 | October 28 | 196 |
| Canoe Brook | 180 | April 18 | October 27 | 189 |
| Cape May 2 NW | 20 | April 1 | November 9 | 222 |
| Charlotteburg Reservoir | 780 | April 25 | October 17 | 174 |
| Cranford | 80 | April 11 | October 31 | 202 |
| Essex Fells Service BLDG | 350 | April 18 | October 24 | 187 |
| Estell Manor | 90 | April 24 | October 22 | 180 |
| Flemington 5 NNW | 270 | April 24 | October 21 | 179 |
| Freehold-Marlboro | 190 | April 17 | October 23 | 190 |
| Glassboro 2 NE | 100 | April 8 | November 1 | 205 |
| Hammonton 1 NE | 120 | April 14 | October 27 | 196 |
| Harrison | 20 | April 4 | November 6 | 216 |
| Hightstown 2 W | 100 | April 25 | October 16 | 173 |
| Indian Mills 2 W | 100 | April 28 | October 15 | 169 |
| Lambertville | 70 | April 16 | October 19 | 185 |
| Little Falls | 150 | April 15 | October 28 | 195 |
| Long Branch-Oakhurst | 30 | April 9 | November 3 | 208 |
| Margate | 20 | March 26 | November 22 | 243 |
| Millville Municipal Airport | 70 | April 24 | October 23 | 181 |
| Moorestown | 50 | April 12 | November 1 | 200 |
| Mount Holly S Jersey Airport | 50 | April 15 | October 28 | 195 |
| New Brunswick 3 SE | 110 | April 15 | October 26 | 193 |
| Newark International Airport | 10 | April 2 | November 10 | 222 |
| Newton | 600 | April 24 | October 16 | 176 |
| Pennsauken 1 N | 50 | April 15 | October 31 | 199 |
| Philadelphia/mt Holly WFO | 60 | April 15 | October 29 | 196 |
| Phillipsburg-Easton Bridge | 230 | April 18 | October 25 | 188 |
| Plainfield | 90 | April 11 | October 28 | 198 |
| Seabrook Farms | 100 | April 10 | November 1 | 205 |
| Somerville 4 NW | 130 | April 30 | October 20 | 172 |
| Somerville Somerset Airport | 100 | April 26 | October 18 | 176 |
| Sussex 3 WNW | 670 | April 30 | October 11 | 163 |
| Sussex 8 NNW | 1,020 | April 20 | October 20 | 181 |
| Sussex Airport | 420 | May 1 | October 12 | 164 |
| Teterboro Airport | 10 | April 3 | November 4 | 215 |
| Toms River | 10 | April 23 | October 20 | 179 |
| Trenton Mercer Co Airport | 180 | April 10 | November 1 | 202 |
| Trenton State College | 100 | April 17 | October 28 | 192 |
| Wanaque Raymond Dam | 250 | April 19 | October 23 | 188 |
| Wertsville 4 NE | 280 | April 16 | October 27 | 192 |
| Woodstown Pittsgrov 4 E | 100 | April 11 | November 3 | 206 |
Typical (1-in-2) dates at 32°F. For the early and late years, and a planting calendar built from your own dates, look up your ZIP code.