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Frost Dates in New Jersey
First and last frost dates across New Jersey, computed from 13 NOAA weather stations (1991–2020 climate normals). Your exact date depends on your city and microclimate — use the ZIP lookup on the main tool for a station-specific answer.
Last spring frost
Apr 18
statewide median · range Mar 26–Apr 30
First fall frost
Oct 27
statewide median · range Oct 17–Nov 21
Growing season
189 days
median · range 168–240
Stations used
13
NOAA 1991–2020 normals
Frost dates by city
Median dates from the nearest NOAA station to each city. The "cautious" date is the 10% spring value — planting after it means only a ~10% chance of a later frost.
| City | Nearest station | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Growing season | Safe transplant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark | Newark Liberty Intl Ap · 4 mi | Apr 2 (cautious: Apr 15) | Nov 10 | 222 days | Apr 16 |
| Jersey City | Ny City Cntrl Park (NY) · 6 mi | Mar 30 (cautious: Apr 9) | Nov 20 | 236 days | Apr 13 |
| Trenton | Trenton-Mercer Ap · 5 mi | Apr 10 (cautious: Apr 25) | Nov 1 | 202 days | Apr 24 |
| Atlantic City | Atlantic City Marina · 1 mi | Mar 26 (cautious: Apr 6) | Nov 21 | 240 days | Apr 9 |
How frost varies across New Jersey
Spring frost timing spans about 35 days across the state. Atlantic City Marina in southern New Jersey typically sees its last spring frost around March 26, while Belvidere Brg in northern New Jersey doesn't clear frost until about April 30. Within any city, low spots and valleys run colder than the station average; areas near buildings and pavement run warmer.
When to plant in New Jersey
As a rule of thumb, cool-season crops (lettuce, peas, spinach) can go in 2–4 weeks before your last spring frost; warm-season transplants (tomatoes, peppers) should wait about 2 weeks after it — around May 2 for the statewide median. Check your city's row above rather than the statewide median: a 35-day statewide spread makes the city-level date the one that matters.
These are climate normals (what's typical), not forecasts. For the current year, watch the 10-day forecast around your planting date.
How this is computed
Statewide medians are the median of the 13 NOAA stations' median frost dates — half the stations run earlier, half later. City rows use the nearest station with 30-year freeze records. Dates are 32°F freeze probabilities from NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals; nothing is estimated or interpolated.
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Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost date in New Jersey?
The statewide median last spring frost is April 18, but it ranges from March 26 to April 30 depending on where in the state you are. Use your city's row in the table above, or the ZIP lookup on the main tool, for a station-specific date.
When can I plant tomatoes outside in New Jersey?
Warm-season transplants like tomatoes should wait about two weeks after your last spring frost — around May 2 for the statewide median. Your city may differ by weeks; check the "safe transplant" column in the city table.
How long is the growing season in New Jersey?
The median growing season across 13 NOAA stations is 189 days, ranging from 168 to 240 days by location.
Why do frost dates vary so much within New Jersey?
Frost timing follows latitude, elevation, and local terrain. Across New Jersey, last spring frost dates span about 35 days — from around March 26 near Atlantic City Marina to April 30 near Belvidere Brg. Microclimates (low spots, valleys, urban heat) shift dates further at the garden level.
Where does this data come from?
All frost dates are computed from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals freeze data (public domain), using each station's 32°F freeze probability statistics. No dates are estimated or interpolated.