Conditional — Some Areas
radish (zones 2-11) has limited zone overlap with New Jersey (6a-7b). Only zones 6-7 in the state are suitable.
Your yard isn't the whole zone.
New Jersey spans zones 6a-7b, but your yard has its own microclimate — slope, trees, and low spots shift frost and sun across a single parcel. Enter your address and we'll score radish against your land's actual soil, sun, and frost.
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Zone Comparison
Radish Needs
- USDA Zones: 2-11
- Soil pH: 4.3 - 8.3
- Sun: Full Sun
- Drainage: well (dry spells)
- Frost-Free Days: 50+
New Jersey Has
- USDA Zones: 6a-7b
- Last Frost: Apr 1 - May 1
- First Frost: Oct 5 - Nov 5
- Annual Rainfall: 40-50 inches
- Common Soils: Sandy loam (Pine Barrens), Silt loam, Clay
Plant Zone Range (zones 2-11)
Preferred Soil pH
Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / plant_species_v5.csv. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
When to Plant Radish in New Jersey
The frost window
Across New Jersey, the last spring frost clears between Apr 1 and May 1, and the first fall frost lands between Oct 5 and Nov 5 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last frost to the earliest first frost, that's a 157-day window you can count on — up to 218 days on a mild site in a kind year.
Frost tenderness
Radish is frost-tender — its listed minimum temperature is 50°F (USDA PLANTS Database) — so set plants out after the last frost has cleared your local site, not the state's earliest date.
Days to maturity vs. the window
At 28 days to maturity (USDA PLANTS Database), a planting right after last frost ripens with 129 days to spare even in New Jersey's tightest frost scenario — room for a later start or a second sowing.
Frost window: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020. Plant timing fields: USDA PLANTS Database. Your site's own frost dates can run earlier or later than the state range — a parcel report pins them down.
Growing Season Fit
Zone compatibility says you can survive winter here. Whether the growing season is long enough — and warm enough — is a different question.
Frost-free days
Radish wants 50+ frost-free days; a typical New Jersey site sees ~190 (NOAA Climate Normals). That leaves comfortable headroom for succession planting.
Growing degree days
Radish needs ~650 GDD (base 50°F) to ripen. The state median runs ~3500 GDD (USDA NRCS county aggregates), so New Jersey's typical season clears that easily.
Climate aggregates derive from USDA NRCS county-level hardiness data + Cornell CALS Extension GDD-by-region tables + MSU Extension chill-hours-by-zone (1991-2020 NOAA Climate Normals baseline).
Soil + Drainage Fit
Radish likes near-neutral soil (pH 4.3-8.3). That's the common-ground band across New Jersey's sandy loam (pine barrens) and silt loam — a soil test confirms it for your site. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your New Jersey site is heavier clay or sits in a low spot, raised beds or amendment with compost solve it.
Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. New Jersey soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Radish in New Jersey — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Conditional — Some Areas
- Plant Zones: 2-11 (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 6a-7b (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: Apr 1 - May 1 to Oct 5 - Nov 5 (NOAA Climate Normals)
- Days to Maturity: 28 days
What Else to Consider
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but New Jersey growers also need to think about:
Sandy Pine Barrens soils are nutrient-poor
Compost and cover crops build the Barrens' sand into real soil — organic matter, added every year, is the whole fix.
Urban heat island effects in northern NJ
The city's extra warmth stretches the season for heat-lovers — find your true effective zone and use the head start.
Deer browse is extreme in suburban areas
Fencing holds the line; outside it, aromatic and fuzzy-leaved plants are the ones deer tend to leave alone.
Pollinator + Wildlife Value
Radish draws pollinators (moderate value, USDA PLANTS Database). Planting it near vegetable beds can lift fruit set on neighboring crops.
New Jersey Cooperative Extension
For New Jersey-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for radish, the canonical source is Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Is Radish native to New Jersey?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Radish as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of New Jersey's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few New Jersey natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
Looking for plants that belong here? The New Jersey growing guide lists USDA-documented natives for the state.
Native-range data: USDA PLANTS Database state-distribution records, accessed 2026-07-01.
Common Questions About Growing Radish in New Jersey
When can I plant Radish in New Jersey?
New Jersey's last spring frost clears between Apr 1 and May 1, and the first fall frost lands between Oct 5 and Nov 5 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Radish is frost-tender — its listed minimum temperature is 50°F (USDA PLANTS Database) — so wait until the last frost has cleared your specific site before planting out.
Can Radish mature before first frost in New Jersey?
Yes — Radish matures in 28 days (USDA PLANTS Database), and New Jersey's dependable frost-free window runs 157 days (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020), leaving 129 days of margin. Plant just after last frost and it ripens ahead of the first fall frost.
What hardiness zone is Radish grown in across New Jersey?
New Jersey spans USDA hardiness zones 6a-7b (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Radish carries a range of zones 2-11, so the overlap zones are where outdoor growing is most reliable.
How many frost-free days does a typical New Jersey site have?
A typical New Jersey site sees ~190 frost-free days per year (derived from NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Radish needs 50+ frost-free days, so check whether your local microclimate runs above or below the state average before settling on a planting date.
Is Radish native to New Jersey?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Radish as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of New Jersey's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few New Jersey natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
How should I amend the soil for Radish in New Jersey?
Radish prefers pH 4.3-8.3 and well (dry spells) drainage (USDA PLANTS Database). That sits in the common-ground band across New Jersey soils — a 30-minute soil test from a local Extension lab confirms it for your specific site.
Will Radish actually grow on my specific land in New Jersey?
State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores radish against your address's exact soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost-date data drawn from USDA SSURGO, NOAA, and PRISM — not state averages.
Check your specific parcel in New Jersey
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores radish against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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