What USDA hardiness zones are in New Jersey?
New Jersey spans USDA hardiness zones 6a-8a — which is to say winter's coldest night runs from about −10°F to 15°F depending where in New Jersey you are, averaged over 1991–2020 (USDA PHZM 2023).
Is it too late to plant in New Jersey?
For most of the year, no — what changes is which crops still fit the days remaining. Across New Jersey, cool-season planting typically opens about four weeks before the local last hard freeze — county medians put that freeze near Mar 31, with the middle half of counties between Mar 26 and Apr 4 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals). Tender transplants wait two to three weeks past it, and fall planting counts back from first freezes mostly between Nov 5 and Nov 17 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. A long window like this one runs successions deep into fall — and even its last weeks take quick greens and garlic.
When does frost risk typically end in New Jersey?
Across New Jersey, the middle half of counties see their last hard freeze (28°F) between about Mar 26 and Apr 4, with a county median near Mar 31 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals). That marks the hard freeze, not the last light frost — lighter frosts keep biting past it, which is why tender transplants here wait until about Apr 21.
How long is the growing season in New Jersey?
Measured between 28°F hard freezes, growing seasons across New Jersey's counties mostly run about 215 to 236 days, with a county median near 222 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals). Tender crops get a somewhat shorter practical window, since lighter frosts reach a few weeks past the hard-freeze dates on both ends.
What vegetables grow well in New Jersey?
New Jersey's zones 6a-8a support a wide range — strong performers include Tomato, Blueberry, Peach, Sweet Corn, and Cranberry. What actually takes on any one site comes down to its soil, sun, and drainage, and we score each plant against the real conditions at your address.
Which hardiness zone is New Jersey, really?
Officially, New Jersey spans USDA zones 6a-8a (USDA PHZM 2023) — but a zone is a 30-year average of winter's coldest night across an area, and it can't see any one yard. A south-facing slope, a tree line, or a low frost pocket can shift a single site by half a zone either way, which is why neighboring gardeners often quote different numbers. We read the conditions at your exact address — soil, sun, slope, and frost — and score 1,086 plants against what's actually there.
Is the soil safe to grow vegetables in New Jersey?
The federal record across New Jersey runs heavier than most — 41,663 documented sites, mostly Underground Storage Tanks entries (23,152) — so test the soil before planting food in the ground, and raised beds with clean imported soil grow well in the meantime. Even here, proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard; the contamination map shows exactly what's recorded and where.
Just moved to New Jersey — what should I know before planting?
Start with three facts. New Jersey spans USDA zones 6a-8a, which sets what survives winter; last hard freezes range from about Mar 26 to Apr 4 across its counties (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and 41,663 documented sites sit on the federal record here, so a soil test before food beds is the smart first step. From there, matching plants to your actual soil and sun is the fun part.
