Shark River Hills, New Jersey, sits in USDA hardiness zones 6a-7b — a zone band wide enough that plant choice, not possibility, is the interesting question.
The conditions favor tomato, blueberry, peach, and sweet corn, among others — though every individual site edits that list with its own soil, sun, and drainage.
Even in Shark River Hills, no two yards are alike.
A low spot, a south-facing slope, or a stand of trees moves the frost date and sun across a single Shark River Hills lot. Enter your address and we'll score 1,112 plants against your land's actual soil, sun, and frost.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Quick Facts
USDA Zones
6a-7b
Last Hard Freeze (28°F)
Mar 13
Town normal — light frosts run a few weeks later
First Hard Freeze (28°F)
Dec 12
Town normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier
Town Area
548 acres
Hardiness Zone Range
Zone maps are averages across Shark River Hills. Your yard's slope, trees, and frost pockets shift what actually grows — see your land's exact reading.
Soil varies lot by lot — soil types explained.
What Grows in Shark River Hills
Plants matched to Shark River Hills's USDA zones 6a-7b — each links to its full growing profile.
Is it too late to plant in Shark River Hills?
For most of the year, no — what changes is which crops still fit the days remaining. Cool-season crops can go in from around Feb 13; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Mar 13 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Dec 12 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. And with a calendar this mild, the honest answer is that planting barely stops — winter opens seasons colder regions never see.
Growing Challenges in New Jersey
What an experienced grower plans around here — each one has a move.
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.
For cultivar selection, pest pressure, and planting-time guidance specific to New Jersey, the Rutgers Cooperative Extension is the authoritative local source.
Environmental Intelligence
Understanding what's nearby helps you make informed decisions about where and how to grow.
Total Sites
1,473
within ~10 miles of Shark River Hills
Risk Level
High
Highest-severity
22 Superfund sites
Sources Checked
within ~10 miles of Shark River Hills
Severity Distribution
within ~10 miles of Shark River Hills
Highest-Severity Sites
A note from Gnorman
What an experienced grower watches for around here
In and around Shark River Hills, two things run higher than the national average — Superfund (22 sites) and Underground Storage Tanks (991 sites). Knowing it is half the work — and it's nothing a thoughtful grower can't plan for.
Superfund: Superfund sites represent the most severe contamination in the federal system.
Underground Storage Tanks: Underground storage tanks are the single most common source of soil contamination near homes and gardens.
Commission professional soil testing before any food production (test for heavy metals, VOCs, and SVOCs).
Use raised beds with imported soil — this eliminates the primary soil-contact pathway.
Check your specific parcel in Shark River Hills
Get exact proximity distances to contamination sources for your specific parcel — plus soil, sun, drainage, and 1,112 plant recommendations.
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.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Your Specific Parcel Matters
Shark River Hills Average
- ●USDA Zones 6a-7b
- ●Generic soil type for the area
- ●State-average frost dates
YOUR Parcel
- ✓Your exact hardiness zone
- ✓Your SSURGO soil type & pH
- ✓Your sun exposure, cast in 3D
See MY Growing Report
Read your specific parcel in Shark River Hills
Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in Shark River Hills, New Jersey — soil, sun, drainage, frost risk, and scored plant recommendations.
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.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Key Growing Facts for Shark River Hills, New Jersey
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 6a-7b (USDA PHZM 2023)
- Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Mar 13 (town normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
- First Hard Freeze (28°F): Dec 12 (town normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
- Days Between Hard Freezes: ~274 (town normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
- Land Area: 548 acres (US Census TIGER 2025)
Zone data: USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Climate data: NOAA NCEI. Boundaries: US Census TIGER/Line 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zone is Shark River Hills, New Jersey?
Shark River Hills sits in USDA hardiness zones 6a-7b, per the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Zones reflect average annual extreme minimum temperatures from 1991–2020 weather data.
Is it too late to plant in Shark River Hills?
For most of the year, no — what changes is which crops still fit the days remaining. Cool-season crops can go in from around Feb 13; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Mar 13 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Dec 12 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. And with a calendar this mild, the honest answer is that planting barely stops — winter opens seasons colder regions never see.
When does frost risk typically end in Shark River Hills?
The last hard freeze (28°F) in Shark River Hills typically lands around Mar 13, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals — an earlier marker than the light-frost dates many planting charts quote. That marks the hard freeze, not the last light frost — light frosts can still bite for a few more weeks, so tender transplants usually wait another 2–3 weeks.
When is the first frost in Shark River Hills?
The first hard freeze (28°F) in Shark River Hills typically arrives around Dec 12, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals — the point most tender summer crops finish. Lighter frosts usually reach a couple of weeks earlier, so watch the forecast from late summer on and harvest or cover tender plants before the first cold night.
What vegetables grow in Shark River Hills?
Shark River Hills's zones 6a-7b 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 Shark River Hills, really?
Officially, Shark River Hills sits in USDA zones 6a-7b (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 1,112 plants against what's actually there.
Is the soil safe to grow vegetables in Shark River Hills?
The federal record around Shark River Hills runs heavier than most — 1,473 documented sites — 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.
How do I protect my plants from frost in Shark River Hills?
As the season closes around the first 28°F hard freeze near Dec 12 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals), a few moves buy time: cover tender plants with floating row cover or an old sheet on still, clear nights, water the soil the afternoon before a freeze so it holds warmth overnight, and harvest frost-tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, and basil before the first hard night. Hardy greens and root crops shrug off light frost and often sweeten after it, so leave them in.
Everything on this page is a Shark River Hills average. Your yard writes its own version — we read soil, sun, drainage, and frost at your exact address. Try it for 14 days — no card required.