Clifton, New Jersey planting calendar and frost dates
Clifton is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 3 and the first fall frost around November 4, giving about 215 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 3
- Typical first frost
- November 4
- Frost-free season
- 215 days
Frost dates in Clifton
Last spring frost
- March 20Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 3Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 16Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 21Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 4Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 20Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 215 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around March 23 and returns around November 16.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Teterboro Airport, 6 miles ESE of the city center and 194 feet lower. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Clifton shares this station with Paterson, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Clifton
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, celery, cilantro, eggplants, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, okra, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, potatoes, sweet corn
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Clifton
All 4 of Clifton's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Teterboro Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 7a in 07011, 07012, 07013, and 7b in 07014.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07011 | 7a | Teterboro Airport, 4.8 mi ESE | Apr 3 | Nov 4 |
| 07012 | 7a | Teterboro Airport, 5.2 mi E | Apr 3 | Nov 4 |
| 07013 | 7a | Teterboro Airport, 6 mi ESE | Apr 3 | Nov 4 |
| 07014 | 7b | Teterboro Airport, 4.1 mi ENE | Apr 3 | Nov 4 |
Teterboro Airport also supplies the frost dates for Paterson and Passaic, so their planting calendars match Clifton's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Clifton
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 11 to 25 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 6 to 20 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 5 to Sep 9 |
| Cilantro | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Apr 3 to 10 | — |
| Basil | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | May 6 to 13 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 8 to 15 | Jul 15 to 22 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Nov 4 to 18 |
| Onions | Dec 12 to Jan 23 | Mar 6 to 20 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 8 to 22 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 8 to 22 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 18 to Mar 18 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 13 to Apr 3 | Aug 12 to Sep 2 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 22 to 29 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 1 to 15 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 8 to 22 | Jul 29 to Aug 12 |
| Green Beans | — | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 8 to 22 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 16 to Feb 6 | Mar 6 to 20 | Aug 19 to Sep 16 |
| Peas | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Aug 12 to 26 |
| Spinach | Feb 20 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 26 to Sep 30 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 8 to 29 | — |
| Zinnias | May 10 to 17 | Jun 7 to 21 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 23 to Nov 18 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 23 to Nov 4 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Sep 23 to Oct 7 |
Nearby cities
- Passaic, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 3
- Paterson, NJ zone 7a, last frost Apr 3
- East Orange, NJ zone 7a, last frost Apr 2
- Union City, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
- West New York, NJ zone 7b, last frost Mar 30
- Newark, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
Planting in New JerseyAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Clifton
Questions
When is the last frost in Clifton?
Around April 3 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Teterboro Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 16.
What planting zone is Clifton in?
USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 7b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Clifton?
Start seeds indoors March 11 to 25 and set plants out May 6 to 20.
When is the first frost in Clifton?
Around November 4 in a typical year, and before October 21 about 1 year in 10.