East Orange, New Jersey planting calendar and frost dates
East Orange is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 2 and the first fall frost around November 10, giving about 222 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 2
- Typical first frost
- November 10
- Frost-free season
- 222 days
Frost dates in East Orange
Last spring frost
- March 20Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 2Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 15Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 28Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 10Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 25Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 222 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 22.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Newark International Airport, 6.5 miles SSE of the city center and 135 feet lower. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. East Orange shares this station with Newark, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in East Orange
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, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, eggplants, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons
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: 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, 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: potatoes
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peas, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, spinach, 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 East Orange
All 2 of East Orange's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Newark International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 7a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07017 | 7a | Newark International Airport, 6.5 mi SSE | Apr 2 | Nov 10 |
| 07018 | 7a | Newark International Airport, 5.7 mi SSE | Apr 2 | Nov 10 |
Newark International Airport also supplies the frost dates for Newark, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Bayonne, Union City and Hoboken, so their planting calendars match East Orange's.
Planting dates for popular crops in East Orange
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 10 to 24 | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 5 to 19 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Aug 11 to Sep 15 |
| Cilantro | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Apr 2 to 9 | — |
| Basil | Mar 17 to 31 | May 5 to 12 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 7 to 14 | Jul 21 to 28 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Nov 10 to 24 |
| Onions | Dec 11 to Jan 22 | Mar 5 to 19 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 7 to 21 | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 7 to 21 | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 17 to Mar 17 | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 12 to Apr 2 | Aug 18 to Sep 8 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 23 to 30 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 7 to 21 | Aug 4 to 18 |
| Green Beans | — | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 7 to 21 | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 15 to Feb 5 | Mar 5 to 19 | Aug 25 to Sep 22 |
| Peas | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Aug 18 to Sep 1 |
| Spinach | Feb 19 to 26 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Sep 1 to Oct 6 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 7 to 28 | — |
| Zinnias | May 11 to 18 | Jun 8 to 22 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 29 to Nov 24 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 29 to Nov 10 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Sep 29 to Oct 13 |
Nearby cities
- Newark, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
- Elizabeth, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
- Clifton, NJ zone 7a, last frost Apr 3
- Passaic, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 3
- Jersey City, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
- Bayonne, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
Planting in New JerseyAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for East Orange
Questions
When is the last frost in East Orange?
Around April 2 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Newark International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 15.
What planting zone is East Orange 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 East Orange?
Start seeds indoors March 10 to 24 and set plants out May 5 to 19.
When is the first frost in East Orange?
Around November 10 in a typical year, and before October 28 about 1 year in 10.