New Brunswick, New Jersey planting calendar and frost dates
New Brunswick is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 15 and the first fall frost around October 26, giving about 193 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7a
- Typical last frost
- April 15
- Typical first frost
- October 26
- Frost-free season
- 193 days
Frost dates in New Brunswick
Last spring frost
- April 2Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 15Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 1Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 11Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 26Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 8Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 193 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 April 2 and returns around November 7.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for New Brunswick 3 Se, 1.3 miles SE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in New Brunswick
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: cosmos, okra, 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, sunflowers, 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, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Planting dates for popular crops in New Brunswick
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 17 to 31 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 4 to 18 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Apr 8 to 22 | Jul 27 to Aug 31 |
| Cilantro | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 15 to 22 | — |
| Basil | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | May 12 to 19 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 11 to 18 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 4 to 18 | Oct 26 to Nov 9 |
| Onions | Dec 24 to Feb 4 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 24 to Mar 24 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 25 to Apr 15 | Aug 3 to 24 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 29 to Jun 5 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 7 to 21 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 15 to 29 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 28 to Feb 18 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Aug 10 to Sep 7 |
| Peas | — | Mar 4 to 18 | Aug 3 to 17 |
| Spinach | Mar 4 to 11 | Apr 8 to 22 | Aug 17 to Sep 21 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 15 to May 6 | — |
| Zinnias | May 16 to 23 | Jun 13 to 27 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 14 to Nov 9 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 14 to Oct 26 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 4 to 18 | Sep 14 to 28 |
Nearby cities
- Plainfield, NJ zone 7a, last frost Apr 11
- Perth Amboy, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 15
- Elizabeth, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
- Bayonne, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
- Newark, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
- East Orange, NJ zone 7a, last frost Apr 2
Planting in New JerseyAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for New Brunswick
Questions
When is the last frost in New Brunswick?
Around April 15 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for New Brunswick 3 Se. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 1.
What planting zone is New Brunswick in?
USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in New Brunswick?
Start seeds indoors March 17 to 31 and set plants out May 12 to 26.
When is the first frost in New Brunswick?
Around October 26 in a typical year, and before October 11 about 1 year in 10.