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Plainfield, New Jersey planting calendar and frost dates

Plainfield is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 11 and the first fall frost around October 28, giving about 198 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 7a
Typical last frost
April 11
Typical first frost
October 28
Frost-free season
198 days

Frost dates in Plainfield

Last spring frost

  • March 31Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • April 11Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • April 27Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • October 13Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • October 28Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • November 10Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 198 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 31 and returns around November 7.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Plainfield, 1.4 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 Plainfield

  1. January

    Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons

  2. February

    Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, kale, 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, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers

  3. March

    Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, eggplants, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, 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

  4. April

    Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, cauliflower, 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

  5. 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, sunflowers, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini

  6. June

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  7. July

    Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard

  8. August

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips

  9. September

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips

  10. October

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

  11. November

    Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips

  12. December

    Start indoors: onions

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Plainfield

Plainfield's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 11 in 07060 to April 15 in 07063. Every one of them is in zone 7a.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
070607aPlainfield, 1.4 mi SEApr 11Oct 28
070627aPlainfield, 1.9 mi SApr 11Oct 28
070637aNew Brunswick 3 Se, 9.2 mi SApr 15Oct 26

Planting dates for popular crops in Plainfield

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 9 to 23May 4 to 18—
Strawberries—Feb 28 to Mar 14—
LettuceFeb 14 to 28Apr 4 to 18Jul 29 to Sep 2
CilantroFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 11 to 18—
BasilMar 16 to 30May 4 to 11—
Potatoes—Apr 6 to 13—
Garlic—Feb 28 to Mar 14Oct 28 to Nov 11
OnionsDec 20 to Jan 31Mar 14 to 28—
CucumbersApr 6 to 20May 4 to 18—
PumpkinsApr 6 to 20May 4 to 18—
PeppersFeb 16 to Mar 16May 4 to 18—
Carrots—Mar 21 to Apr 11Aug 5 to 26
Sweet Potatoes—May 24 to 31—
WatermelonsMar 30 to Apr 13May 4 to 18—
Sweet Corn—Apr 11 to 25—
Green Beans—May 4 to 18—
ZucchiniApr 6 to 20May 4 to 18—
BroccoliJan 24 to Feb 14Mar 14 to 28Aug 12 to Sep 9
Peas—Feb 28 to Mar 14Aug 5 to 19
SpinachFeb 28 to Mar 7Apr 4 to 18Aug 19 to Sep 23
Sunflowers—Apr 11 to May 2—
ZinniasMay 13 to 20Jun 10 to 24—
Tulips——Sep 16 to Nov 11
Daffodils——Sep 16 to Oct 28
Grass Seed—Feb 28 to Mar 14Sep 16 to 30

Nearby cities

Planting in New JerseyAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Plainfield

Questions

When is the last frost in Plainfield?

Around April 11 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Plainfield. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 27.

What planting zone is Plainfield 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 Plainfield?

Start seeds indoors March 9 to 23 and set plants out May 4 to 18.

When is the first frost in Plainfield?

Around October 28 in a typical year, and before October 13 about 1 year in 10.