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
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, 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
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
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
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
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, 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, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, 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
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.
Planting dates for popular crops in Plainfield
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 9 to 23 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 14 to 28 | Apr 4 to 18 | Jul 29 to Sep 2 |
| Cilantro | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Apr 11 to 18 | — |
| Basil | Mar 16 to 30 | May 4 to 11 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 6 to 13 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Oct 28 to Nov 11 |
| Onions | Dec 20 to Jan 31 | Mar 14 to 28 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 6 to 20 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 6 to 20 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 16 to Mar 16 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 21 to Apr 11 | Aug 5 to 26 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 24 to 31 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 11 to 25 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 6 to 20 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 24 to Feb 14 | Mar 14 to 28 | Aug 12 to Sep 9 |
| Peas | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Aug 5 to 19 |
| Spinach | Feb 28 to Mar 7 | Apr 4 to 18 | Aug 19 to Sep 23 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 11 to May 2 | — |
| Zinnias | May 13 to 20 | Jun 10 to 24 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 16 to Nov 11 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 16 to Oct 28 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Sep 16 to 30 |
Nearby cities
- New Brunswick, NJ zone 7a, last frost Apr 15
- Perth Amboy, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 15
- Elizabeth, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
- Newark, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
- East Orange, NJ zone 7a, last frost Apr 2
- Bayonne, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
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.