Union City, New Jersey planting calendar and frost dates
Union City is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. 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.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7b
- Typical last frost
- April 2
- Typical first frost
- November 10
- Frost-free season
- 222 days
Frost dates in Union City
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, 3.7 miles S of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Union City shares this station with Newark, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Union City
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
Planting dates for popular crops in Union City
| 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
- Hoboken, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
- West New York, NJ zone 7b, last frost Mar 30
- Jersey City, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
- Newark, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
- Passaic, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 3
- Bayonne, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
Planting in New JerseyAbout zone 7bPrintable calendar for Union City
Questions
When is the last frost in Union City?
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 Union City in?
USDA hardiness zone 7b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Union City?
Start seeds indoors March 10 to 24 and set plants out May 5 to 19.
When is the first frost in Union City?
Around November 10 in a typical year, and before October 28 about 1 year in 10.