Frost dates for Plainfield, NJ
At Plainfield, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 11 and the median first fall frost is Oct 28, for a typical growing season of 198 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 27. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 7a to 7b.
- Apr 11Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 27Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 28First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 198 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 12 | Apr 27 | May 13 |
| 32°F | Mar 31 | Apr 11 | Apr 27 |
| 28°F | Mar 16 | Mar 31 | Apr 11 |
| 24°F | Mar 4 | Mar 20 | Apr 1 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 3 | Oct 17 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F | Oct 13 | Oct 28 | Nov 10 |
| 28°F | Oct 24 | Nov 7 | Nov 23 |
| 24°F | Nov 5 | Nov 20 | Dec 8 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 152 days | 173 days | 192 days |
| 32°F | 176 days | 198 days | 218 days |
| 28°F | 202 days | 223 days | 246 days |
| 24°F | 223 days | 247 days | 274 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07060 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 2 km |
| 07062 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 3 km |
| 07080 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 3 km |
| 07063 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 4 km |
| 07076 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 4 km |
| 08820 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 4 km |
| 07023 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 4 km |
| 07069 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 5 km |
| 08812 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 6 km |
| 08840 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 8 km |
| 07067 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 8 km |
| 08830 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 8 km |
| 07922 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 8 km |
| 08846 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 9 km |
| 07059 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 10 km |
| 08863 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 11 km |
| 07980 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 11 km |
| 07095 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 11 km |
| 08880 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 12 km |
| 07946 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 12 km |
| 07077 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 14 km |
| 10309 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 17 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00287079, at 40.6036, -74.4025, elevation 27 m (90 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 13 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 103.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Cranford (10 km)
- New Brunswick 3 SE (15 km)
- Canoe Brook (16 km)
- Somerville 4 NW (21 km)
- Newark Intl Airport (22 km)
- Somerville Somerset Airport (23 km)
- Harrison (27 km)
- Essex Fells Service Bldg (27 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.