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USDA Hardiness Zone 7a

Frost Dates for 07068 — Roseland, New Jersey

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Essex Fells Service Bldg, NJ (350 ft), 1 miles northeast.

Updated

In Roseland, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 18 in half of years and has passed by May 7 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 24, as early as October 8 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 187 days (NOAA, Essex Fells Service Bldg, NJ).

Last spring frost
April 18

50% probability

First fall frost
October 24

50% probability

Growing season
187 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7a

0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) coldest night

First snow
December 20

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 18

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

26 of 26 observed

Snow per year
24"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Roseland

Half of springs at Essex Fells Service Bldg, NJ see their last 32°F night by April 18; only one in ten is past it by April 3, and one in ten still has one after May 7. Planting tender crops after April 25 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 30 20%, and after May 7 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 91% of the 56 New Jersey stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 24 in half of years, as early as October 8 one year in ten, and holds off past November 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 19, 18 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 187 days in a typical year, shorter than at 68% of the 56 New Jersey stations; it reaches 207 days one year in ten and falls short of 164 one year in ten. On average 118 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 13 days longer, to about May 1, and return around October 11. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 19 and March 4.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 17Apr 22Apr 25Apr 29May 1May 4May 8May 12May 18
32°FApr 3Apr 7Apr 10Apr 14Apr 18Apr 21Apr 25Apr 30May 7
28°FMar 22Mar 27Mar 31Apr 1Apr 3Apr 5Apr 8Apr 12Apr 19
24°FMar 9Mar 14Mar 17Mar 20Mar 24Mar 27Mar 30Apr 1Apr 5
20°FFeb 27Mar 3Mar 7Mar 10Mar 13Mar 15Mar 18Mar 23Mar 28
16°FFeb 12Feb 20Feb 26Mar 1Mar 4Mar 7Mar 10Mar 13Mar 19
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 30Oct 3Oct 5Oct 8Oct 11Oct 14Oct 17Oct 21Oct 26
32°FOct 8Oct 14Oct 17Oct 21Oct 24Oct 27Oct 30Nov 2Nov 6
28°FOct 21Oct 27Oct 30Nov 1Nov 4Nov 7Nov 11Nov 14Nov 20
24°FNov 1Nov 6Nov 11Nov 14Nov 18Nov 22Nov 26Dec 1Dec 6
20°FNov 15Nov 20Nov 26Nov 30Dec 3Dec 6Dec 12Dec 18Dec 25
16°FNov 29Dec 3Dec 10Dec 14Dec 19Dec 23Dec 28Jan 2Jan 9

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Essex Fells Service Bldg, NJ, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 07068 →Compare Roseland with another place →

Weather by month in Roseland

July is the warmest month at Essex Fells Service Bldg, NJ, averaging 86°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 38°F and 21°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 20% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,247 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 71% of the 56 New Jersey stations. 33% of them (1,064) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 772.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Essex Fells Service Bldg, NJ
MonthHigh °FLow °F32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan3821100%272
Feb4123100%242
Mar4930100%2018
Apr634095%5121
May724920%<1332
Jun81590%0589
Jul86640%0772
Aug84630%0724
Sep78540%0478
Oct654374%4169
Nov5334100%1435
Dec4327100%246

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Essex Fells Service Bldg, NJ (350 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Caldwell Essex Co Airport, NJ, 4 miles north of Roseland and 177 feet lower, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 14), a first frost 4 days later (October 28), a season 9 days longer.

Frost dates for 07035 (Lincoln Park) →

When it snows in Roseland, New Jersey

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Roseland usually arrives around December 20, and the last of the season around March 18. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Canoe Brook, NJ, 6 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 31 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 07068

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Roseland, New Jersey
WhenWhat to do
February 7 – February 21Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 21 – March 7Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 21 – April 4Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 18 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 1Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 10Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 24 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 07068 is 1 mile from Essex Fells Service Bldg, NJ, which stands at 350 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 8 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 07052 (West Orange). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 07068 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across New Jersey →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 7a places in New Jersey