When to plant in Cranford, NJ
Planting dates worked out from Cranford's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Last spring frost
- Early · riskyApr 119 years in 10 still get a later frost
- TypicalApr 21about half of years get a later frost
- Safe to plant outMay 11 year in 10 gets a later frost
Hardy crops like peas and spinach are timed from the typical date. Wait for the safe date before planting out tomatoes, peppers and squash.
First fall frost
- EarlyOct 41 year in 10 has frost by then
- TypicalOct 19about half of years have had frost
- LateNov 39 years in 10 have had frost by then
A typical year has 174 frost-free days. Plan for tender crops to be ripe by the early date.
Station used: Cranford · 2.2 km away · station 24 m, town 19 m. How we match towns to stations
Plan your garden.
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out or sow | Harvest from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | May 1 – May 15 | Jun 25 |
| Sweet pepper | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 1 – May 15 | Jun 30 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Feb 17 – Feb 24 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | May 3 |
| Peas | — | Mar 21 – Apr 18 | May 15 |
| Bush beans | — | Apr 24 – May 15 | Jun 13 |
| Carrot | — | Mar 31 – May 12 | May 30 |
| Beet | — | Mar 31 – May 12 | May 20 |
| Potato | — | Mar 31 – Apr 21 | Jun 9 |
| Kale | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 | May 10 |
| Broccoli | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | Mar 24 – Apr 14 | May 23 |
| Cucumber | Apr 3 – Apr 10 | May 1 – May 15 | Jun 20 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | Apr 3 – Apr 10 | May 1 – May 15 | Jun 15 |
| Winter squash | Apr 3 – Apr 10 | May 1 – May 15 | Jul 20 |
| Sweet corn | — | Apr 24 – May 15 | Jun 23 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | Mar 24 – Apr 14 | Jun 22 |
| Garlic | — | Oct 5 – Nov 2 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Mar 21 – Apr 18 | Apr 28 |
| Basil | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | May 1 – May 15 | Jun 27 |
Cranford's weather over time
How the growing season has shifted here, year by year, from the station's own records.
See the data as a table
| Year | Last spring frost |
|---|---|
| 1969 | Apr 14 |
| 1970 | Apr 13 |
| 1971 | Apr 18 |
| 1972 | Apr 28 |
| 1973 | Apr 15 |
| 1974 | May 8 |
| 1975 | Apr 28 |
| 1976 | May 5 |
| 1977 | May 9 |
| 1978 | May 4 |
| 1979 | Jun 12 |
| 1980 | Apr 23 |
| 1981 | May 9 |
| 1982 | Apr 23 |
| 1983 | May 18 |
| 1984 | May 10 |
| 1985 | May 9 |
| 1986 | May 12 |
| 1987 | Apr 29 |
| 1988 | Apr 27 |
| 1989 | Apr 24 |
| 1990 | Apr 19 |
| 1991 | Apr 13 |
| 1992 | Apr 30 |
| 1993 | Apr 28 |
| 1994 | May 14 |
| 1995 | Apr 18 |
| 1996 | May 14 |
| 1997 | Apr 28 |
| 1998 | Apr 13 |
| 1999 | May 1 |
| 2000 | Apr 15 |
| 2001 | Apr 27 |
| 2002 | Apr 27 |
| 2003 | Apr 15 |
| 2004 | Apr 16 |
| 2005 | Apr 18 |
| 2006 | Apr 11 |
| 2007 | Apr 12 |
| 2008 | May 1 |
| 2009 | Apr 24 |
| 2010 | Mar 29 |
| 2012 | Apr 28 |
| 2013 | Apr 4 |
| 2014 | Apr 16 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1969 | 191 |
| 1970 | 187 |
| 1971 | 200 |
| 1972 | 164 |
| 1973 | 204 |
| 1974 | 147 |
| 1975 | 185 |
| 1977 | 161 |
| 1978 | 157 |
| 1979 | 119 |
| 1981 | 156 |
| 1982 | 170 |
| 1983 | 155 |
| 1984 | 148 |
| 1985 | 151 |
| 1986 | 147 |
| 1987 | 155 |
| 1988 | 164 |
| 1989 | 168 |
| 1990 | 190 |
| 1991 | 190 |
| 1992 | 172 |
| 1993 | 165 |
| 1994 | 166 |
| 1995 | 182 |
| 1996 | 142 |
| 1997 | 156 |
| 1998 | 203 |
| 1999 | 166 |
| 2000 | 176 |
| 2001 | 164 |
| 2002 | 179 |
| 2003 | 170 |
| 2004 | 201 |
| 2005 | 191 |
| 2006 | 184 |
| 2007 | 199 |
| 2008 | 171 |
| 2009 | 172 |
| 2013 | 213 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1969 | 19.5 °C |
| 1970 | 19.6 °C |
| 1971 | 19.0 °C |
| 1972 | 18.9 °C |
| 1973 | 19.8 °C |
| 1974 | 18.4 °C |
| 1975 | 18.2 °C |
| 1977 | 19.1 °C |
| 1978 | 18.3 °C |
| 1979 | 18.6 °C |
| 1981 | 19.0 °C |
| 1982 | 18.0 °C |
| 1983 | 19.2 °C |
| 1985 | 18.5 °C |
| 1986 | 18.7 °C |
| 1987 | 19.1 °C |
| 1988 | 19.4 °C |
| 1989 | 19.0 °C |
| 1990 | 19.0 °C |
| 1991 | 20.3 °C |
| 1992 | 18.1 °C |
| 1993 | 19.7 °C |
| 1994 | 19.7 °C |
| 1995 | 19.6 °C |
| 1996 | 18.7 °C |
| 1997 | 17.9 °C |
| 1998 | 19.4 °C |
| 1999 | 19.7 °C |
| 2000 | 18.1 °C |
| 2001 | 19.1 °C |
| 2002 | 19.7 °C |
| 2003 | 18.7 °C |
| 2004 | 19.8 °C |
| 2005 | 20.2 °C |
| 2006 | 19.6 °C |
| 2007 | 19.1 °C |
| 2008 | 19.2 °C |
| 2009 | 18.9 °C |
| 2013 | 20.0 °C |
What this means for you: Since 1969, Cranford's last spring frost has come about 4 days earlier per decade, on average. The frost-free season has grown by about 4 days per decade. Year-to-year swings are large, so keep using the safe date rather than the trend.
Source: daily records from Cranford (NOAA GHCN-Daily). Years with too many missing days are left out.