Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Atlantic City, NJ

Atlantic City, NJ is in USDA zone 8a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 26 and the first fall frost November 21.

Atlantic City on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostMar 26
First frostNov 21
Growing season240 days

8a 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Atlantic City, NJ…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Atlantic City, NJ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 21median — 10% chance by Nov 6
Growing season240 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 15 and returns around December 2.

From the NOAA station Atlantic City, NJ, elevation 10 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Atlantic City

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 26 – Oct 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 7 – Dec 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 26) and first fall frost (Nov 21) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 08404 came on Mar 18 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 18).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 8a in New Jersey

613 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New Jersey, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 81

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 121

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 206

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 180

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAtlantic mannagrass3 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 10

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Atlantic City, NJ.

Soil in Atlantic City, NJ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 08404 is Psammaquents — coarse sand, very poorly drained.

TextureCoarse sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter0%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Psammaquents, sulfidic substratum, 0 to 2 percent slopes, frequently flooded.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 08404; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Atlantic City, NJ

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low30 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights56nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,570base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 57 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 23 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation43.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 42 °F, low 30 °F 42°30° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 31 °F 43°31° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 37 °F 48°37° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 46 °F 57°46° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 55 °F 66°55° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 65 °F 75°65° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 71 °F 80°71° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 70 °F 79°70° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 65 °F 74°65° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 54 °F 65°54° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 43 °F 55°43° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 35 °F 47°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.09 in precipitation 3.1 JanFebruary: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 FebMarch: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 MarApril: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 3.10 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 JunJuly: 3.75 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 4.25 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 NovDecember: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Atlantic City, NJ (within 1 mile); precipitation: Atlantic City, NJ (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Atlantic City

084018a
10 to 15 °F
084048a
10 to 15 °F
084058a
10 to 15 °F

New Jersey planting zones →

Questions about Atlantic City

What planting zone is Atlantic City, NJ?

Atlantic City, NJ is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F).

When is the last frost in Atlantic City, NJ?

The median last spring frost is March 26 and the median first fall frost is November 21 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Atlantic City station).

When can I plant a garden in Atlantic City, NJ?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 12 – Mar 5; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 2, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Atlantic City, NJ?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 57 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Atlantic City, NJ get?

About 43.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).