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

Planting zone for Perth Amboy, NJ

Perth Amboy, NJ is in USDA zone 7b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost October 26.

Perth Amboy 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 15
First frostOct 26
Growing season193 days

7b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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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 Perth Amboy, NJ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 26median — 10% chance by Oct 11
Growing season193 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 2 and returns around November 7.

From the NOAA station New Brunswick 3 Se, NJ, elevation 112 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 Perth Amboy

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 31 – Sep 14
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 12 – Nov 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 15) and first fall frost (Oct 26) 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 08861 came on Mar 15 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 22).

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 7b in New Jersey

605 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New Jersey, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. 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 119

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 204

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 176

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 Perth Amboy, NJ.

Soil in Perth Amboy, NJ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 08861 is Boonton — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH3.9strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Boonton-Urban land complex, 0 to 8 percent slopes.

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 08861; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Perth Amboy, NJ

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days24days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights111nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,486base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 04 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 17 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation49.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 23 °F 40°23° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 24 °F 43°24° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 31 °F 51°31° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 41 °F 63°41° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 51 °F 72°51° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 35 °F 56°35° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 28 °F 45°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 JanFebruary: 3.01 in precipitation 3.0 FebMarch: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 MarApril: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 AprMay: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.73 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 5.19 in precipitation 5.2 JulAugust: 4.31 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 OctNovember: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 NovDecember: 4.57 in precipitation 4.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: New Brunswick 3 Se, NJ (9 mi away); precipitation: Woodbridge Twp 1.1 Ese, NJ (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Perth Amboy

088617b
5 to 10 °F
088627b
5 to 10 °F

New Jersey planting zones →

Questions about Perth Amboy

What planting zone is Perth Amboy, NJ?

Perth Amboy, NJ is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map (7b: 5 to 10 °F).

When is the last frost in Perth Amboy, NJ?

The median last spring frost is April 15 and the median first fall frost is October 26 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, New Brunswick 3 Se station).

When can I plant a garden in Perth Amboy, NJ?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 4 – Mar 25; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 22, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Perth Amboy, NJ?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 04 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Perth Amboy, NJ get?

About 49.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).