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

Planting zone for 07040 — Maplewood, NJ

ZIP code 07040 (Maplewood, Essex County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 18 and the first fall frost October 27.

Where ZIP 07040 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 18
First frostOct 27
2012 zone7a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Maplewood, 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 Maplewood, NJ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 27median — 10% chance by Oct 11
Growing season189 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 3 and returns around November 6.

From the NOAA station Canoe Brook, NJ — 4 miles away, elevation 180 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 07040

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 2 – May 16
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 1 – Sep 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 13 – Nov 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 18) and first fall frost (Oct 27) 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 07040 came on Mar 24 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31).

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 7a in New Jersey

600 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New Jersey, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 80

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 201

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 175

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 Maplewood, NJ.

Soil in Maplewood, NJ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 07040 is Dunellen — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Dunellen - Urban land, Dunellen substratum 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 07040; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Maplewood, NJ

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days29days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights118nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,434base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 06 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 15 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation48.2 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 22 °F 40°22° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 23 °F 42°23° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 31 °F 50°31° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 66 °F 86°66° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 44 °F 66°44° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 35 °F 54°35° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 28 °F 44°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 JanFebruary: 2.78 in precipitation 2.8 FebMarch: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 MarApril: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.73 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 4.59 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 NovDecember: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Canoe Brook, NJ (4 mi away); precipitation: Maplewood Twp 0.9 Se, NJ (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

1 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

070797a
South Orange, NJ · 1 mi
070417a
Millburn, NJ · 2 mi
071117a
Irvington, NJ · 2 mi
071067a
Newark, NJ · 2 mi
071017b
Newark, NJ · 2 mi
070837a
Union, NJ · 3 mi
070787a
Short Hills, NJ · 3 mi
070507a
Orange, NJ · 3 mi

New Jersey planting zones →

Questions about 07040

What planting zone is ZIP code 07040?

ZIP code 07040 (Maplewood, NJ) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Maplewood, NJ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 07040 is April 18; after May 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Canoe Brook station.

When is the first frost in Maplewood, NJ?

The median first fall frost near 07040 is October 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 189 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 07040?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 21 – Mar 7 and set transplants outside around Apr 25 – May 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 07040 get?

About 48.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Maplewood Twp 0.9 Se station).

How hot do summers get in Maplewood, NJ?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 29 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 07040 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Dunellen at the center of ZIP 07040: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Maplewood, NJ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 07040 came on Mar 24 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Maplewood, NJ?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 07040 is 15 h 06 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).