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

Planting zone for 07718 — Belford, NJ

ZIP code 07718 (Belford, Monmouth County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost November 3.

Where ZIP 07718 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostApr 9
First frostNov 3
2012 zone7b

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 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Belford, 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 Belford, NJ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 3median — 10% chance by Oct 21
Growing season208 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 29 and returns around November 15.

From the NOAA station Long Branch-Oakhurst, NJ — 9 miles away, elevation 30 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 07718

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 8 – Sep 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 20 – Nov 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 9) and first fall frost (Nov 3) 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 07718 came on Mar 19 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 21).

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 Belford, NJ.

Soil in Belford, NJ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 07718 is Klej — slightly decomposed plant material, somewhat poorly drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter85%high
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Klej complex, 0 to 2 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 07718; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Belford, NJ

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low25 °Faverage low, January
Hot days13days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights94nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,314base 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)
Precipitation49.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 42 °F, low 25 °F 42°25° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 26 °F 43°26° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 32 °F 49°32° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 41 °F 59°41° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 51 °F 68°51° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 61 °F 78°61° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 67 °F 84°67° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 65 °F 82°65° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 59 °F 76°59° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 47 °F 66°47° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 37 °F 56°37° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 30 °F 47°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 JanFebruary: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 FebMarch: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 MarApril: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.31 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 AugSeptember: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 OctNovember: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 NovDecember: 4.80 in precipitation 4.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Long Branch-Oakhurst, NJ (9 mi away); precipitation: Eatontown 1.2 Ne, NJ (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

077587b
Port Monmouth, NJ · 1 mi
077377b
Leonardo, NJ · 1 mi
077487b
Middletown, NJ · 2 mi
077167b
Atlantic Highlands, NJ · 3 mi
077347b
Keansburg, NJ · 3 mi
077527b
Navesink, NJ · 3 mi
077017b
Red Bank, NJ · 4 mi
077307b
Hazlet, NJ · 5 mi

New Jersey planting zones →

Questions about 07718

What planting zone is ZIP code 07718?

ZIP code 07718 (Belford, NJ) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Belford, NJ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 07718 is April 9; after April 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Long Branch-Oakhurst station.

When is the first frost in Belford, NJ?

The median first fall frost near 07718 is November 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 208 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 07718?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 12 – Feb 26 and set transplants outside around Apr 16 – Apr 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 07718 get?

About 49.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Eatontown 1.2 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Belford, NJ?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 13 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 07718 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Klej at the center of ZIP 07718: slightly decomposed plant material, somewhat poorly drained.

Did spring come early in Belford, NJ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 07718 came on Mar 19 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Belford, NJ?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 07718 is 15 h 04 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).