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

Planting zone for 07928 — Chatham, NJ

ZIP code 07928 (Chatham, Morris 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 07928 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 zone6b

Was 6b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Chatham, 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 Chatham, 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 07928

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 07928 came on Mar 24 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28).

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).

Soil in Chatham, NJ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 07928 is Pompton — sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Pompton sandy loam, 3 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 07928; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Chatham, 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)
Precipitation49.8 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: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 JanFebruary: 3.03 in precipitation 3.0 FebMarch: 4.31 in precipitation 4.3 MarApril: 4.07 in precipitation 4.1 AprMay: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.85 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 AugSeptember: 4.66 in precipitation 4.7 SepOctober: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 OctNovember: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 NovDecember: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Canoe Brook, NJ (4 mi away); precipitation: Madison 0.8 Wsw, NJ (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

079357a
Green Village, NJ · 2 mi
079747a
New Providence, NJ · 2 mi
079407a
Madison, NJ · 2 mi
079017a
Summit, NJ · 3 mi
079027a
Summit, NJ · 3 mi
079337a
Gillette, NJ · 3 mi
079767a
New Vernon, NJ · 3 mi
079227a
Berkeley Heights, NJ · 3 mi

New Jersey planting zones →

Questions about 07928

What planting zone is ZIP code 07928?

ZIP code 07928 (Chatham, 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 Chatham, NJ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 07928 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 Chatham, NJ?

The median first fall frost near 07928 is October 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 189 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 07928?

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 07928 get?

About 49.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Madison 0.8 Wsw station).

How hot do summers get in Chatham, 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 07928 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pompton at the center of ZIP 07928: sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Chatham, NJ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 07928 came on Mar 24 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Chatham, NJ?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 07928 is 15 h 06 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 07928 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 07928 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.