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

Planting zone for 07978 — Pluckemin, NJ

ZIP code 07978 (Pluckemin, Somerset County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 20.

Where ZIP 07978 is

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 30
First frostOct 20
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 Pluckemin, 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 Pluckemin, NJ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 20median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season172 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 15 and returns around October 31.

From the NOAA station Somerville 4 Nw, NJ — 2 miles away, elevation 135 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 07978

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 25 – Sep 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 6 – Nov 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 20) 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 07978 came on Mar 31 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1).

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 Pluckemin, NJ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 07978 is Norton — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Norton loam, 2 to 6 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 07978; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Pluckemin, NJ

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days16days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights137nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,964base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 05 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 39 °F, low 19 °F 39°19° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 20 °F 41°20° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 27 °F 50°27° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 36 °F 62°36° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 56 °F 81°56° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 62 °F 86°62° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 31 °F 54°31° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 24 °F 43°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 JanFebruary: 3.00 in precipitation 3.0 FebMarch: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 MarApril: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.71 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 5.05 in precipitation 5.0 JulAugust: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 4.45 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 4.39 in precipitation 4.4 OctNovember: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 NovDecember: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Somerville 4 Nw, NJ (2 mi away); precipitation: Bedminster Twp 2.9 Ese, NJ (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

079217a
Bedminster, NJ · 2 mi
079387a
Liberty Corner, NJ · 3 mi
079317a
Far Hills, NJ · 3 mi
088077a
Bridgewater, NJ · 4 mi
088767a
Somerville, NJ · 4 mi
079777a
Peapack, NJ · 5 mi
079397a
Lyons, NJ · 5 mi
088697a
Raritan, NJ · 5 mi

New Jersey planting zones →

Questions about 07978

What planting zone is ZIP code 07978?

ZIP code 07978 (Pluckemin, 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 Pluckemin, NJ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 07978 is April 30; after May 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Somerville 4 Nw station.

When is the first frost in Pluckemin, NJ?

The median first fall frost near 07978 is October 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 172 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 07978?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 07978 get?

About 49.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bedminster Twp 2.9 Ese station).

How hot do summers get in Pluckemin, NJ?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 16 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 07978 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Norton at the center of ZIP 07978: loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Pluckemin, NJ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 07978 came on Mar 31 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Pluckemin, NJ?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 07978 is 15 h 05 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 07978 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 07978 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.