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

Planting zone for 08213 — Cologne, NJ

ZIP code 08213 (Cologne, Atlantic 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 29.

Where ZIP 08213 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 18
First frostOct 29
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 Cologne, 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 Cologne, 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 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 29median — 10% chance by Oct 13
Growing season190 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 5 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station Atlantic City Intl Airport, NJ — 5 miles away, elevation 59 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 08213

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 3 – Sep 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 15 – Nov 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 18) and first fall frost (Oct 29) 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 08213 came on Mar 15 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 19).

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 Cologne, NJ.

Soil in Cologne, NJ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 08213 is Galloway — loamy sand, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Galloway loamy sand, 0 to 5 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 08213; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Cologne, NJ

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low25 °Faverage low, January
Hot days23days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights101nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,695base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 58 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 22 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation46 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall17 inper year; 10 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 43 °F, low 25 °F 43°25° JanFebruary: average high 46 °F, low 26 °F 46°26° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 33 °F 53°33° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 42 °F 63°42° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 51 °F 73°51° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 67 °F 87°67° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 46 °F 68°46° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° NovDecember: average high 48 °F, low 29 °F 48°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.38 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 3.4❄6 JanFebruary: 3.23 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 3.2❄6 FebMarch: 4.52 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 4.5❄2 MarApril: 3.32 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.3 AprMay: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 JunJuly: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 4.59 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 OctNovember: 3.37 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.4 NovDecember: 4.47 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 4.5❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Atlantic City Intl Airport, NJ (5 mi away); precipitation: Atlantic City Intl Airport, NJ (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

082407a
Pomona, NJ · 4 mi
082157a
Egg Harbor City, NJ · 6 mi
082417b
Port Republic, NJ · 7 mi
082177a
Elwood, NJ · 8 mi
083307a
Mays Landing, NJ · 8 mi
082317b
Oceanville, NJ · 8 mi
082347b
Egg Harbor Township, NJ · 8 mi
082057b
Absecon, NJ · 9 mi

New Jersey planting zones →

Questions about 08213

What planting zone is ZIP code 08213?

ZIP code 08213 (Cologne, 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 Cologne, NJ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 08213 is April 18; after May 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Atlantic City Intl Airport station.

When is the first frost in Cologne, NJ?

The median first fall frost near 08213 is October 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 190 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 08213?

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 08213 get?

About 46 inches of precipitation a year and 17 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Atlantic City Intl Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Cologne, NJ?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 23 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 08213 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Galloway at the center of ZIP 08213: loamy sand, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Cologne, NJ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 08213 came on Mar 15 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Cologne, NJ?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 08213 is 14 h 58 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 08213 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 08213 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.