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

Planting zone for 08226 — Ocean City, NJ

ZIP code 08226 (Ocean City, Cape May County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is March 26 and the first fall frost November 22.

Where ZIP 08226 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 frostMar 26
First frostNov 22
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 Ocean City, 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 Ocean City, NJ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 22median — 10% chance by Nov 7
Growing season243 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 13 and returns around December 5.

From the NOAA station Margate, NJ — 7 miles away, elevation 16 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 08226

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 27 – Oct 11
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 8 – Dec 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 26) and first fall frost (Nov 22) 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 08226 came on Mar 20 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 18).

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 Ocean City, NJ.

Soil in Ocean City, NJ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 08226 is Pawcatuck — mucky peat, very poorly drained.

TextureMucky peattop layer
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter55%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of unique importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Pawcatuck-Transquaking complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes, very frequently flooded.

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 08226; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ocean City, NJ

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low30 °Faverage low, January
Hot days19days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights42nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,892base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 56 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 24 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation48.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 43 °F, low 30 °F 43°30° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 31 °F 45°31° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 37 °F 51°37° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 45 °F 61°45° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 55 °F 70°55° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 65 °F 80°65° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 71 °F 85°71° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 70 °F 84°70° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 64 °F 78°64° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 52 °F 67°52° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 42 °F 57°42° NovDecember: average high 48 °F, low 35 °F 48°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 FebMarch: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 MarApril: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 AugSeptember: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 OctNovember: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 NovDecember: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Margate, NJ (7 mi away); precipitation: Woodbine 5.1 Ne, NJ (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

082237b
Marmora, NJ · 3 mi
082447b
Somers Point, NJ · 4 mi
084037b
Longport, NJ · 5 mi
082487b
Strathmere, NJ · 5 mi
082217b
Linwood, NJ · 6 mi
082307b
Ocean View, NJ · 7 mi
084027b
Margate City, NJ · 7 mi
082257b
Northfield, NJ · 8 mi

New Jersey planting zones →

Questions about 08226

What planting zone is ZIP code 08226?

ZIP code 08226 (Ocean City, 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 Ocean City, NJ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 08226 is March 26; after April 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Margate station.

When is the first frost in Ocean City, NJ?

The median first fall frost near 08226 is November 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 243 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 08226?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 29 – Feb 12 and set transplants outside around Apr 2 – Apr 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 08226 get?

About 48.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Woodbine 5.1 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Ocean City, NJ?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 19 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 08226 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pawcatuck at the center of ZIP 08226: mucky peat, very poorly drained.

Did spring come early in Ocean City, NJ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 08226 came on Mar 20 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ocean City, NJ?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 08226 is 14 h 56 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.