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

Planting zone for 08511 — Cookstown, NJ

ZIP code 08511 (Cookstown, Burlington County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost October 29.

Where ZIP 08511 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 15
First frostOct 29
2012 zone7a

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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Cookstown, 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 Cookstown, NJ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 29median — 10% chance by Oct 14
Growing season196 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 1 and returns around November 7.

From the NOAA station Philadelphia/Mt Holly WFO, NJ — 14 miles away, elevation 62 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 08511

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
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 15) 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 08511 came on Mar 15 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 22).

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 Cookstown, NJ.

Soil in Cookstown, NJ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 08511 is Jade Run — fine sandy loam, poorly drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.3slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importance, if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Jade Run fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, Northern Coastal Plain.

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 08511; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Cookstown, NJ

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days22days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights111nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,390base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 01 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 19 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation48 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 23 °F 39°23° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 23 °F 42°23° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 31 °F 50°31° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 41 °F 63°41° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 51 °F 72°51° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 66 °F 85°66° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 64 °F 83°64° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 57 °F 76°57° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 45 °F 64°45° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 34 °F 54°34° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 28 °F 44°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 JanFebruary: 2.78 in precipitation 2.8 FebMarch: 4.28 in precipitation 4.3 MarApril: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.96 in precipitation 5.0 JulAugust: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 AugSeptember: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Philadelphia/Mt Holly WFO, NJ (14 mi away); precipitation: Hamilton Twp 2.3 Ne, NJ (14 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

086417a
Joint Base Mdl, NJ · 2 mi
086407a
Joint Base Mdl, NJ · 3 mi
085627a
Wrightstown, NJ · 3 mi
085337a
New Egypt, NJ · 4 mi
080427b
Juliustown, NJ · 6 mi
085147a
Cream Ridge, NJ · 7 mi
080417b
Jobstown, NJ · 7 mi
080157a
Browns Mills, NJ · 8 mi

New Jersey planting zones →

Questions about 08511

What planting zone is ZIP code 08511?

ZIP code 08511 (Cookstown, 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 Cookstown, NJ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 08511 is April 15; after April 29 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Philadelphia/Mt Holly WFO station.

When is the first frost in Cookstown, NJ?

The median first fall frost near 08511 is October 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 196 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 08511?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 18 – Mar 4 and set transplants outside around Apr 22 – May 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 08511 get?

About 48 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hamilton Twp 2.3 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Cookstown, NJ?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 22 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 08511 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Jade Run at the center of ZIP 08511: fine sandy loam, poorly drained, pH about 6.3 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Cookstown, NJ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 08511 came on Mar 15 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 22), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Cookstown, NJ?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 08511 is 15 h 01 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).