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

Planting zone for 08514 — Cream Ridge, NJ

ZIP code 08514 (Cream Ridge, Monmouth County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost October 16.

Where ZIP 08514 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 25
First frostOct 16
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 Cream Ridge, 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 Cream Ridge, NJ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 16median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season173 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 10 and returns around October 28.

From the NOAA station Hightstown 2 W, NJ — 10 miles away, elevation 102 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 08514

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Apr 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
TomatoesTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 9 – May 23
BeansSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 21 – Sep 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 2 – Nov 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 25) and first fall frost (Oct 16) 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 08514 came on Mar 15 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 23).

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 Cream Ridge, NJ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 08514 is Collington — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.2strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Collington sandy loam, 2 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 08514; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Cream Ridge, NJ

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days26days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights114nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,272base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 02 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)
Precipitation48.3 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 41 °F, low 21 °F 41°21° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 23 °F 43°23° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 39 °F 63°39° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 63 °F 87°63° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 61 °F 85°61° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 42 °F 66°42° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 27 °F 46°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 JanFebruary: 2.94 in precipitation 2.9 FebMarch: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 MarApril: 3.75 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.91 in precipitation 4.9 JulAugust: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 OctNovember: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 NovDecember: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Hightstown 2 W, NJ (10 mi away); precipitation: East Windsor Twp 1.6 W, NJ (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

085267a
Imlaystown, NJ · 2 mi
085017a
Allentown, NJ · 4 mi
085107a
Millstone Township, NJ · 5 mi
085557a
Roosevelt, NJ · 6 mi
085117a
Cookstown, NJ · 7 mi
085277a
Jackson, NJ · 7 mi
085627a
Wrightstown, NJ · 7 mi
085357a
Millstone Township, NJ · 7 mi

New Jersey planting zones →

Questions about 08514

What planting zone is ZIP code 08514?

ZIP code 08514 (Cream Ridge, 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 Cream Ridge, NJ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 08514 is April 25; after May 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hightstown 2 W station.

When is the first frost in Cream Ridge, NJ?

The median first fall frost near 08514 is October 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 173 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 08514?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 28 – Mar 14 and set transplants outside around May 2 – May 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 08514 get?

About 48.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, East Windsor Twp 1.6 W station).

How hot do summers get in Cream Ridge, NJ?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 26 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 08514 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Collington at the center of ZIP 08514: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.2 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Cream Ridge, NJ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 08514 came on Mar 15 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Cream Ridge, NJ?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 08514 is 15 h 02 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).