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

Planting zone for 08701 — Lakewood, NJ

ZIP code 08701 (Lakewood, Ocean County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost October 20.

Where ZIP 08701 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 23
First frostOct 20
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 Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, NJ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 20median — 10% chance by Oct 8
Growing season179 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 8 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Toms River, NJ — 9 miles away, elevation 10 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 08701

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Apr 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 7 – May 21
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
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 23) 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 08701 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 Lakewood, NJ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 08701 is Atsion — peat, poorly drained.

TexturePeattop layer
pH3.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter85%high
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of unique importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Atsion sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes, Northern Tidewater Area.

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 08701; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lakewood, NJ

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days24days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights116nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,176base 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)
Precipitation51.9 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 42 °F, low 22 °F 42°22° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 22 °F 45°22° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 28 °F 51°28° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 38 °F 62°38° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 32 °F 56°32° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 27 °F 47°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 JanFebruary: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 FebMarch: 4.66 in precipitation 4.7 MarApril: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.68 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 5.21 in precipitation 5.2 JulAugust: 5.10 in precipitation 5.1 AugSeptember: 4.25 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 4.59 in precipitation 4.6 OctNovember: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 NovDecember: 4.83 in precipitation 4.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Toms River, NJ (9 mi away); precipitation: Howell Twp 3.7 Ssw, NJ (4 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.

087247b
Brick, NJ · 5 mi
087557a
Toms River, NJ · 5 mi
077317a
Howell, NJ · 5 mi
087237b
Brick, NJ · 5 mi
087547a
Toms River, NJ · 6 mi
087207b
Allenwood, NJ · 6 mi
087537a
Toms River, NJ · 7 mi
087427b
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ · 7 mi

New Jersey planting zones →

Questions about 08701

What planting zone is ZIP code 08701?

ZIP code 08701 (Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, NJ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 08701 is April 23; after May 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Toms River station.

When is the first frost in Lakewood, NJ?

The median first fall frost near 08701 is October 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 179 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 08701?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 26 – Mar 12 and set transplants outside around Apr 30 – May 14, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 08701 get?

About 51.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Howell Twp 3.7 Ssw station).

How hot do summers get in Lakewood, NJ?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 24 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 08701 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Atsion at the center of ZIP 08701: peat, poorly drained, pH about 3.6 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Lakewood, NJ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 08701 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 Lakewood, NJ?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 08701 is 15 h 01 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).