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

Planting zone for 08753 — Toms River, NJ

ZIP code 08753 (Toms River, 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 08753 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 Toms River, 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 Toms River, 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 — 4 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 08753

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 08753 came on Mar 19 — 3 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 Toms River, NJ.

Soil in Toms River, NJ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 08753 is Lakehurst — slightly decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH3.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter85%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Lakehurst 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 08753; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Toms River, 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 20 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation52 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: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 JanFebruary: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 FebMarch: 4.86 in precipitation 4.9 MarApril: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 5.02 in precipitation 5.0 AugSeptember: 4.68 in precipitation 4.7 SepOctober: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 OctNovember: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 NovDecember: 5.81 in precipitation 5.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Toms River, NJ (4 mi away); precipitation: Toms River, NJ (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

087327b
Island Heights, NJ · 3 mi
087417a
Pine Beach, NJ · 3 mi
087407b
Ocean Gate, NJ · 4 mi
087357b
Lavallette, NJ · 4 mi
087557a
Toms River, NJ · 4 mi
087517b
Seaside Heights, NJ · 4 mi
087227a
Beachwood, NJ · 4 mi
087237b
Brick, NJ · 5 mi

All 5 ZIP codes in Toms River → · New Jersey planting zones →

Questions about 08753

What planting zone is ZIP code 08753?

ZIP code 08753 (Toms River, 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 Toms River, NJ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 08753 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 Toms River, NJ?

The median first fall frost near 08753 is October 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 179 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 08753?

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 08753 get?

About 52 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Toms River station).

How hot do summers get in Toms River, 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 08753 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lakehurst at the center of ZIP 08753: slightly decomposed plant material, moderately well drained, pH about 3.6 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Toms River, NJ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 08753 came on Mar 19 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 22), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Toms River, NJ?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 08753 is 15 h 01 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).