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

Planting zone for 08853 — Neshanic Station, NJ

ZIP code 08853 (Neshanic Station, Somerset County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost October 27.

Where ZIP 08853 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 16
First frostOct 27
2012 zone6b

Was 6b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Neshanic Station, 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 Neshanic Station, NJ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 27median — 10% chance by Oct 10
Growing season192 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 3 and returns around November 7.

From the NOAA station Wertsville 4 Ne, NJ — 6 miles away, elevation 282 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 08853

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 1 – Sep 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 13 – Nov 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 16) and first fall frost (Oct 27) 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 08853 came on Mar 26 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 29).

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 Neshanic Station, NJ.

Soil in Neshanic Station, NJ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 08853 is Bucks — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bucks silt loam, 2 to 6 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 08853; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Neshanic Station, NJ

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days17days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights118nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,232base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 04 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 16 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation51 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall24 inper year; 28 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 38 °F, low 22 °F 38°22° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 23 °F 41°23° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 30 °F 50°30° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 40 °F 62°40° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 50 °F 71°50° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 44 °F 65°44° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 35 °F 54°35° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 28 °F 43°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.76 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 3.8❄6 JanFebruary: 3.02 in precipitation, 8.3 in snowfall 3.0❄8 FebMarch: 4.30 in precipitation, 3.9 in snowfall 4.3❄4 MarApril: 4.05 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 4.0❄1 AprMay: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.69 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 5.51 in precipitation 5.5 JulAugust: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 OctNovember: 3.49 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.5 NovDecember: 4.62 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 4.6❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Wertsville 4 Ne, NJ (6 mi away); precipitation: Wertsville 4 Ne, NJ (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

088877a
Three Bridges, NJ · 3 mi
088707a
Readington, NJ · 3 mi
088447a
Hillsborough, NJ · 4 mi
088767a
Somerville, NJ · 5 mi
088897a
Whitehouse Station, NJ · 6 mi
088857a
Stanton, NJ · 6 mi
088697a
Raritan, NJ · 6 mi
088887a
Whitehouse, NJ · 6 mi

New Jersey planting zones →

Questions about 08853

What planting zone is ZIP code 08853?

ZIP code 08853 (Neshanic Station, 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 Neshanic Station, NJ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 08853 is April 16; after May 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wertsville 4 Ne station.

When is the first frost in Neshanic Station, NJ?

The median first fall frost near 08853 is October 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 192 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 08853?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 19 – Mar 5 and set transplants outside around Apr 23 – May 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 08853 get?

About 51 inches of precipitation a year and 24 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wertsville 4 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Neshanic Station, NJ?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 17 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 08853 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bucks at the center of ZIP 08853: silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Neshanic Station, NJ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 08853 came on Mar 26 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 29), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Neshanic Station, NJ?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 08853 is 15 h 04 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 08853 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 08853 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.