When to plant in Preakness, NJ
USDA Zone 7aPreakness, New Jersey frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
In zone 7a, Preakness supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
The average first fall frost in Preakness is now 7 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
LITTLE FALLS · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Preakness’s own odds, recorded at LITTLE FALLS.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 12 | Apr 27 | Apr 13 | Oct 4 | Oct 17 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F | May 1 | Apr 15 | Apr 1 | Oct 13 | Oct 28 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F | Apr 16 | Apr 2 | Mar 18 | Oct 24 | Nov 7 | Nov 22 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Preakness, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 13 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Preakness planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Preakness, NJ?
Preakness's average last spring frost falls near April 15 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Preakness, NJ?
Expect Preakness's first fall frost near October 28 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Preakness in?
Preakness is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. In zone 7a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Preakness?
Preakness has about 196 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 15) and first fall frost (October 28).
When should I plant tomatoes in Preakness?
For Preakness, sow tomatoes indoors about February 18–March 4 and move the seedlings out around April 22, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Preakness
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Preakness’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Totowa · 4 km
- Paterson · 6 km
- Hawthorne · 6 km
- Woodland Park · 6 km
- Lincoln Park · 7 km
- Pompton Plains · 8 km
- Franklin Lakes · 8 km
- Glen Rock · 9 km
Frost dates recorded at LITTLE FALLS, 6 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Preakness, NJ — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00284887. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/new-jersey/preakness.