When to plant in Short Hills, NJ
USDA Zone 7aShort Hills, New Jersey frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 7a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Short Hills, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average first fall frost in Short Hills is now 13 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
CANOE BROOK · 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 Short Hills’s own odds, recorded at CANOE BROOK.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 17 | Apr 30 | Apr 17 | Oct 2 | Oct 15 | Oct 31 |
| 32°F | May 6 | Apr 18 | Apr 3 | Oct 11 | Oct 27 | Nov 10 |
| 28°F | Apr 19 | Apr 3 | Mar 19 | Oct 22 | Nov 6 | 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 Short Hills, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 11 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.
Short Hills planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Short Hills, NJ?
Plan for the last spring frost in Short Hills around April 18 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Short Hills, NJ?
In Short Hills, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 27 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Short Hills in?
Short Hills 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 Short Hills?
There are roughly 192 frost-free days in Short Hills (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 18 to the first fall frost near October 27.
When should I plant tomatoes in Short Hills?
In Short Hills, start tomato seeds indoors around February 21–March 7, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 25 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Short Hills
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Short Hills’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Summit · 4 km
- Florham Park · 7 km
- Madison · 8 km
- New Providence · 8 km
- Roselle Park · 10 km
- Westfield · 10 km
- East Orange · 10 km
- Roselle · 11 km
Frost dates recorded at CANOE BROOK, 2 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 Short Hills, NJ — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00281335. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/new-jersey/short-hills.