When to plant in Upper Montclair, NJ
USDA Zone 7aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Upper Montclair, New Jersey — all computed from Upper Montclair's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 7a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Upper Montclair, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average first fall frost in Upper Montclair 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 Upper Montclair’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 Upper Montclair, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 8 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.
Upper Montclair planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Upper Montclair, NJ?
Upper Montclair'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 Upper Montclair, NJ?
In Upper Montclair, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 28 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Upper Montclair in?
Upper Montclair 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 Upper Montclair?
There are roughly 196 frost-free days in Upper Montclair (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 15 to the first fall frost near October 28.
When should I plant tomatoes in Upper Montclair?
In Upper Montclair, start tomato seeds indoors around February 18–March 4, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 22 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Upper Montclair
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Upper Montclair’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Clifton · 4 km
- Woodland Park · 5 km
- Passaic · 6 km
- Totowa · 7 km
- Wallington · 8 km
- Rutherford · 8 km
- Paterson · 9 km
- East Orange · 9 km
Frost dates recorded at LITTLE FALLS, 5 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 Upper Montclair, NJ — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00284887. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/new-jersey/upper-montclair.