When to plant garlic in New Jersey
New Jersey spans USDA zones 6b–8a, so the right time to plant garlic shifts by weeks across the state. The window to plant for fall/overwintering runs from about September 18 in Princeton to October 25 in Pleasantville — below are local dates for 158 cities, each computed from its own frost dates.
| City | Zone | Last frost | First frost | Fall-plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark | 7b | April 4 | November 6 | October 9 – October 23 |
| Jersey City | 7b | April 4 | November 6 | October 9 – October 23 |
| Paterson | 7a | April 15 | October 28 | September 30 – October 14 |
| Elizabeth | 7b | April 2 | November 10 | October 13 – October 27 |
| Toms River | 7a | April 23 | October 20 | September 22 – October 6 |
| Trenton | 7a | April 17 | October 28 | September 30 – October 14 |
| Clifton | 7a | April 15 | October 28 | September 30 – October 14 |
| Bayonne | 7b | April 2 | November 10 | October 13 – October 27 |
Garlic in New Jersey: FAQ
When can I plant garlic in New Jersey?
Across New Jersey, the time to fall-plant garlic spans roughly September 18 in Princeton to October 25 in Pleasantville, each following that city's local frost dates.
Does the garlic planting date vary across New Jersey?
Yes. New Jersey publishes 158 cities with their own frost dates, so the right garlic planting window shifts by weeks between the warmest and coldest parts of the state — use your city's page for the exact dates.
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