When to plant basil in New Jersey

Basil
Plant out in Newark
Apr 11–Apr 25

Across New Jersey the window opens between April 2 and May 7. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Newark
Feb 21–Mar 7
Plant out, Newark
Apr 11–Apr 25
Sow outdoors, Newark
Apr 11–Apr 25
Last sowing for a harvest
Aug 9
Last frost, Newark
Apr 4

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Basil blackens below 50°F. Wait a week or two after the last frost.

Basil planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
NewarkApr 11–Apr 25
Jersey CityApr 11–Apr 25
PatersonApr 22–May 6
ElizabethApr 9–Apr 23
Toms RiverApr 30–May 14
TrentonApr 24–May 8
CliftonApr 22–May 6
BayonneApr 9–Apr 23
East OrangeApr 11–Apr 25
CamdenApr 6–Apr 20
PassaicApr 10–Apr 24
LakewoodApr 30–May 14
Union CityApr 6–Apr 20
VinelandMay 1–May 15
HobokenApr 6–Apr 20
PlainfieldApr 18–May 2
New BrunswickApr 22–May 6
Perth AmboyApr 22–May 6
West New YorkApr 6–Apr 20
SayrevilleApr 22–May 6
HackensackApr 10–Apr 24
LindenApr 9–Apr 23
SicklervilleApr 15–Apr 29
KearnyApr 11–Apr 25
Fort LeeApr 10–Apr 24
Atlantic CityApr 2–Apr 16
Fair LawnApr 10–Apr 24
GarfieldApr 10–Apr 24
Long BranchApr 16–Apr 30
WestfieldApr 18–May 2
All 59 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
NewarkFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
Jersey CityFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
PatersonMar 4 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 15
ElizabethFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
Toms RiverMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
TrentonMar 6 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 17
CliftonMar 4 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 15
BayonneFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
East OrangeFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
CamdenFeb 16 to Mar 2Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20Mar 30
PassaicFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
LakewoodMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
Union CityFeb 16 to Mar 2Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20Mar 30
VinelandMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24
HobokenFeb 16 to Mar 2Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20Mar 30
PlainfieldFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
New BrunswickMar 4 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 15
Perth AmboyMar 4 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 15
West New YorkFeb 16 to Mar 2Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20Mar 30
SayrevilleMar 4 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 15
HackensackFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
LindenFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
SicklervilleFeb 25 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 8
KearnyFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
Fort LeeFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
Atlantic CityFeb 12 to Feb 26Apr 2 to Apr 16Apr 2 to Apr 16Mar 26
Fair LawnFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
GarfieldFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
Long BranchFeb 26 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 9
WestfieldFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
PrincetonMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
RahwayFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
EnglewoodFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
BergenfieldFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
BridgetonFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
MillvilleMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24
Old BridgeMar 6 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 17
ParamusFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
Cliffside ParkFeb 16 to Mar 2Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20Mar 30
RidgewoodMar 4 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 15
LodiFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
CarteretFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
South PlainfieldFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
GlassboroFeb 25 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 8
SomersetMar 4 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 15
SummitMar 7 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 18
RoselleFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
North PlainfieldFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
SecaucusFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
HillsboroughMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
HarrisonFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
LindenwoldFeb 25 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 8
ParsippanyMar 6 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 17
Elmwood ParkFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
PleasantvilleFeb 12 to Feb 26Apr 2 to Apr 16Apr 2 to Apr 16Mar 26
MorristownMar 7 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 18
Palisades ParkFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
HawthorneMar 4 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 15
WoodbridgeFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11

Questions

When should I plant basil in New Jersey?

In Newark, plant out from April 11 to April 25. Across New Jersey the window opens between April 2 and May 7, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for New Jersey

Basil in other states

Frost dates for every city in New Jersey