When to plant tomatoes in New Jersey

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 7–Feb 21
Plant out, Newark: Apr 11–Apr 25
Last sowing for a harvest: Jul 30
Last frost, Newark: Apr 4

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Wait for nights that stay above 50°F. A cold snap after transplanting stalls tomatoes for weeks.

Tomatoes 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

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Last frost
Newark	Feb 7 to Feb 21	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Apr 4
Jersey City	Feb 7 to Feb 21	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Apr 4
Paterson	Feb 18 to Mar 4	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 15
Elizabeth	Feb 5 to Feb 19	Apr 9 to Apr 23	Apr 2
Toms River	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Trenton	Feb 20 to Mar 6	Apr 24 to May 8	Apr 17
Clifton	Feb 18 to Mar 4	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 15
Bayonne	Feb 5 to Feb 19	Apr 9 to Apr 23	Apr 2
East Orange	Feb 7 to Feb 21	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Apr 4
Camden	Feb 2 to Feb 16	Apr 6 to Apr 20	Mar 30
Passaic	Feb 6 to Feb 20	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Apr 3
Lakewood	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Union City	Feb 2 to Feb 16	Apr 6 to Apr 20	Mar 30
Vineland	Feb 27 to Mar 13	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Hoboken	Feb 2 to Feb 16	Apr 6 to Apr 20	Mar 30
Plainfield	Feb 14 to Feb 28	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 11
New Brunswick	Feb 18 to Mar 4	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 15
Perth Amboy	Feb 18 to Mar 4	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 15
West New York	Feb 2 to Feb 16	Apr 6 to Apr 20	Mar 30
Sayreville	Feb 18 to Mar 4	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 15
Hackensack	Feb 6 to Feb 20	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Apr 3
Linden	Feb 5 to Feb 19	Apr 9 to Apr 23	Apr 2
Sicklerville	Feb 11 to Feb 25	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 8
Kearny	Feb 7 to Feb 21	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Apr 4
Fort Lee	Feb 6 to Feb 20	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Apr 3
Atlantic City	Jan 29 to Feb 12	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Mar 26
Fair Lawn	Feb 6 to Feb 20	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Apr 3
Garfield	Feb 6 to Feb 20	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Apr 3
Long Branch	Feb 12 to Feb 26	Apr 16 to Apr 30	Apr 9
Westfield	Feb 14 to Feb 28	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 11
Princeton	Feb 28 to Mar 14	May 2 to May 16	Apr 25
Rahway	Feb 14 to Feb 28	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 11
Englewood	Feb 6 to Feb 20	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Apr 3
Bergenfield	Feb 6 to Feb 20	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Apr 3
Bridgeton	Feb 13 to Feb 27	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 10
Millville	Feb 27 to Mar 13	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Old Bridge	Feb 20 to Mar 6	Apr 24 to May 8	Apr 17
Paramus	Feb 6 to Feb 20	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Apr 3
Cliffside Park	Feb 2 to Feb 16	Apr 6 to Apr 20	Mar 30
Ridgewood	Feb 18 to Mar 4	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 15
Lodi	Feb 6 to Feb 20	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Apr 3
Carteret	Feb 5 to Feb 19	Apr 9 to Apr 23	Apr 2
South Plainfield	Feb 14 to Feb 28	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 11
Glassboro	Feb 11 to Feb 25	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 8
Somerset	Feb 18 to Mar 4	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 15
Summit	Feb 21 to Mar 7	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 18
Roselle	Feb 14 to Feb 28	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 11
North Plainfield	Feb 14 to Feb 28	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 11
Secaucus	Feb 6 to Feb 20	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Apr 3
Hillsborough	Mar 5 to Mar 19	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Harrison	Feb 7 to Feb 21	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Apr 4
Lindenwold	Feb 11 to Feb 25	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 8
Parsippany	Feb 20 to Mar 6	Apr 24 to May 8	Apr 17
Elmwood Park	Feb 6 to Feb 20	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Apr 3
Pleasantville	Jan 29 to Feb 12	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Mar 26
Morristown	Feb 21 to Mar 7	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 18
Palisades Park	Feb 6 to Feb 20	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Apr 3
Hawthorne	Feb 18 to Mar 4	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 15
Woodbridge	Feb 14 to Feb 28	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 11

Questions

When should I plant tomatoes 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 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 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

Tomatoes in other states

Frost dates for every city in New Jersey