When to plant watermelon in New Jersey

Watermelon
Plant out in Newark
Apr 18–May 2

Across New Jersey the window opens between April 9 and May 14. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Newark
Mar 7–Mar 14
Plant out, Newark
Apr 18–May 2
Sow outdoors, Newark
Apr 18–May 2
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 15
Last frost, Newark
Apr 4

Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. In short-season areas, start seedlings indoors and pick an early variety.

Watermelon planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
NewarkApr 18–May 2
Jersey CityApr 18–May 2
PatersonApr 29–May 13
ElizabethApr 16–Apr 30
Toms RiverMay 7–May 21
TrentonMay 1–May 15
CliftonApr 29–May 13
BayonneApr 16–Apr 30
East OrangeApr 18–May 2
CamdenApr 13–Apr 27
PassaicApr 17–May 1
LakewoodMay 7–May 21
Union CityApr 13–Apr 27
VinelandMay 8–May 22
HobokenApr 13–Apr 27
PlainfieldApr 25–May 9
New BrunswickApr 29–May 13
Perth AmboyApr 29–May 13
West New YorkApr 13–Apr 27
SayrevilleApr 29–May 13
HackensackApr 17–May 1
LindenApr 16–Apr 30
SicklervilleApr 22–May 6
KearnyApr 18–May 2
Fort LeeApr 17–May 1
Atlantic CityApr 9–Apr 23
Fair LawnApr 17–May 1
GarfieldApr 17–May 1
Long BranchApr 23–May 7
WestfieldApr 25–May 9
All 59 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
NewarkMar 7 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
Jersey CityMar 7 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
PatersonMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
ElizabethMar 5 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 2
Toms RiverMar 26 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 23
TrentonMar 20 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 17
CliftonMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
BayonneMar 5 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 2
East OrangeMar 7 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
CamdenMar 2 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Mar 30
PassaicMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
LakewoodMar 26 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 23
Union CityMar 2 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Mar 30
VinelandMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
HobokenMar 2 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Mar 30
PlainfieldMar 14 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 11
New BrunswickMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
Perth AmboyMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
West New YorkMar 2 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Mar 30
SayrevilleMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
HackensackMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
LindenMar 5 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 2
SicklervilleMar 11 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
KearnyMar 7 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
Fort LeeMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
Atlantic CityFeb 26 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Mar 26
Fair LawnMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
GarfieldMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
Long BranchMar 12 to Mar 19Apr 23 to May 7Apr 23 to May 7Apr 9
WestfieldMar 14 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 11
PrincetonMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
RahwayMar 14 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 11
EnglewoodMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
BergenfieldMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
BridgetonMar 13 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 10
MillvilleMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
Old BridgeMar 20 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 17
ParamusMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
Cliffside ParkMar 2 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Mar 30
RidgewoodMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
LodiMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
CarteretMar 5 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 2
South PlainfieldMar 14 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 11
GlassboroMar 11 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
SomersetMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
SummitMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
RoselleMar 14 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 11
North PlainfieldMar 14 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 11
SecaucusMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
HillsboroughApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
HarrisonMar 7 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
LindenwoldMar 11 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
ParsippanyMar 20 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 17
Elmwood ParkMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
PleasantvilleFeb 26 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Mar 26
MorristownMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
Palisades ParkMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
HawthorneMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
WoodbridgeMar 14 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 11

Questions

When should I plant watermelon in New Jersey?

In Newark, plant out from April 18 to May 2. Across New Jersey the window opens between April 9 and May 14, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for New Jersey

Watermelon in other states

Frost dates for every city in New Jersey