Frost Dates for Medford, NJ 08055
Last spring frost May 3 · First fall frost October 12 · 162 frost-free days · USDA Zone 7a
ZIP 08055 has about 29,100 people.
Moderate season: 162 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 18–May 17 (29 days). Fall frost risk spans September 28–October 25 (27 days).
Frost probability for 08055
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 17 | May 3 | April 18 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 28 | October 12 | October 25 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at PEMBERTON (16.8 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 162-day season in Medford
In Medford (162 frost-free days, a moderate season), 31 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 24 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 29 | May 17–May 24 | 120 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 120 available after May 17. | Jun 12 |
| Pepper | Mar 22 | May 17–May 24 | 120 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 120 available after May 17. | Jun 17 |
| Lettuce | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 12 | 197 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 21 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 12–Apr 19 | 204 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 204 available after Apr 12. | Aug 10 |
| Cucumber | Apr 12 | May 17–May 24 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 17 and again by Jul 16; both mature before Sep 28. | Jul 16 |
| Beans | — | May 10–May 24 | 148 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 23; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 23 |
| Peas | — | Mar 8–May 17 | 225 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 225 available after Mar 8. | Aug 1 |
| Zucchini | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 17 and again by Jul 21; both mature before Sep 28. | Jul 21 |
| Onion | Feb 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 197 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 197 available after Apr 5. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 8–Apr 26 | 239 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 9; both mature before Nov 2. | Sep 9 |
| Kale | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 211 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 25; both mature before Nov 2. | Aug 25 |
| Broccoli | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 197 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 197 available after Apr 5. | Jul 17 |
| Cabbage | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 211 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 211 available after Apr 5. | Aug 10 |
| Radish | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 225 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 10; both mature before Oct 19. | Sep 10 |
| Beets | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 225 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 11 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 19–Apr 26 | 183 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 183 available after Apr 19. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 12 | 267 | overwinter: Plant Oct 12 to Nov 2; harvest the following summer. | Nov 2 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 29–May 24 | 218 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 29; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 5 | May 10–May 17 | 134 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 134 available after May 10. | Jun 24 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 19 | May 17–May 17 | 127 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 127 available after May 17. | May 30 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 22 | Apr 26–May 10 | 176 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 176 available after Apr 26. | Jul 22 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 8 | Apr 19–Apr 19 | 183 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 11 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 239 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 9; both mature before Nov 2. | Sep 9 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 211 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 211 available after Apr 5. | Jul 11 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 127 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 127 available after May 17. | May 30 |
| Eggplant | Mar 15 | May 17–May 24 | 120 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 120 available after May 17. | Jun 22 |
| Okra | Apr 5 | May 10–May 17 | 141 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 21; both mature before Sep 28. | Jul 21 |
| Basil | Mar 29 | May 24–May 24 | 127 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 127 available after May 24. | Jul 16 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 5–Apr 26 | 197 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 16 |
| Parsley | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 162 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 162 available after May 10. | Jul 27 |
| Celery | Feb 22 | May 10–May 24 | 162 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 162 available after May 10. | Jun 7 |
| Scallions | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 211 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 20; both mature before Nov 2. | Aug 20 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 211 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 30; both mature before Nov 2. | Aug 30 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 22–Apr 5 | 225 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 22 and again by Aug 25; both mature before Nov 2. | Aug 25 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 5 | Apr 26–May 3 | 176 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 26 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 21 |
| Collards | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 211 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 20; both mature before Nov 2. | Aug 20 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 120 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 120 available after May 17. | Jun 7 |
| Chives | Feb 8 | May 10–May 17 | 176 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 176 available after May 10. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 225 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 11 |
| Oregano | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 176 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 176 available after May 10. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 8 | May 10–May 17 | 162 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 162 available after May 10. | — |
| Sage | Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 | 176 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 176 available after May 10. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 176 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 176 available after May 10. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 22 | Apr 19–May 3 | 183 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 16 |
| Cosmos | Apr 5 | May 3–May 17 | 148 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 16; both mature before Sep 28. | Jul 16 |
| Lavender | Feb 8 | May 3–May 17 | 183 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 183 available after May 3. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 22 | May 3–May 10 | 148 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 26; both mature before Sep 28. | Jul 26 |
| Melons | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 120 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 120 available after May 17. | Jun 7 |
| Mint | — | May 3–May 17 | 183 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 183 available after May 3. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 5 | May 3–May 10 | 148 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 21; both mature before Sep 28. | Jul 21 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 10–May 24 | 141 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 141 available after May 10. | Jul 11 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 127 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 127 available after May 17. | Jun 9 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 3–May 17 | 148 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 148 available after May 3. | Jul 6 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 | 127 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 127 available after May 10. | Jun 17 |
| Watermelon | Apr 19 | May 10–May 17 | 127 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 127 available after May 10. | Jun 12 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 17 and again by Jul 21; both mature before Sep 28. | Jul 21 |
| Zinnias | Apr 5 | May 3–May 17 | 148 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 16; both mature before Sep 28. | Jul 16 |
Month by month in Medford
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 8), Lavender (Feb 8), Onion (Feb 8), Rosemary (Feb 8), Celery (Feb 22), Collards (Feb 22), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 8), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 8), Cabbage (Mar 8), Lettuce (Mar 8), Sage (Mar 8), Swiss Chard (Mar 8), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 8), Beets (Mar 8), Dill (Mar 8), Peas (Mar 8), Radish (Mar 8), Spinach (Mar 8), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 29). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 5), Corn (Apr 5), Cosmos (Apr 5), Nasturtiums (Apr 5), Okra (Apr 5), Zinnias (Apr 5), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 5), Turnip (Apr 5), Carrots (Apr 12), Potatoes (Apr 19). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 5), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 5), Cabbage (Apr 5), Collards (Apr 5), Kale (Apr 5), Lettuce (Apr 5), +6 more. |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 3), Beans (May 10), Pole Beans (May 10). Transplant from: Cosmos (May 3), Lavender (May 3), Marigolds (May 3), Mint (May 3), Nasturtiums (May 3), Zinnias (May 3), +23 more. Last frost around May 3. Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (May 30), Pumpkin (May 30). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (Jun 7), Celery (Jun 7), Melons (Jun 7), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 9), Tomato (Jun 12), Watermelon (Jun 12), +4 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Sunflowers (Jul 6), Brussel Sprouts (Jul 11), Pole Beans (Jul 11), Basil (Jul 16), Cosmos (Jul 16), Cucumber (Jul 16), +10 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Peas (Aug 1), Cabbage (Aug 10), Carrots (Aug 10), Beets (Aug 11), Dill (Aug 11), Swiss Chard (Aug 11), +9 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Arugula (Sep 9), Spinach (Sep 9), Radish (Sep 10). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 12). First frost around October 12. |
| November | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Nov 2). |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Medford, NJ (ZIP 08055)?
The median last spring frost date for Medford, NJ (ZIP code 08055) is around May 3. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before April 18; one in ten it runs past May 17.
What is the first fall frost date in Medford, NJ?
The median first fall frost date for Medford, NJ is around October 12. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around September 28 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Medford, NJ?
The frost-free growing season in Medford is about 162 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Medford (162 frost-free days, a moderate season), 31 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 24 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Medford, NJ?
Medford, NJ is in USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Medford, NJ?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 29 and plant out May 17 in Medford. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Medford?
Two: plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 19.
When do I plant garlic in Medford?
Oct 12 to Nov 2; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
Which nearby ZIP has a longer season?
Marlton (ZIP 08053) has 180 frost-free days, 18 more than Medford (ZIP 08055). See Marlton ZIP 08053 frost dates
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