Fall in zone 7bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 08085 (Beckett, NJ)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Marcus Hook, PA (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 3050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)230 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7b5 to 10°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
61°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 58°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Avondale 2 N (25 mi).
4-inch depth
62°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 60°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Avondale 2 N (25 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 08085 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 62°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Transition zone. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about May 15 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 21–Oct 19
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 5–Nov 2
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 5–Nov 2
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 16: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Mar 16 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 30 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 9 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Nov 2 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 16 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 2 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 9 | Nov 2 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 30 | Nov 16 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 20 | Nov 28 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 08085
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 30) and first fall frost (Nov 16). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 2–16 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 2–16 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 2–16 | Mar 9–30 (transplant) Mar 2–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 12 (transplant) Sep 7–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 16–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 2–16 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (transplant) Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 2–16 | Mar 2–30 (transplant) Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (transplant) Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 5–19 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 2–16 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Mar 16–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 16–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 2–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 5–19 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 5–19 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 5–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Oct 5–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 20–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 2–9 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 2–9 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 2–9 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 2–9 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 2–9 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 5–19 | Apr 6–13 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 16–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Sep 7–Oct 5 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Marcus Hook, PA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00365390), elevation 10 ft, 7.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Intl AP, PA | 10 mi | Apr 2 | Nov 10 |
| Wilmington Porter Rsch, DE | 11 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 4 |
| Glassboro 2 NE, NJ | 13 mi | Apr 8 | Nov 1 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 9 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 08085
When is the last frost in 08085?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 08085 is March 30. For a more cautious planting date, use April 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 08085?
The average first fall freeze is November 16. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 2.
What hardiness zone is 08085?
ZIP 08085 is in USDA zone 7b (5 to 10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 08085 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
08067 Pedricktown 08014 Bridgeport 08056 Mickleton 08039 Harrisonville 08027 Gibbstown 08020 08062 Richwood 19013 Chester
Other ZIP codes in Gloucester County
08014 08020 08027 08028 08032 08039 08051 08056 08061 08062 08063 08066 08071 08074 08080 08086 08090 08093 08094 08096 08097 08312 08322 08328 All Gloucester County frost dates · New Jersey frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.