Fall in zone 7bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 08226 (Ocean City, 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, Margate, NJ (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)243 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
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 08226 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring early March to early April; fall late August to mid-September.
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 11 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
- Lettuce: fall transplant Sep 27–Oct 18
- Spinach: fall sowing Sep 27–Oct 18
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 27–Oct 25
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 11–Nov 8
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 11–Nov 8
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 22: 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 9 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 26 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 7 |
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 7 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 22 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 10 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 7 | Nov 8 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 26 | Nov 22 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 13 | Dec 5 |
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 08226
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 26) and first fall frost (Nov 22). 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 | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 15–29 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 2–23 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 15–29 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 2–23 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 5–26 (transplant) Feb 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 18 (transplant) Sep 13–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 18 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) Aug 16–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Feb 26–Mar 26 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) Aug 16–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 15–29 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 15–29 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 15–29 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 1–15 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Aug 2–23 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 12–26 | Mar 12–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 29–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 1–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 1–15 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 11–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Oct 11–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Aug 2–16 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 16–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 1–15 | Apr 2–9 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 12–26 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 15–29 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (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: Margate, NJ (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00285243), elevation 16 ft, 7.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: E (estimated from nearby stations).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belleplain STN Forest, NJ | 13 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 22 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | 13 mi | Mar 26 | Nov 21 |
| Atlantic City Intl AP, NJ | 13 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 29 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 29 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 08226
When is the last frost in 08226?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 08226 is March 26. For a more cautious planting date, use April 7, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 08226?
The average first fall freeze is November 22. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 7.
What hardiness zone is 08226?
ZIP 08226 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 08226 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
08223 Beesleys Point 08244 Somers Point 08403 Longport 08248 Strathmere 08221 Linwood 08230 Seaville 08402 Margate City 08225 Northfield
Other ZIP codes in Cape May County
08202 08204 08210 08212 08223 08230 08242 08243 08245 08246 08247 08248 08251 08260 08270 All Cape May County frost dates · New Jersey frost dates
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- 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.