Atlantic City, NJ Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Atlantic City garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Mar 26
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 21
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
240 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
7b
2023 hardiness map
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Mar 10 Mar 26 Apr 6
First fall frost Dec 7 Nov 21 Nov 6
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Mar 15 · first Dec 2

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Atlantic City station (2 km from central Atlantic City). "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Atlantic City

Computed from Atlantic City's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-7 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Jan 29 – Feb 12 Apr 2 – Apr 9
🫑 Peppers Jan 15 – Jan 29 Apr 9 – Apr 16
🥬 Lettuce Feb 12 – Feb 26 Feb 26 – Mar 12 Feb 26 – Mar 26
🫛 Peas Feb 12 – Feb 26
🥕 Carrots Mar 5 – Mar 26
🥦 Broccoli Feb 5 – Feb 19 Mar 5 – Mar 19
🥬 Kale Feb 12 – Feb 26 Feb 26 – Mar 12 Feb 26 – Mar 12
🥒 Cucumbers Feb 26 – Mar 5 Apr 2 – Apr 9 Apr 2 – Apr 9
🥒 Zucchini Feb 26 – Mar 5 Apr 2 – Apr 9 Apr 2 – Apr 9
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Apr 2 – Apr 9
🌽 Sweet Corn Apr 2 – Apr 9
🌿 Basil Feb 12 – Feb 26 Apr 2 – Apr 9 Apr 9 – Apr 16
🧄 Garlic Fall: Oct 10 – Nov 7

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Atlantic City's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Atlantic City

With roughly 240 frost-free days, Atlantic City gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Nov 21 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Atlantic City, NJ?

The average last spring frost in Atlantic City is around Mar 26, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Atlantic City, NJ?

The average first fall frost in Atlantic City arrives around Nov 21. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Atlantic City?

About 240 frost-free days on average, from Mar 26 to Nov 21. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Atlantic City in?

USDA zone 7b on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.