Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 07438 (Oak Ridge, 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, Charlotteburg Rsvr, NJ (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 1750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)174 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°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 07438 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 mid-April to early May.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
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) | Apr 12 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 25 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 11 |
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) | Oct 2 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 17 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 3 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 8 | Oct 7 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 25 | Oct 17 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 11 | Oct 31 |
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 07438
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 25) and first fall frost (Oct 17). 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 28–Mar 14 | May 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 14–28 | May 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 14–28 | May 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 28–Mar 14 | May 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 4–25 (transplant) Mar 28–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 12 (transplant) Aug 8–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 14–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) Jul 11–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Mar 28–Apr 25 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) Jul 11–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 14–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 14–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 18 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 28–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 14–28 | Apr 11–May 2 (transplant) Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 4–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 21–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 28–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 5–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | Sep 5–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 11 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 16–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 28–Apr 4 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 28–Apr 4 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 28–Apr 4 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 28–Apr 4 | May 9–23 (transplant) May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 28–Apr 4 | May 9–23 (transplant) May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 14–28 | May 9–23 (transplant) May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 31–Feb 14 | May 2–9 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 14–28 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Aug 8–Sep 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: Charlotteburg Rsvr, NJ (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00281582), elevation 778 ft, 5.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andover Aeroflex AP, NJ | 11 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 19 |
| Boonton 1 SE, NJ | 12 mi | Apr 17 | Oct 23 |
| Wanaque Raymond Dam, NJ | 12 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 23 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 8 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 07438
When is the last frost in 07438?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 07438 is April 25. For a more cautious planting date, use May 11, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 07438?
The average first fall freeze is October 17. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 2.
What hardiness zone is 07438?
ZIP 07438 is in USDA zone 6b (-5 to 0°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 07438 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
07435 Newfoundland 07439 Ogdensburg 07866 White Meadow Lake 07871 Lake Mohawk 07842 Hibernia 07460 07416 Franklin 07849 Lake Hopatcong
Other ZIP codes in Morris County
07005 07034 07035 07045 07046 07054 07058 07082 07405 07440 07444 07457 07801 07803 07828 07834 07836 07842 07847 07849 07850 07852 07853 07856 All Morris 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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- Weekly yard to-dos
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.