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When to Plant Asparagus in Cape May County, NJ

Asparagus is a long-lived perennial vegetable that produces tender spears each spring for 15-20 years once established. It requires patience but rewards with reliable harvests.

Cape May County, New Jersey is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost is November 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 227 days.

At an elevation of 928 feet, Cape May County receives approximately 44.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 94ยฐF, providing good warmth for Asparagus during the growing season.

Cape May County, NJ (Zone 7b) Long season
227 days
Last Spring Frost March 29
227 growing days
First Fall Frost November 11

Cape May County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

4.9-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Apr 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Apr 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Apr 28

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Asparagus needs ~18,706 GDD — county provides 4,653 GDD May not mature

Asparagus Planting Timeline โ€” Cape May County, NJ

Asparagus Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 12 Apr 12 โ€“ Apr 26

Plant 1" deep ยท 30" apart ยท Rows 42" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Transplant Outdoors
May โ€”
June โ€”
July โ€”
August โ€”
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

730โ€“1095 days

Soil pH

6.5 โ€“ 7.5

USDA Zone

Zone 7b

Growing Season

227 days

Growing Tips for Cape May County

Plant crowns in deep trenches with compost. Do not harvest spears for the first two years to allow root establishment. Mulch heavily to suppress weeds and retain moisture.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Garlic
  • Onion

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Asparagus in Cape May County, NJ?

Cape May County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 29. Plan your Asparagus planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Cape May County, NJ?

Cape May County, New Jersey is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 29 and first fall frost is November 11.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Cape May County gardeners in Zone 7b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Cape May County, NJ. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.