You should always be planning. Year round you can plan something for vegetables.

Where in your backyard depends on the sun. On a sunny day, choose a spot you would like to use. Then check the track of the sun and figure out how many hours throughout the day that spot would get of sun.

We really need to know your zone, the kind of yard you have (sun/shade etc) soil type, raised beds or not, critters or not (gophers, rabbits, moles, voles, goats or llamas!)
You need to figure out summer/fall/spring veges (sorry, I live in CA and can pretty much grow stuff year round) I really don't understand the "back east" growing. I don't get snow, just some frost.
There are plenty of people here that are from back east that will be able to help you once they have the info above.
Happy gardening and HAVE FUN!!!!! Nancy

nancyjane_gardener zone is meaning less in growing veg.

the frost date is very important.

Welcome to gardening, Summer!

I grow gooseberries, red current and lingonberries (which would go nicely with you Scandinavian roots). They do well in Pennsylvania, so they should be fine in New Jersey. I recommend ordering from Raintree Nursery. I have ordered from closer (east coast) nurseries, but the plants were never as good as those from Raintree. They sell out quickly, so order soon. My only problem is that the catbirds love all three as much as I do and are quicker. I will be trying some bird netting to protect them this year (but leaving them some, too).

Raintree also as good growing information for berries in their catalog and that they send with the plants. Some gooseberries and currents cannot be sent to NJ because they are prohibited (carry a fungal disease). You may need to look into this.

Best of luck on your new adventure,
Bellatrix

Here is a link that might be useful: Raintree Gardens

Summer, it's almost imperative that you make friends with your local Extension office personnel. They will have all kinds of local information for you, from timing of planting to what kinds of fruits and berries should do well for you.

I've attached a link that will enable you to click on your county to get the contact information relative to you.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rutgers Extension Service

I'm from NJ. I grew up in Bergen County and now live in Somerset County.

Because Somerset is inland, it has a later frost date.
In BC tomatoes etc, could be planted late April. In SC it is mid May.

Where in NJ are you located? Because it is a narrow, long state, and with the ocean - it makes a difference. Also what type of soil do you have? Where I am now it is clay.
When I lived in the mountains it was all rocks. Otherwise it is often beautiful loamy soil!

Remember NEW JERSEY is the GARDEN state!!! (Go Giants!)

Planleaf, basically I was saying that we need some more info. People have always asked for zones in the past! Nancy

Planleaf - as gooseberries and currents are woody perennials, zone COULD be pertinent... though in this case it is not, because they are viable in NJ. What IS pertinent with currants is the variety, because some are NOT permitted by the state of NJ because of the danger of white pine blister rust, for which black currants are a carrier. A reputable nursery will be fully aware of this, and will not risk selling banned plants, but it is good to have that knowledge going in.

summer71 - your first step should be the extension service, and your second step should be a soil test. This will tell you what is recommended for the crops you would like to grow. The third step might be consulting with a master gardener in your area, who are trained for exactly the kind of questions you will have, and are required to provide a certain amount of consultation in order to receive and maintain their certification. Planting berries is a long-term investment, so getting things right at the start will yield better and larger harvests.

Here is a link that might be useful: NJ gooseberries no longer illegal