Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Athlone

Ireland

In Athlone the last spring frost usually comes around 25 February and the first autumn frost around 26 November, which leaves about 274 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 2 June to 6 August.

Last spring frostaround 25 February
First autumn frostaround 26 November
Frost-free days274 days

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Athlone?

The last frost in Athlone usually comes around 25 February: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 4 February, while corn waits until 11 May. The first autumn frost follows around 26 November, about 274 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha14 February – 18 August26 March – 27 September16 April – 27 September
Ageratumfrom 17 March—from 2 June
Arugula——sow 4 February – 22 October
Basil15 May – 24 September22 June – 1 November13 July – 1 November
Beet——sow 4 February – 27 September
Bell Pepper23 April – 7 June22 June – 6 August13 July – 6 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 23 January—from 16 April
Bok Choy19 February – 5 October26 March – 9 November16 April – 9 November
Borage——sow 4 March – 2 October
Broad bean——sow 4 February – 18 August
Broccoli——sow 4 February – 11 August
Brussels Sprouts30 November – 9 July14 January – 23 August4 February – 23 August
Busy Lizziefrom 10 December—from 4 March
Cabbage——sow 4 February – 19 July
Calendula——sow from 4 February
Carrot——sow 4 February – 3 September
Cauliflower3 December – 11 August14 January – 22 September4 February – 22 September
Celeriac8 January – 8 June26 March – 24 August16 April – 24 August
Celery8 January – 18 June26 March – 3 September16 April – 3 September
Celosiafrom 15 Aprilfrom 30 Mayfrom 20 June
Chamomile——sow 4 February – 22 September
Chayote22 January – 1 June20 April – 28 August11 May – 28 August
Chickpea——sow 4 February – 8 August
Chicory20 December – 2 September—4 February – 27 September
Chili Pepper23 April – 14 July22 June – 12 September13 July – 12 September
China asterfrom 1 Mayfrom 22 Junefrom 13 July
Chives——sow 4 February – 13 September
Cilantro——sow 4 February – 23 September
Corn——sow 11 May – 8 August
Corn poppy——sow from 4 February
Cosmosfrom 15 Aprilfrom 30 Mayfrom 20 June
Cucumber25 May – 14 August22 June – 11 September13 July – 11 September
Daikon——sow 4 February – 20 September
Delphiniumfrom 16 November—from 4 February
Dill——sow 4 February – 3 October
Edging lobeliafrom 22 January—from 16 April
Eggplant23 April – 7 June22 June – 6 August13 July – 6 August
Florence fennel9 February – 18 August26 March – 2 October16 April – 2 October
Foxglovefrom 29 October—from 4 February
Garden sorrel——sow 4 February – 21 September
Green Beans——sow 20 June – 16 August
Hollyhock——sow from 4 February
Hyssop——sow 4 February – 14 August
Kale——sow 4 February – 15 September
Kiwano10 April – 21 August12 May – 22 September2 June – 22 September
Kohlrabi——sow 4 February – 25 September
Leek5 November – 30 May14 January – 8 August4 February – 8 August
Lemon balm——sow 4 February – 17 September
Lettuce——sow 4 February – 30 September
Lisianthusfrom 19 Octoberfrom 14 Januaryfrom 4 February
Lovage——sow from 4 February
Luffa11 May – 15 June22 June – 27 July13 July – 27 July
Marigoldfrom 12 Februaryfrom 26 Marchfrom 16 April
Marjoram23 April – 2 September—13 July – 1 November
Melon25 May – 1 August22 June – 29 August13 July – 29 August
Microgreens——sow 20 June – 12 November
Moringa27 April – 7 September21 June – 1 November12 July – 1 November
Moss rosefrom 17 December—from 4 March
Mustard greens——sow 4 February – 12 October
Napa cabbage21 February – 12 September26 March – 15 October16 April – 15 October
Nasturtiumfrom 16 Februaryfrom 26 Marchfrom 16 April
Okra11 May – 26 August22 June – 7 October13 July – 7 October
Oregano15 November – 23 August14 January – 22 October4 February – 22 October
Pansyfrom 19 Novemberfrom 14 Januaryfrom 4 February
Parsley——sow 4 February – 11 September
Parsnip——sow 4 February – 31 July
Peanut16 May – 22 July22 June – 28 August13 July – 28 August
Peas——sow 4 February – 13 September
Petuniafrom 20 Aprilfrom 22 Junefrom 13 July
Physalis28 March – 19 July12 May – 2 September2 June – 2 September
Pumpkin11 May – 20 June22 June – 1 August13 July – 1 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 13 November—from 4 February
Radish——sow 4 February – 27 October
Sage26 November – 19 August14 January – 7 October4 February – 7 October
Scarlet sagefrom 21 March—from 2 June
Snapdragonfrom 10 Novemberfrom 14 Januaryfrom 4 February
Soybean——sow 13 July – 7 September
Spinach——sow 4 February – 2 October
Stevia24 March – 10 July12 May – 28 August2 June – 28 August
Stock——sow from 4 February
Sunflower——sow from 20 June
Sweet alyssum——sow from 4 February
Sweet Corn12 April – 2 September4 May – 24 September25 May – 24 September
Sweet peafrom 3 Decemberfrom 14 Januaryfrom 4 February
Sweet William——sow from 4 February
Swiss Chard——sow 4 February – 27 September
Thyme——sow 4 February – 8 August
Tomato21 March – 15 June12 May – 6 August2 June – 6 August
Turnip——sow 4 February – 29 September
Watercress——sow 4 February – 10 October
Watermelon25 May – 20 July22 June – 17 August13 July – 17 August
Zinniafrom 17 Mayfrom 21 Junefrom 12 July
Zucchini1 June – 19 August22 June – 9 September13 July – 9 September

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

When the soil warms up in Athlone

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo). The soil reaches 10 °C 50 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 97 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C16 April50 days later
15 °C2 June97 days later
18 °C13 July138 days later

Frost dates near Athlone

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Limerick (13 March) and latest in Kilkenny (7 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Mullingar41 km19 March23 November
Galway76 km17 March28 November
Navan87 km28 March20 November
Limerick96 km13 March21 November
Kilkenny97 km7 April20 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Athlone

Within 15 km of Athlone OpenStreetMap lists 3 garden centres, 2 farm-supply shops and 1 plant nursery (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Fernhill Garden Centre, 2 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Athlone

Frosts in Athlone usually come from about 26 November to about 25 February. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Athlone by month

Average weather in Athlone over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. No month averages 20 °C by day; the warmest, July, reaches 19 °C. No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 3.3 °C. About 1084 mm of rain falls in a year, on 181 days; August is the wettest month (111 mm) and May the driest (66 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January7.83.38014
February8.83.79816
March10.249116
April12.55.57213
May15.98.46613
June17.9119016
July1912.59115
August18.612.411116
September16.510.69216
October13.48.510916
November105.58814
December8.54.39616

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 27 October
Crocus27 October – end of December
Daffodil27 October – end of December
Garlic27 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 27 October
Helleboreby 27 October
Hyacinth27 October – end of December
Lilyby 27 October
Ornamental onionby 27 October
Peonyby 27 October
Saffronby 27 October
Snowdropby 27 October
Tulip27 October – end of December
Wild garlicby 27 October

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).