Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Blenheim

New Zealand

In Blenheim the last spring frost usually comes around 10 August and the first autumn frost around 31 May, which leaves about 294 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 30 October to 8 February.

Last spring frostaround 10 August
First autumn frostaround 31 May
Frost-free days294 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 Blenheim?

The last frost in Blenheim usually comes around 10 August: 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 20 July, while corn waits until 20 September. The first autumn frost follows around 31 May, about 294 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha1 July – 20 February10 August – 31 March31 August – 31 March
Ageratumfrom 14 August—from 30 October
Arugula——sow 20 July – 25 April
Basil13 October – 28 March20 November – 5 May11 December – 5 May
Beet——sow 20 July – 31 March
Bell Pepper21 September – 10 December20 November – 8 February11 December – 8 February
Black-eyed Susanfrom 9 June—from 31 August
Bok Choy6 July – 8 April10 August – 13 May31 August – 13 May
Borage——sow 17 August – 5 April
Broad bean——sow 20 July – 20 February
Broccoli——sow 20 July – 13 February
Brussels Sprouts15 May – 11 January29 June – 25 February20 July – 25 February
Busy Lizziefrom 25 May—from 17 August
Cabbage——sow 20 July – 21 January
Calendula——sow from 20 July
Carrot——sow 20 July – 7 March
Cauliflower18 May – 13 February29 June – 26 March20 July – 26 March
Celeriac25 May – 11 December10 August – 26 February31 August – 26 February
Celery25 May – 21 December10 August – 7 March31 August – 7 March
Celosiafrom 1 Septemberfrom 16 Octoberfrom 6 November
Chamomile——sow 20 July – 26 March
Chayote3 June – 4 December30 August – 1 March20 September – 1 March
Chickpea——sow 20 July – 10 February
Chicory4 June – 6 March—20 July – 31 March
Chili Pepper21 September – 16 January20 November – 16 March11 December – 16 March
China asterfrom 29 Septemberfrom 20 Novemberfrom 11 December
Chives——sow 20 July – 17 March
Cilantro——sow 20 July – 27 March
Corn——sow 20 September – 10 February
Corn poppy——sow from 20 July
Cosmosfrom 1 Septemberfrom 16 Octoberfrom 6 November
Cucumber23 October – 16 February20 November – 15 March11 December – 15 March
Daikon——sow 20 July – 24 March
Delphiniumfrom 1 May—from 20 July
Dill——sow 20 July – 6 April
Edging lobeliafrom 8 June—from 31 August
Eggplant21 September – 10 December20 November – 8 February11 December – 8 February
Florence fennel26 June – 20 February10 August – 5 April31 August – 5 April
Foxglovefrom 13 April—from 20 July
Garden sorrel——sow 20 July – 25 March
Green Beans——sow 6 November – 18 February
Hollyhock——sow from 20 July
Hyssop——sow 20 July – 16 February
Kale——sow 20 July – 19 March
Kiwano7 September – 23 February9 October – 26 March30 October – 26 March
Kohlrabi——sow 20 July – 29 March
Leek20 April – 2 December29 June – 10 February20 July – 10 February
Lemon balm——sow 20 July – 21 March
Lettuce——sow 20 July – 3 April
Lisianthusfrom 3 Aprilfrom 29 Junefrom 20 July
Lovage——sow from 20 July
Luffa9 October – 18 December20 November – 29 January11 December – 29 January
Marigoldfrom 29 Junefrom 10 Augustfrom 31 August
Marjoram21 September – 6 March—11 December – 5 May
Melon23 October – 3 February20 November – 2 March11 December – 2 March
Microgreens——sow 6 November – 16 May
Moringa20 September – 11 March14 November – 5 May5 December – 5 May
Moss rosefrom 1 June—from 17 August
Mustard greens——sow 20 July – 15 April
Napa cabbage8 July – 16 March10 August – 18 April31 August – 18 April
Nasturtiumfrom 3 Julyfrom 10 Augustfrom 31 August
Okra9 October – 28 February20 November – 10 April11 December – 10 April
Oregano30 April – 25 February29 June – 25 April20 July – 25 April
Pansyfrom 4 Mayfrom 29 Junefrom 20 July
Parsley——sow 20 July – 15 March
Parsnip——sow 20 July – 2 February
Peanut14 October – 24 January20 November – 1 March11 December – 1 March
Peas——sow 20 July – 17 March
Petuniafrom 18 Septemberfrom 20 Novemberfrom 11 December
Physalis25 August – 21 January9 October – 6 March30 October – 6 March
Pumpkin9 October – 23 December20 November – 3 February11 December – 3 February
Purple coneflowerfrom 28 April—from 20 July
Radish——sow 20 July – 30 April
Sage11 May – 21 February29 June – 10 April20 July – 10 April
Scarlet sagefrom 18 August—from 30 October
Snapdragonfrom 25 Aprilfrom 29 Junefrom 20 July
Soybean——sow 11 December – 11 March
Spinach——sow 20 July – 5 April
Stevia21 August – 12 January9 October – 1 March30 October – 1 March
Stock——sow from 20 July
Sunflower——sow from 6 November
Sweet alyssum——sow from 20 July
Sweet Corn26 August – 6 March17 September – 28 March8 October – 28 March
Sweet peafrom 18 Mayfrom 29 Junefrom 20 July
Sweet William——sow from 20 July
Swiss Chard——sow 20 July – 31 March
Thyme——sow 20 July – 10 February
Tomato18 August – 18 December9 October – 8 February30 October – 8 February
Turnip——sow 20 July – 2 April
Watercress——sow 20 July – 13 April
Watermelon23 October – 22 January20 November – 19 February11 December – 19 February
Zinniafrom 10 Octoberfrom 14 Novemberfrom 5 December
Zucchini30 October – 21 February20 November – 13 March11 December – 13 March

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 Blenheim

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 21 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 81 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of July—
10 °C31 August21 days later
15 °C30 October81 days later
18 °C11 December123 days later

Frost dates near Blenheim

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Nelson (4 August) and latest in Wellington (17 August).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Nelson63 km4 August21 June
Wellington73 km17 August—
Palmerston North189 km11 August21 June
Christchurch249 km10 August5 June
New Plymouth272 km——

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Blenheim

Within 15 km of Blenheim OpenStreetMap lists 1 market and 1 farm shop (collected 28 October 2026). The nearest market to the city centre is Marlborough Farmers' Market, 2 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Blenheim

Frosts in Blenheim usually come from about 31 May to about 10 August. 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 Blenheim by month

Average weather in Blenheim over 2016–2025: the warmest month is January. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: December–March (21.1–23.3 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in July, average 5.3 °C. About 857 mm of rain falls in a year, on 110 days; July is the wettest month (92 mm) and January the driest (50 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January23.314507
February2313.8656
March21.112.3618
April18.310.2757
May15.78.2729
June13.16.28411
July12.75.39210
August13.55.57310
September15.37.26710
October17.88.87111
November19.9116911
December21.812.97810

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 1 May
Crocusby 1 May
Daffodilby 1 May
Garlic1 May – end of June
Grape hyacinthby 1 May
Helleboreby 1 May
Hyacinthby 1 May
Lilyby 1 May
Ornamental onionby 1 May
Peonyby 1 May
Saffronby 1 May
Snowdropby 1 May
Tulipby 1 May
Wild garlicby 1 May

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).