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Last and first frost dates in Bloemfontein

South Africa

In Bloemfontein the last spring frost usually comes around 17 August and the first autumn frost around 4 June, which leaves about 291 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 4 September to 12 February.

Last spring frostaround 17 August
First autumn frostaround 4 June
Frost-free days291 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 Bloemfontein?

The last frost in Bloemfontein usually comes around 17 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 27 July, while corn waits until 24 August. The first autumn frost follows around 4 June, about 291 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha24 June – 24 February3 August – 4 April24 August – 4 April
Ageratumfrom 19 June—from 4 September
Arugula——sow 27 July – 29 April
Basil17 July – 1 April24 August – 9 May14 September – 9 May
Beet——sow 27 July – 4 April
Bell Pepper25 June – 14 December24 August – 12 February14 September – 12 February
Black-eyed Susanfrom 2 June—from 24 August
Bok Choy29 June – 12 April3 August – 17 May24 August – 17 May
Borage——sow 24 August – 9 April
Broad bean——sow 27 July – 24 February
Broccoli——sow 27 July – 17 February
Brussels Sprouts22 May – 15 January6 July – 29 February27 July – 29 February
Busy Lizziefrom 1 June—from 24 August
Cabbage——sow 27 July – 25 January
Calendula——sow from 27 July
Carrot——sow 27 July – 11 March
Cauliflower25 May – 17 February6 July – 30 March27 July – 30 March
Celeriac18 May – 15 December3 August – 1 March24 August – 1 March
Celery18 May – 25 December3 August – 11 March24 August – 11 March
Celosiafrom 3 Julyfrom 17 Augustfrom 7 September
Chamomile——sow 27 July – 30 March
Chayote7 May – 8 December3 August – 5 March24 August – 5 March
Chickpea——sow 27 July – 14 February
Chicory11 June – 10 March—27 July – 4 April
Chili Pepper25 June – 20 January24 August – 20 March14 September – 20 March
China asterfrom 3 Julyfrom 24 Augustfrom 14 September
Chives——sow 27 July – 21 March
Cilantro——sow 27 July – 31 March
Corn——sow 24 August – 14 February
Corn poppy——sow from 27 July
Cosmosfrom 3 Julyfrom 17 Augustfrom 7 September
Cucumber27 July – 20 February24 August – 19 March14 September – 19 March
Daikon——sow 27 July – 28 March
Delphiniumfrom 8 May—from 27 July
Dill——sow 27 July – 10 April
Edging lobeliafrom 1 June—from 24 August
Eggplant25 June – 14 December24 August – 12 February14 September – 12 February
Florence fennel19 June – 24 February3 August – 9 April24 August – 9 April
Foxglovefrom 20 April—from 27 July
Garden sorrel——sow 27 July – 29 March
Green Beans——sow 7 September – 22 February
Hollyhock——sow from 27 July
Hyssop——sow 27 July – 20 February
Kale——sow 27 July – 23 March
Kiwano13 July – 27 February14 August – 30 March4 September – 30 March
Kohlrabi——sow 27 July – 2 April
Leek27 April – 6 December6 July – 14 February27 July – 14 February
Lemon balm——sow 27 July – 25 March
Lettuce——sow 27 July – 7 April
Lisianthusfrom 10 Aprilfrom 6 Julyfrom 27 July
Lovage——sow from 27 July
Luffa13 July – 22 December24 August – 2 February14 September – 2 February
Marigoldfrom 22 Junefrom 3 Augustfrom 24 August
Marjoram25 June – 10 March—14 September – 9 May
Melon27 July – 7 February24 August – 6 March14 September – 6 March
Microgreens——sow 7 September – 20 May
Moringa15 July – 15 March8 September – 9 May29 September – 9 May
Moss rosefrom 8 June—from 24 August
Mustard greens——sow 27 July – 19 April
Napa cabbage1 July – 20 March3 August – 22 April24 August – 22 April
Nasturtiumfrom 26 Junefrom 3 Augustfrom 24 August
Okra13 July – 3 March24 August – 14 April14 September – 14 April
Oregano7 May – 29 February6 July – 29 April27 July – 29 April
Pansyfrom 11 Mayfrom 6 Julyfrom 27 July
Parsley——sow 27 July – 19 March
Parsnip——sow 27 July – 6 February
Peanut18 July – 28 January24 August – 5 March14 September – 5 March
Peas——sow 27 July – 21 March
Petuniafrom 22 Junefrom 24 Augustfrom 14 September
Physalis30 June – 25 January14 August – 10 March4 September – 10 March
Pumpkin13 July – 27 December24 August – 7 February14 September – 7 February
Purple coneflowerfrom 5 May—from 27 July
Radish——sow 27 July – 4 May
Sage18 May – 25 February6 July – 14 April27 July – 14 April
Scarlet sagefrom 23 June—from 4 September
Snapdragonfrom 2 Mayfrom 6 Julyfrom 27 July
Soybean——sow 14 September – 15 March
Spinach——sow 27 July – 9 April
Stevia26 June – 16 January14 August – 5 March4 September – 5 March
Stock——sow from 27 July
Sunflower——sow from 7 September
Sweet alyssum——sow from 27 July
Sweet Corn12 July – 10 March3 August – 1 April24 August – 1 April
Sweet peafrom 25 Mayfrom 6 Julyfrom 27 July
Sweet William——sow from 27 July
Swiss Chard——sow 27 July – 4 April
Thyme——sow 27 July – 14 February
Tomato23 June – 22 December14 August – 12 February4 September – 12 February
Turnip——sow 27 July – 6 April
Watercress——sow 27 July – 17 April
Watermelon27 July – 26 January24 August – 23 February14 September – 23 February
Zinniafrom 4 Augustfrom 8 Septemberfrom 29 September
Zucchini3 August – 25 February24 August – 17 March14 September – 17 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 Bloemfontein

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 25 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 18 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of July—
10 °C23 July25 days earlier
15 °C4 September18 days later
18 °C14 September28 days later

Frost dates near Bloemfontein

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Pretoria (23 July) and latest in Johannesburg (4 August).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Johannesburg372 km4 August5 June
Pretoria423 km23 July—
Durban473 km——
Maputo718 km——
Cape Town911 km——

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Bloemfontein

Within 15 km of Bloemfontein OpenStreetMap lists 1 garden centre, 1 farm-supply shop and 3 markets (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest market to the city centre is Villa Avianto, 6 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Bloemfontein

Frosts in Bloemfontein usually come from about 4 June to about 17 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 Bloemfontein by month

Average weather in Bloemfontein over 2016–2025: the warmest month is January. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: August–May (20.1–29.8 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in July, average 1.4 °C. About 480 mm of rain falls in a year, on 66 days; April is the wettest month (75 mm) and June the driest (9 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January29.816.5749
February28.615.9659
March27.313.9498
April22.89.8758
May20.15.6193
June17.22.191
July17.11.4101
August20.23.5112
September258.1143
October27.311345
November28.613.2577
December29.715.46310

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 5 May
Crocusby 5 May
Daffodilby 5 May
Garlic5 May – end of June
Grape hyacinthby 5 May
Helleboreby 5 May
Hyacinthby 5 May
Lilyby 5 May
Ornamental onionby 5 May
Peonyby 5 May
Saffronby 5 May
Snowdropby 5 May
Tulipby 5 May
Wild garlicby 5 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).