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Last and first frost dates in Bologna

Italy

In Bologna the last spring frost usually comes around 10 March and the first autumn frost around 29 November, which leaves about 264 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 18 April to 9 August.

Last spring frostaround 10 March
First autumn frostaround 29 November
Frost-free days264 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 Bologna?

The last frost in Bologna usually comes around 10 March: 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 17 February, while corn waits until 31 March. The first autumn frost follows around 29 November, about 264 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha15 January – 21 August24 February – 30 September17 March – 30 September
Ageratumfrom 31 January—from 18 April
Arugula——sow 17 February – 25 October
Basil18 March – 27 September25 April – 4 November16 May – 4 November
Beet——sow 17 February – 30 September
Bell Pepper24 February – 10 June25 April – 9 August16 May – 9 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 24 December—from 17 March
Bok Choy20 January – 8 October24 February – 12 November17 March – 12 November
Borage——sow 17 March – 5 October
Broad bean——sow 17 February – 21 August
Broccoli——sow 17 February – 14 August
Brussels Sprouts13 December – 12 July27 January – 26 August17 February – 26 August
Busy Lizziefrom 23 December—from 17 March
Cabbage——sow 17 February – 22 July
Calendula——sow from 17 February
Carrot——sow 17 February – 6 September
Cauliflower16 December – 14 August27 January – 25 September17 February – 25 September
Celeriac9 December – 11 June24 February – 27 August17 March – 27 August
Celery9 December – 21 June24 February – 6 September17 March – 6 September
Celosiafrom 20 Februaryfrom 6 Aprilfrom 27 April
Chamomile——sow 17 February – 25 September
Chayote12 December – 4 June10 March – 31 August31 March – 31 August
Chickpea——sow 17 February – 11 August
Chicory2 January – 5 September—17 February – 30 September
Chili Pepper24 February – 17 July25 April – 15 September16 May – 15 September
China asterfrom 4 Marchfrom 25 Aprilfrom 16 May
Chives——sow 17 February – 16 September
Cilantro——sow 17 February – 26 September
Corn——sow 31 March – 11 August
Corn poppy——sow from 17 February
Cosmosfrom 20 Februaryfrom 6 Aprilfrom 27 April
Cucumber28 March – 17 August25 April – 14 September16 May – 14 September
Daikon——sow 17 February – 23 September
Delphiniumfrom 29 November—from 17 February
Dill——sow 17 February – 6 October
Edging lobeliafrom 23 December—from 17 March
Eggplant24 February – 10 June25 April – 9 August16 May – 9 August
Florence fennel10 January – 21 August24 February – 5 October17 March – 5 October
Foxglovefrom 11 November—from 17 February
Garden sorrel——sow 17 February – 24 September
Green Beans——sow 27 April – 19 August
Hollyhock——sow from 17 February
Hyssop——sow 17 February – 17 August
Kale——sow 17 February – 18 September
Kiwano24 February – 24 August28 March – 25 September18 April – 25 September
Kohlrabi——sow 17 February – 28 September
Leek18 November – 2 June27 January – 11 August17 February – 11 August
Lemon balm——sow 17 February – 20 September
Lettuce——sow 17 February – 3 October
Lisianthusfrom 1 Novemberfrom 27 Januaryfrom 17 February
Lovage——sow from 17 February
Luffa14 March – 18 June25 April – 30 July16 May – 30 July
Marigoldfrom 13 Januaryfrom 24 Februaryfrom 17 March
Marjoram24 February – 5 September—16 May – 4 November
Melon28 March – 4 August25 April – 1 September16 May – 1 September
Microgreens——sow 27 April – 15 November
Moringa14 March – 10 September8 May – 4 November29 May – 4 November
Moss rosefrom 30 December—from 17 March
Mustard greens——sow 17 February – 15 October
Napa cabbage22 January – 15 September24 February – 18 October17 March – 18 October
Nasturtiumfrom 17 Januaryfrom 24 Februaryfrom 17 March
Okra14 March – 29 August25 April – 10 October16 May – 10 October
Oregano28 November – 26 August27 January – 25 October17 February – 25 October
Pansyfrom 2 Decemberfrom 27 Januaryfrom 17 February
Parsley——sow 17 February – 14 September
Parsnip——sow 17 February – 3 August
Peanut19 March – 25 July25 April – 31 August16 May – 31 August
Peas——sow 17 February – 16 September
Petuniafrom 21 Februaryfrom 25 Aprilfrom 16 May
Physalis11 February – 22 July28 March – 5 September18 April – 5 September
Pumpkin14 March – 23 June25 April – 4 August16 May – 4 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 26 November—from 17 February
Radish——sow 17 February – 30 October
Sage9 December – 22 August27 January – 10 October17 February – 10 October
Scarlet sagefrom 4 February—from 18 April
Snapdragonfrom 23 Novemberfrom 27 Januaryfrom 17 February
Soybean——sow 16 May – 10 September
Spinach——sow 17 February – 5 October
Stevia7 February – 13 July28 March – 31 August18 April – 31 August
Stock——sow from 17 February
Sunflower——sow from 27 April
Sweet alyssum——sow from 17 February
Sweet Corn18 February – 5 September12 March – 27 September2 April – 27 September
Sweet peafrom 16 Decemberfrom 27 Januaryfrom 17 February
Sweet William——sow from 17 February
Swiss Chard——sow 17 February – 30 September
Thyme——sow 17 February – 11 August
Tomato4 February – 18 June28 March – 9 August18 April – 9 August
Turnip——sow 17 February – 2 October
Watercress——sow 17 February – 13 October
Watermelon28 March – 23 July25 April – 20 August16 May – 20 August
Zinniafrom 3 Aprilfrom 8 Mayfrom 29 May
Zucchini4 April – 22 August25 April – 12 September16 May – 12 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 Bologna

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 4 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 39 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C23 January46 days earlier
10 °C14 March4 days later
15 °C18 April39 days later
18 °C16 May67 days later

Frost dates near Bologna

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Ravenna (5 February) and latest in Florence (23 March).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Modena37 km20 March30 November
Ferrara45 km21 March28 November
Ravenna69 km5 February12 December
Florence80 km23 March27 November
Cesena81 km21 March1 December

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Bologna

Within 15 km of Bologna OpenStreetMap lists 9 garden centres, 3 farm-supply shops, 4 plant nurseries, 18 markets and 15 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Senape, 1 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Bologna

Frosts in Bologna usually come from about 29 November to about 10 March. 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 Bologna by month

Average weather in Bologna over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: May–October (20.5–32 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: July (32 °C) and August (31.6 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 0.4 °C. About 826 mm of rain falls in a year, on 105 days; May is the wettest month (120 mm) and January the driest (43 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January8.30.4437
February11.62.4748
March15.24.4599
April18.98629
May22.612.512014
June29.317.9597
July3220.2457
August31.619.9508
September26.115.6738
October20.511.2778
November13.45.89411
December8.91.7709

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 30 October
Crocus30 October – end of December
Daffodil30 October – end of December
Garlic30 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 30 October
Helleboreby 30 October
Hyacinth30 October – end of December
Lilyby 30 October
Ornamental onionby 30 October
Peonyby 30 October
Saffronby 30 October
Snowdropby 30 October
Tulip30 October – end of December
Wild garlicby 30 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).