Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Bray

Ireland

In Bray the last spring frost usually comes around 29 January and the first autumn frost around 7 December, which leaves about 312 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 28 May to 17 August.

Last spring frostaround 29 January
First autumn frostaround 7 December
Frost-free days312 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 Bray?

The last frost in Bray usually comes around 29 January: 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 8 January, while corn waits until 4 May. The first autumn frost follows around 7 December, about 312 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha27 January – 29 August8 March – 8 October29 March – 8 October
Ageratumfrom 12 March—from 28 May
Arugula——sow 8 January – 2 November
Basil22 April – 5 October30 May – 12 November20 June – 12 November
Beet——sow 8 January – 8 October
Bell Pepper31 March – 18 June30 May – 17 August20 June – 17 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 5 January—from 29 March
Bok Choy1 February – 16 October8 March – 20 November29 March – 20 November
Borage——sow 5 February – 13 October
Broad bean——sow 8 January – 29 August
Broccoli——sow 8 January – 22 August
Brussels Sprouts3 November – 20 July18 December – 3 September8 January – 3 September
Busy Lizziefrom 13 November—from 5 February
Cabbage——sow 8 January – 30 July
Calendula——sow from 8 January
Carrot——sow 8 January – 14 September
Cauliflower6 November – 22 August18 December – 3 October8 January – 3 October
Celeriac21 December – 19 June8 March – 4 September29 March – 4 September
Celery21 December – 29 June8 March – 14 September29 March – 14 September
Celosiafrom 4 Aprilfrom 19 Mayfrom 9 June
Chamomile——sow 8 January – 3 October
Chayote15 January – 12 June13 April – 8 September4 May – 8 September
Chickpea——sow 8 January – 19 August
Chicory23 November – 13 September—8 January – 8 October
Chili Pepper31 March – 25 July30 May – 23 September20 June – 23 September
China asterfrom 8 Aprilfrom 30 Mayfrom 20 June
Chives——sow 8 January – 24 September
Cilantro——sow 8 January – 4 October
Corn——sow 4 May – 19 August
Corn poppy——sow from 8 January
Cosmosfrom 4 Aprilfrom 19 Mayfrom 9 June
Cucumber2 May – 25 August30 May – 22 September20 June – 22 September
Daikon——sow 8 January – 1 October
Delphiniumfrom 20 October—from 8 January
Dill——sow 8 January – 14 October
Edging lobeliafrom 4 January—from 29 March
Eggplant31 March – 18 June30 May – 17 August20 June – 17 August
Florence fennel22 January – 29 August8 March – 13 October29 March – 13 October
Foxglovefrom 2 October—from 8 January
Garden sorrel——sow 8 January – 2 October
Green Beans——sow 9 June – 27 August
Hollyhock——sow from 8 January
Hyssop——sow 8 January – 25 August
Kale——sow 8 January – 26 September
Kiwano5 April – 1 September7 May – 3 October28 May – 3 October
Kohlrabi——sow 8 January – 6 October
Leek9 October – 10 June18 December – 19 August8 January – 19 August
Lemon balm——sow 8 January – 28 September
Lettuce——sow 8 January – 11 October
Lisianthusfrom 22 Septemberfrom 18 Decemberfrom 8 January
Lovage——sow from 8 January
Luffa18 April – 26 June30 May – 7 August20 June – 7 August
Marigoldfrom 25 Januaryfrom 8 Marchfrom 29 March
Marjoram31 March – 13 September—20 June – 12 November
Melon2 May – 12 August30 May – 9 September20 June – 9 September
Microgreens——sow 9 June – 23 November
Moringa30 April – 18 September24 June – 12 November15 July – 12 November
Moss rosefrom 20 November—from 5 February
Mustard greens——sow 8 January – 23 October
Napa cabbage3 February – 23 September8 March – 26 October29 March – 26 October
Nasturtiumfrom 29 Januaryfrom 8 Marchfrom 29 March
Okra18 April – 6 September30 May – 18 October20 June – 18 October
Oregano19 October – 3 September18 December – 2 November8 January – 2 November
Pansyfrom 23 Octoberfrom 18 Decemberfrom 8 January
Parsley——sow 8 January – 22 September
Parsnip——sow 8 January – 11 August
Peanut23 April – 2 August30 May – 8 September20 June – 8 September
Peas——sow 8 January – 24 September
Petuniafrom 28 Marchfrom 30 Mayfrom 20 June
Physalis23 March – 30 July7 May – 13 September28 May – 13 September
Pumpkin18 April – 1 July30 May – 12 August20 June – 12 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 17 October—from 8 January
Radish——sow 8 January – 7 November
Sage30 October – 30 August18 December – 18 October8 January – 18 October
Scarlet sagefrom 16 March—from 28 May
Snapdragonfrom 14 Octoberfrom 18 Decemberfrom 8 January
Soybean——sow 20 June – 18 September
Spinach——sow 8 January – 13 October
Stevia19 March – 21 July7 May – 8 September28 May – 8 September
Stock——sow from 8 January
Sunflower——sow from 9 June
Sweet alyssum——sow from 8 January
Sweet Corn27 March – 13 September18 April – 5 October9 May – 5 October
Sweet peafrom 6 Novemberfrom 18 Decemberfrom 8 January
Sweet William——sow from 8 January
Swiss Chard——sow 8 January – 8 October
Thyme——sow 8 January – 19 August
Tomato16 March – 26 June7 May – 17 August28 May – 17 August
Turnip——sow 8 January – 10 October
Watercress——sow 8 January – 21 October
Watermelon2 May – 31 July30 May – 28 August20 June – 28 August
Zinniafrom 20 Mayfrom 24 Junefrom 15 July
Zucchini9 May – 30 August30 May – 20 September20 June – 20 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 Bray

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 59 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 119 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C29 March59 days later
15 °C28 May119 days later
18 °C20 June142 days later

Frost dates near Bray

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Mullingar (19 March) and latest in Kilkenny (7 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Dublin20 km7 April24 November
Navan63 km28 March20 November
Mullingar90 km19 March23 November
Dundalk91 km20 March20 November
Kilkenny98 km7 April20 November

What to grow at home in winter in Bray

Frosts in Bray usually come from about 7 December to about 29 January. 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 Bray by month

Average weather in Bray over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. No month averages 20 °C by day; the warmest, July, reaches 19.5 °C. No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 4.3 °C. About 1064 mm of rain falls in a year, on 171 days; November is the wettest month (109 mm) and May the driest (64 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January8.64.37613
February9.44.78214
March10.44.98915
April11.86.18014
May15.29.16413
June17.811.88614
July19.513.58515
August19.213.48515
September17.111.69914
October14.39.610715
November10.86.810914
December9.65.610215

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 7 November
Crocusby 7 November
Daffodilby 7 November
Garlic7 November – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 7 November
Helleboreby 7 November
Hyacinthby 7 November
Lilyby 7 November
Ornamental onionby 7 November
Peonyby 7 November
Saffronby 7 November
Snowdropby 7 November
Tulipby 7 November
Wild garlicby 7 November

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).