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Last and first frost dates in Brighton

United Kingdom

In Brighton the last spring frost usually comes around 8 February and the first autumn frost around 1 December, which leaves about 296 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 18 June to 11 August.

Last spring frostaround 8 February
First autumn frostaround 1 December
Frost-free days296 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 Brighton?

The last frost in Brighton usually comes around 8 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 18 January, while corn waits until 18 May. The first autumn frost follows around 1 December, about 296 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha21 February – 23 August2 April – 2 October23 April – 2 October
Ageratumfrom 2 April—from 18 June
Arugula——sow 18 January – 27 October
Basil22 May – 29 September29 June – 6 November20 July – 6 November
Beet——sow 18 January – 2 October
Bell Pepper30 April – 12 June29 June – 11 August20 July – 11 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 30 January—from 23 April
Bok Choy26 February – 10 October2 April – 14 November23 April – 14 November
Borage——sow 15 February – 7 October
Broad bean——sow 18 January – 23 August
Broccoli——sow 18 January – 16 August
Brussels Sprouts13 November – 14 July28 December – 28 August18 January – 28 August
Busy Lizziefrom 23 November—from 15 February
Cabbage——sow 18 January – 24 July
Calendula——sow from 18 January
Carrot——sow 18 January – 8 September
Cauliflower16 November – 16 August28 December – 27 September18 January – 27 September
Celeriac15 January – 13 June2 April – 29 August23 April – 29 August
Celery15 January – 23 June2 April – 8 September23 April – 8 September
Celosiafrom 21 Aprilfrom 5 Junefrom 26 June
Chamomile——sow 18 January – 27 September
Chayote29 January – 6 June27 April – 2 September18 May – 2 September
Chickpea——sow 18 January – 13 August
Chicory3 December – 7 September—18 January – 2 October
Chili Pepper30 April – 19 July29 June – 17 September20 July – 17 September
China asterfrom 8 Mayfrom 29 Junefrom 20 July
Chives——sow 18 January – 18 September
Cilantro——sow 18 January – 28 September
Corn——sow 18 May – 13 August
Corn poppy——sow from 18 January
Cosmosfrom 21 Aprilfrom 5 Junefrom 26 June
Cucumber1 June – 19 August29 June – 16 September20 July – 16 September
Daikon——sow 18 January – 25 September
Delphiniumfrom 30 October—from 18 January
Dill——sow 18 January – 8 October
Edging lobeliafrom 29 January—from 23 April
Eggplant30 April – 12 June29 June – 11 August20 July – 11 August
Florence fennel16 February – 23 August2 April – 7 October23 April – 7 October
Foxglovefrom 12 October—from 18 January
Garden sorrel——sow 18 January – 26 September
Green Beans——sow 26 June – 21 August
Hollyhock——sow from 18 January
Hyssop——sow 18 January – 19 August
Kale——sow 18 January – 20 September
Kiwano26 April – 26 August28 May – 27 September18 June – 27 September
Kohlrabi——sow 18 January – 30 September
Leek19 October – 4 June28 December – 13 August18 January – 13 August
Lemon balm——sow 18 January – 22 September
Lettuce——sow 18 January – 5 October
Lisianthusfrom 2 Octoberfrom 28 Decemberfrom 18 January
Lovage——sow from 18 January
Luffa18 May – 20 June29 June – 1 August20 July – 1 August
Marigoldfrom 19 Februaryfrom 2 Aprilfrom 23 April
Marjoram30 April – 7 September—20 July – 6 November
Melon1 June – 6 August29 June – 3 September20 July – 3 September
Microgreens——sow 26 June – 17 November
Moringa7 May – 12 September1 July – 6 November22 July – 6 November
Moss rosefrom 30 November—from 15 February
Mustard greens——sow 18 January – 17 October
Napa cabbage28 February – 17 September2 April – 20 October23 April – 20 October
Nasturtiumfrom 23 Februaryfrom 2 Aprilfrom 23 April
Okra18 May – 31 August29 June – 12 October20 July – 12 October
Oregano29 October – 28 August28 December – 27 October18 January – 27 October
Pansyfrom 2 Novemberfrom 28 Decemberfrom 18 January
Parsley——sow 18 January – 16 September
Parsnip——sow 18 January – 5 August
Peanut23 May – 27 July29 June – 2 September20 July – 2 September
Peas——sow 18 January – 18 September
Petuniafrom 27 Aprilfrom 29 Junefrom 20 July
Physalis13 April – 24 July28 May – 7 September18 June – 7 September
Pumpkin18 May – 25 June29 June – 6 August20 July – 6 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 27 October—from 18 January
Radish——sow 18 January – 1 November
Sage9 November – 24 August28 December – 12 October18 January – 12 October
Scarlet sagefrom 6 April—from 18 June
Snapdragonfrom 24 Octoberfrom 28 Decemberfrom 18 January
Soybean——sow 20 July – 12 September
Spinach——sow 18 January – 7 October
Stevia9 April – 15 July28 May – 2 September18 June – 2 September
Stock——sow from 18 January
Sunflower——sow from 26 June
Sweet alyssum——sow from 18 January
Sweet Corn15 April – 7 September7 May – 29 September28 May – 29 September
Sweet peafrom 16 Novemberfrom 28 Decemberfrom 18 January
Sweet William——sow from 18 January
Swiss Chard——sow 18 January – 2 October
Thyme——sow 18 January – 13 August
Tomato6 April – 20 June28 May – 11 August18 June – 11 August
Turnip——sow 18 January – 4 October
Watercress——sow 18 January – 15 October
Watermelon1 June – 25 July29 June – 22 August20 July – 22 August
Zinniafrom 27 Mayfrom 1 Julyfrom 22 July
Zucchini8 June – 24 August29 June – 14 September20 July – 14 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 Brighton

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 74 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 130 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C23 April74 days later
15 °C18 June130 days later
18 °C20 July162 days later

Frost dates near Brighton

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Le Havre (14 February) and latest in Southampton (4 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Portsmouth67 km4 March1 December
London76 km4 April23 November
Southampton89 km4 April23 November
Oxford129 km3 April23 November
Le Havre150 km14 February12 December

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Brighton

Within 15 km of Brighton OpenStreetMap lists 18 garden centres, 6 plant nurseries, 5 markets and 2 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Between Two Thorns, 0 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Brighton

Frosts in Brighton usually come from about 1 December to about 8 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 Brighton by month

Average weather in Brighton over 2016–2025: the warmest month is August. No month averages 20 °C by day; the warmest, August, reaches 19.2 °C. No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 5.6 °C. About 923 mm of rain falls in a year, on 141 days; October is the wettest month (131 mm) and April the driest (45 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January8.65.68714
February8.76.16612
March9.46.66612
April10.97.8458
May13.810.6459
June16.513.8539
July18.6165310
August19.216.56310
September18.215.18711
October15.812.913115
November12.39.312115
December10.37.610616

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 November
Crocusby 1 November
Daffodilby 1 November
Garlic1 November – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 1 November
Helleboreby 1 November
Hyacinthby 1 November
Lilyby 1 November
Ornamental onionby 1 November
Peonyby 1 November
Saffronby 1 November
Snowdropby 1 November
Tulipby 1 November
Wild garlicby 1 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).