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Last and first frost dates in Caen

France

In Caen the last spring frost usually comes around 12 March and the first autumn frost around 5 December, which leaves about 268 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 21 May to 15 August.

Last spring frostaround 12 March
First autumn frostaround 5 December
Frost-free days268 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 Caen?

The last frost in Caen usually comes around 12 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 19 February, while corn waits until 20 April. The first autumn frost follows around 5 December, about 268 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha23 January – 27 August4 March – 6 October25 March – 6 October
Ageratumfrom 5 March—from 21 May
Arugula——sow 19 February – 31 October
Basil17 April – 3 October25 May – 10 November15 June – 10 November
Beet——sow 19 February – 6 October
Bell Pepper26 March – 16 June25 May – 15 August15 June – 15 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 1 January—from 25 March
Bok Choy28 January – 14 October4 March – 18 November25 March – 18 November
Borage——sow 19 March – 11 October
Broad bean——sow 19 February – 27 August
Broccoli——sow 19 February – 20 August
Brussels Sprouts15 December – 18 July29 January – 1 September19 February – 1 September
Busy Lizziefrom 25 December—from 19 March
Cabbage——sow 19 February – 28 July
Calendula——sow from 19 February
Carrot——sow 19 February – 12 September
Cauliflower18 December – 20 August29 January – 1 October19 February – 1 October
Celeriac17 December – 17 June4 March – 2 September25 March – 2 September
Celery17 December – 27 June4 March – 12 September25 March – 12 September
Celosiafrom 27 Marchfrom 11 Mayfrom 1 June
Chamomile——sow 19 February – 1 October
Chayote1 January – 10 June30 March – 6 September20 April – 6 September
Chickpea——sow 19 February – 17 August
Chicory4 January – 11 September—19 February – 6 October
Chili Pepper26 March – 23 July25 May – 21 September15 June – 21 September
China asterfrom 3 Aprilfrom 25 Mayfrom 15 June
Chives——sow 19 February – 22 September
Cilantro——sow 19 February – 2 October
Corn——sow 20 April – 17 August
Corn poppy——sow from 19 February
Cosmosfrom 27 Marchfrom 11 Mayfrom 1 June
Cucumber27 April – 23 August25 May – 20 September15 June – 20 September
Daikon——sow 19 February – 29 September
Delphiniumfrom 1 December—from 19 February
Dill——sow 19 February – 12 October
Edging lobeliafrom 31 December—from 25 March
Eggplant26 March – 16 June25 May – 15 August15 June – 15 August
Florence fennel18 January – 27 August4 March – 11 October25 March – 11 October
Foxglovefrom 13 November—from 19 February
Garden sorrel——sow 19 February – 30 September
Green Beans——sow 1 June – 25 August
Hollyhock——sow from 19 February
Hyssop——sow 19 February – 23 August
Kale——sow 19 February – 24 September
Kiwano29 March – 30 August30 April – 1 October21 May – 1 October
Kohlrabi——sow 19 February – 4 October
Leek20 November – 8 June29 January – 17 August19 February – 17 August
Lemon balm——sow 19 February – 26 September
Lettuce——sow 19 February – 9 October
Lisianthusfrom 3 Novemberfrom 29 Januaryfrom 19 February
Lovage——sow from 19 February
Luffa13 April – 24 June25 May – 5 August15 June – 5 August
Marigoldfrom 21 Januaryfrom 4 Marchfrom 25 March
Marjoram26 March – 11 September—15 June – 10 November
Melon27 April – 10 August25 May – 7 September15 June – 7 September
Microgreens——sow 1 June – 21 November
Moringa22 April – 16 September16 June – 10 November7 July – 10 November
Moss rosefrom 1 January—from 19 March
Mustard greens——sow 19 February – 21 October
Napa cabbage30 January – 21 September4 March – 24 October25 March – 24 October
Nasturtiumfrom 25 Januaryfrom 4 Marchfrom 25 March
Okra13 April – 4 September25 May – 16 October15 June – 16 October
Oregano30 November – 1 September29 January – 31 October19 February – 31 October
Pansyfrom 4 Decemberfrom 29 Januaryfrom 19 February
Parsley——sow 19 February – 20 September
Parsnip——sow 19 February – 9 August
Peanut18 April – 31 July25 May – 6 September15 June – 6 September
Peas——sow 19 February – 22 September
Petuniafrom 23 Marchfrom 25 Mayfrom 15 June
Physalis16 March – 28 July30 April – 11 September21 May – 11 September
Pumpkin13 April – 29 June25 May – 10 August15 June – 10 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 28 November—from 19 February
Radish——sow 19 February – 5 November
Sage11 December – 28 August29 January – 16 October19 February – 16 October
Scarlet sagefrom 9 March—from 21 May
Snapdragonfrom 25 Novemberfrom 29 Januaryfrom 19 February
Soybean——sow 15 June – 16 September
Spinach——sow 19 February – 11 October
Stevia12 March – 19 July30 April – 6 September21 May – 6 September
Stock——sow from 19 February
Sunflower——sow from 1 June
Sweet alyssum——sow from 19 February
Sweet Corn23 March – 11 September14 April – 3 October5 May – 3 October
Sweet peafrom 18 Decemberfrom 29 Januaryfrom 19 February
Sweet William——sow from 19 February
Swiss Chard——sow 19 February – 6 October
Thyme——sow 19 February – 17 August
Tomato9 March – 24 June30 April – 15 August21 May – 15 August
Turnip——sow 19 February – 8 October
Watercress——sow 19 February – 19 October
Watermelon27 April – 29 July25 May – 26 August15 June – 26 August
Zinniafrom 12 Mayfrom 16 Junefrom 7 July
Zucchini4 May – 28 August25 May – 18 September15 June – 18 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 Caen

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 13 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 70 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C25 March13 days later
15 °C21 May70 days later
18 °C15 June95 days later

Frost dates near Caen

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Brighton (8 February) and latest in Rouen (6 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Le Havre48 km14 February12 December
Rouen109 km6 April21 November
Le Mans139 km2 April24 November
Rennes154 km12 March28 November
Brighton183 km8 February1 December

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Caen

Within 15 km of Caen OpenStreetMap lists 14 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 7 plant nurseries, 20 markets and 22 farm shops (collected 27 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Jardiland, 3 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Caen

Frosts in Caen usually come from about 5 December to about 12 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 Caen by month

Average weather in Caen over 2016–2025: the warmest month is August. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: June–September (20.3–22.5 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 3.2 °C. About 795 mm of rain falls in a year, on 147 days; December is the wettest month (89 mm) and April the driest (52 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January8.43.28113
February103.95612
March11.955814
April146.15211
May16.89.46311
June20.312.76711
July22.214.55210
August22.514.75511
September20.312.85912
October16.810.27813
November126.88515
December9.74.88914

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