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Last and first frost dates in Cambridge

United Kingdom

In Cambridge the last spring frost usually comes around 3 April and the first autumn frost around 24 November, which leaves about 235 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 24 May to 4 August.

Last spring frostaround 3 April
First autumn frostaround 24 November
Frost-free days235 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 Cambridge?

The last frost in Cambridge usually comes around 3 April: 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 13 March, while corn waits until 26 April. The first autumn frost follows around 24 November, about 235 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha13 February – 16 August25 March – 25 September15 April – 25 September
Ageratumfrom 8 March—from 24 May
Arugula——sow 13 March – 20 October
Basil19 April – 22 September27 May – 30 October17 June – 30 October
Beet——sow 13 March – 25 September
Bell Pepper28 March – 5 June27 May – 4 August17 June – 4 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 22 January—from 15 April
Bok Choy18 February – 3 October25 March – 7 November15 April – 7 November
Borage——sow 10 April – 30 September
Broad bean——sow 13 March – 16 August
Broccoli——sow 13 March – 9 August
Brussels Sprouts6 January – 7 July20 February – 21 August13 March – 21 August
Busy Lizziefrom 16 January—from 10 April
Cabbage——sow 13 March – 17 July
Calendula——sow from 13 March
Carrot——sow 13 March – 1 September
Cauliflower9 January – 9 August20 February – 20 September13 March – 20 September
Celeriac7 January – 6 June25 March – 22 August15 April – 22 August
Celery7 January – 16 June25 March – 1 September15 April – 1 September
Celosiafrom 28 Marchfrom 12 Mayfrom 2 June
Chamomile——sow 13 March – 20 September
Chayote7 January – 30 May5 April – 26 August26 April – 26 August
Chickpea——sow 13 March – 6 August
Chicory26 January – 31 August—13 March – 25 September
Chili Pepper28 March – 12 July27 May – 10 September17 June – 10 September
China asterfrom 5 Aprilfrom 27 Mayfrom 17 June
Chives——sow 13 March – 11 September
Cilantro——sow 13 March – 21 September
Corn——sow 26 April – 6 August
Corn poppy——sow from 13 March
Cosmosfrom 28 Marchfrom 12 Mayfrom 2 June
Cucumber29 April – 12 August27 May – 9 September17 June – 9 September
Daikon——sow 13 March – 18 September
Delphiniumfrom 23 December—from 13 March
Dill——sow 13 March – 1 October
Edging lobeliafrom 21 January—from 15 April
Eggplant28 March – 5 June27 May – 4 August17 June – 4 August
Florence fennel8 February – 16 August25 March – 30 September15 April – 30 September
Foxglovefrom 5 December—from 13 March
Garden sorrel——sow 13 March – 19 September
Green Beans——sow 2 June – 14 August
Hollyhock——sow from 13 March
Hyssop——sow 13 March – 12 August
Kale——sow 13 March – 13 September
Kiwano1 April – 19 August3 May – 20 September24 May – 20 September
Kohlrabi——sow 13 March – 23 September
Leek12 December – 28 May20 February – 6 August13 March – 6 August
Lemon balm——sow 13 March – 15 September
Lettuce——sow 13 March – 28 September
Lisianthusfrom 25 Novemberfrom 20 Februaryfrom 13 March
Lovage——sow from 13 March
Luffa15 April – 13 June27 May – 25 July17 June – 25 July
Marigoldfrom 11 Februaryfrom 25 Marchfrom 15 April
Marjoram28 March – 31 August—17 June – 30 October
Melon29 April – 30 July27 May – 27 August17 June – 27 August
Microgreens——sow 2 June – 10 November
Moringa13 April – 5 September7 June – 30 October28 June – 30 October
Moss rosefrom 23 January—from 10 April
Mustard greens——sow 13 March – 10 October
Napa cabbage20 February – 10 September25 March – 13 October15 April – 13 October
Nasturtiumfrom 15 Februaryfrom 25 Marchfrom 15 April
Okra15 April – 24 August27 May – 5 October17 June – 5 October
Oregano22 December – 21 August20 February – 20 October13 March – 20 October
Pansyfrom 26 Decemberfrom 20 Februaryfrom 13 March
Parsley——sow 13 March – 9 September
Parsnip——sow 13 March – 29 July
Peanut20 April – 20 July27 May – 26 August17 June – 26 August
Peas——sow 13 March – 11 September
Petuniafrom 25 Marchfrom 27 Mayfrom 17 June
Physalis19 March – 17 July3 May – 31 August24 May – 31 August
Pumpkin15 April – 18 June27 May – 30 July17 June – 30 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 20 December—from 13 March
Radish——sow 13 March – 25 October
Sage2 January – 17 August20 February – 5 October13 March – 5 October
Scarlet sagefrom 12 March—from 24 May
Snapdragonfrom 17 Decemberfrom 20 Februaryfrom 13 March
Soybean——sow 17 June – 5 September
Spinach——sow 13 March – 30 September
Stevia15 March – 8 July3 May – 26 August24 May – 26 August
Stock——sow from 13 March
Sunflower——sow from 2 June
Sweet alyssum——sow from 13 March
Sweet Corn26 March – 31 August17 April – 22 September8 May – 22 September
Sweet peafrom 9 Januaryfrom 20 Februaryfrom 13 March
Sweet William——sow from 13 March
Swiss Chard——sow 13 March – 25 September
Thyme——sow 13 March – 6 August
Tomato12 March – 13 June3 May – 4 August24 May – 4 August
Turnip——sow 13 March – 27 September
Watercress——sow 13 March – 8 October
Watermelon29 April – 18 July27 May – 15 August17 June – 15 August
Zinniafrom 3 Mayfrom 7 Junefrom 28 June
Zucchini6 May – 17 August27 May – 7 September17 June – 7 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 Cambridge

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 12 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 51 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C15 April12 days later
15 °C24 May51 days later
18 °C17 June75 days later

Frost dates near Cambridge

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Ipswich (15 March) and latest in Leicester (20 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Ipswich73 km15 March29 November
London79 km4 April23 November
Norwich93 km31 March28 November
Leicester98 km20 April19 November
Oxford107 km3 April23 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Cambridge

Within 15 km of Cambridge OpenStreetMap lists 11 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 2 markets and 7 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Cam Home and Garden, 2 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Cambridge

Frosts in Cambridge usually come from about 24 November to about 3 April. 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 Cambridge by month

Average weather in Cambridge over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: June (20.6 °C), July (22.5 °C) and August (22.5 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 1.7 °C. About 687 mm of rain falls in a year, on 135 days; October is the wettest month (71 mm) and April the driest (43 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January7.41.75012
February9.22.74911
March10.93.55514
April13.54.64311
May17.18.25911
June20.611.75710
July22.513.86612
August22.513.65010
September19.811.46210
October15.38.67111
November10.64.96011
December8.63.76512

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 25 October
Crocus25 October – end of December
Daffodil25 October – end of December
Garlic25 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 25 October
Helleboreby 25 October
Hyacinth25 October – end of December
Lilyby 25 October
Ornamental onionby 25 October
Peonyby 25 October
Saffronby 25 October
Snowdropby 25 October
Tulip25 October – end of December
Wild garlicby 25 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).