Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Copiapó

Chile

In Copiapó the last spring frost usually comes around 19 July and the first autumn frost around 24 June, which leaves about 340 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 9 August to 3 March.

Last spring frostaround 19 July
First autumn frostaround 24 June
Frost-free days340 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 Copiapó?

The last frost in Copiapó usually comes around 19 July: 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 28 June, while corn waits until 26 July. The first autumn frost follows around 24 June, about 340 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha26 May – 15 March5 July – 24 April26 July – 24 April
Ageratumfrom 24 May—from 9 August
Arugula——sow 28 June – 19 May
Basil11 July – 21 April18 August – 29 May8 September – 29 May
Beet——sow 28 June – 24 April
Bell Pepper19 June – 3 January18 August – 3 March8 September – 3 March
Black-eyed Susanfrom 4 May—from 26 July
Bok Choy31 May – 2 May5 July – 6 June26 July – 6 June
Borage——sow 26 July – 29 April
Broad bean——sow 28 June – 15 March
Broccoli——sow 28 June – 8 March
Brussels Sprouts23 April – 4 February7 June – 20 March28 June – 20 March
Busy Lizziefrom 3 May—from 26 July
Cabbage——sow 28 June – 14 February
Calendula——sow from 28 June
Carrot——sow 28 June – 31 March
Cauliflower26 April – 8 March7 June – 19 April28 June – 19 April
Celeriac19 April – 4 January5 July – 21 March26 July – 21 March
Celery19 April – 14 January5 July – 31 March26 July – 31 March
Celosiafrom 14 Junefrom 29 Julyfrom 19 August
Chamomile——sow 28 June – 19 April
Chayote8 April – 28 December5 July – 25 March26 July – 25 March
Chickpea——sow 28 June – 5 March
Chicory13 May – 30 March—28 June – 24 April
Chili Pepper19 June – 9 February18 August – 9 April8 September – 9 April
China asterfrom 27 Junefrom 18 Augustfrom 8 September
Chives——sow 28 June – 10 April
Cilantro——sow 28 June – 20 April
Corn——sow 26 July – 5 March
Corn poppy——sow from 28 June
Cosmosfrom 14 Junefrom 29 Julyfrom 19 August
Cucumber21 July – 11 March18 August – 8 April8 September – 8 April
Daikon——sow 28 June – 17 April
Delphiniumfrom 9 April—from 28 June
Dill——sow 28 June – 30 April
Edging lobeliafrom 3 May—from 26 July
Eggplant19 June – 3 January18 August – 3 March8 September – 3 March
Florence fennel21 May – 15 March5 July – 29 April26 July – 29 April
Foxglovefrom 22 March—from 28 June
Garden sorrel——sow 28 June – 18 April
Green Beans——sow 19 August – 13 March
Hollyhock——sow from 28 June
Hyssop——sow 28 June – 11 March
Kale——sow 28 June – 12 April
Kiwano17 June – 18 March19 July – 19 April9 August – 19 April
Kohlrabi——sow 28 June – 22 April
Leek29 March – 26 December7 June – 5 March28 June – 5 March
Lemon balm——sow 28 June – 14 April
Lettuce——sow 28 June – 27 April
Lisianthusfrom 12 Marchfrom 7 Junefrom 28 June
Lovage——sow from 28 June
Luffa7 July – 11 January18 August – 22 February8 September – 22 February
Marigoldfrom 24 Mayfrom 5 Julyfrom 26 July
Marjoram19 June – 30 March—8 September – 29 May
Melon21 July – 27 February18 August – 26 March8 September – 26 March
Microgreens——sow 19 August – 9 June
Moringa12 July – 4 April5 September – 29 May26 September – 29 May
Moss rosefrom 10 May—from 26 July
Mustard greens——sow 28 June – 9 May
Napa cabbage2 June – 9 April5 July – 12 May26 July – 12 May
Nasturtiumfrom 28 Mayfrom 5 Julyfrom 26 July
Okra7 July – 23 March18 August – 4 May8 September – 4 May
Oregano8 April – 20 March7 June – 19 May28 June – 19 May
Pansyfrom 12 Aprilfrom 7 Junefrom 28 June
Parsley——sow 28 June – 8 April
Parsnip——sow 28 June – 26 February
Peanut12 July – 17 February18 August – 25 March8 September – 25 March
Peas——sow 28 June – 10 April
Petuniafrom 16 Junefrom 18 Augustfrom 8 September
Physalis4 June – 14 February19 July – 30 March9 August – 30 March
Pumpkin7 July – 16 January18 August – 27 February8 September – 27 February
Purple coneflowerfrom 6 April—from 28 June
Radish——sow 28 June – 24 May
Sage19 April – 16 March7 June – 4 May28 June – 4 May
Scarlet sagefrom 28 May—from 9 August
Snapdragonfrom 3 Aprilfrom 7 Junefrom 28 June
Soybean——sow 8 September – 4 April
Spinach——sow 28 June – 29 April
Stevia31 May – 5 February19 July – 25 March9 August – 25 March
Stock——sow from 28 June
Sunflower——sow from 19 August
Sweet alyssum——sow from 28 June
Sweet Corn13 June – 30 March5 July – 21 April26 July – 21 April
Sweet peafrom 26 Aprilfrom 7 Junefrom 28 June
Sweet William——sow from 28 June
Swiss Chard——sow 28 June – 24 April
Thyme——sow 28 June – 5 March
Tomato28 May – 11 January19 July – 3 March9 August – 3 March
Turnip——sow 28 June – 26 April
Watercress——sow 28 June – 7 May
Watermelon21 July – 15 February18 August – 14 March8 September – 14 March
Zinniafrom 1 Augustfrom 5 Septemberfrom 26 September
Zucchini28 July – 16 March18 August – 6 April8 September – 6 April

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 Copiapó

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo).

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of July—
10 °Calready in the first week of July—
15 °C9 August21 days later
18 °C8 September51 days later

Frost dates near Copiapó

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca (15 July) and latest in La Rioja (17 July).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
La Serena296 km——
Ovalle369 km——
La Rioja408 km17 July15 June
Antofagasta414 km——
San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca463 km15 July29 June

What to grow at home in winter in Copiapó

Frosts in Copiapó usually come from about 24 June to about 19 July. 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 Copiapó by month

Average weather in Copiapó over 2016–2025: the warmest month is February. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: September–April (20.2–23.7 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in June, average 8.1 °C. About 26 mm of rain falls in a year, on 4 days; April is the wettest month (6 mm) and February the driest (0 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January23.413.320
February23.713.700
March2313.500
April21.111.960
May19.610.451
June18.38.151
July18.98.331
August19.38.631
September20.29.610
October21.110.710
November21.711.500
December22.612.200

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 May
Crocusby 25 May
Daffodilby 25 May
Garlicby 25 May
Grape hyacinthby 25 May
Helleboreby 25 May
Hyacinthby 25 May
Lilyby 25 May
Ornamental onionby 25 May
Peonyby 25 May
Saffronby 25 May
Snowdropby 25 May
Tulipby 25 May
Wild garlicby 25 May

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).