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Last and first frost dates in Derby

United Kingdom

In Derby the last spring frost usually comes around 12 April and the first autumn frost around 22 November, which leaves about 224 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 2 June to 2 August.

Last spring frostaround 12 April
First autumn frostaround 22 November
Frost-free days224 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 Derby?

The last frost in Derby usually comes around 12 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 22 March, while corn waits until 8 May. The first autumn frost follows around 22 November, about 224 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha17 February – 14 August29 March – 23 September19 April – 23 September
Ageratumfrom 17 March—from 2 June
Arugula——sow 22 March – 18 October
Basil24 April – 20 September1 June – 28 October22 June – 28 October
Beet——sow 22 March – 23 September
Bell Pepper2 April – 3 June1 June – 2 August22 June – 2 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 26 January—from 19 April
Bok Choy22 February – 1 October29 March – 5 November19 April – 5 November
Borage——sow 19 April – 28 September
Broad bean——sow 22 March – 14 August
Broccoli——sow 22 March – 7 August
Brussels Sprouts15 January – 5 July1 March – 19 August22 March – 19 August
Busy Lizziefrom 25 January—from 19 April
Cabbage——sow 22 March – 15 July
Calendula——sow from 22 March
Carrot——sow 22 March – 30 August
Cauliflower18 January – 7 August1 March – 18 September22 March – 18 September
Celeriac11 January – 4 June29 March – 20 August19 April – 20 August
Celery11 January – 14 June29 March – 30 August19 April – 30 August
Celosiafrom 7 Aprilfrom 22 Mayfrom 12 June
Chamomile——sow 22 March – 18 September
Chayote19 January – 28 May17 April – 24 August8 May – 24 August
Chickpea——sow 22 March – 4 August
Chicory4 February – 29 August—22 March – 23 September
Chili Pepper2 April – 10 July1 June – 8 September22 June – 8 September
China asterfrom 10 Aprilfrom 1 Junefrom 22 June
Chives——sow 22 March – 9 September
Cilantro——sow 22 March – 19 September
Corn——sow 8 May – 4 August
Corn poppy——sow from 22 March
Cosmosfrom 7 Aprilfrom 22 Mayfrom 12 June
Cucumber4 May – 10 August1 June – 7 September22 June – 7 September
Daikon——sow 22 March – 16 September
Delphiniumfrom 1 January—from 22 March
Dill——sow 22 March – 29 September
Edging lobeliafrom 25 January—from 19 April
Eggplant2 April – 3 June1 June – 2 August22 June – 2 August
Florence fennel12 February – 14 August29 March – 28 September19 April – 28 September
Foxglovefrom 14 December—from 22 March
Garden sorrel——sow 22 March – 17 September
Green Beans——sow 12 June – 12 August
Hollyhock——sow from 22 March
Hyssop——sow 22 March – 10 August
Kale——sow 22 March – 11 September
Kiwano10 April – 17 August12 May – 18 September2 June – 18 September
Kohlrabi——sow 22 March – 21 September
Leek21 December – 26 May1 March – 4 August22 March – 4 August
Lemon balm——sow 22 March – 13 September
Lettuce——sow 22 March – 26 September
Lisianthusfrom 4 Decemberfrom 1 Marchfrom 22 March
Lovage——sow from 22 March
Luffa20 April – 11 June1 June – 23 July22 June – 23 July
Marigoldfrom 15 Februaryfrom 29 Marchfrom 19 April
Marjoram2 April – 29 August—22 June – 28 October
Melon4 May – 28 July1 June – 25 August22 June – 25 August
Microgreens——sow 12 June – 8 November
Moringa27 April – 3 September21 June – 28 October12 July – 28 October
Moss rosefrom 1 February—from 19 April
Mustard greens——sow 22 March – 8 October
Napa cabbage24 February – 8 September29 March – 11 October19 April – 11 October
Nasturtiumfrom 19 Februaryfrom 29 Marchfrom 19 April
Okra20 April – 22 August1 June – 3 October22 June – 3 October
Oregano31 December – 19 August1 March – 18 October22 March – 18 October
Pansyfrom 4 Januaryfrom 1 Marchfrom 22 March
Parsley——sow 22 March – 7 September
Parsnip——sow 22 March – 27 July
Peanut25 April – 18 July1 June – 24 August22 June – 24 August
Peas——sow 22 March – 9 September
Petuniafrom 30 Marchfrom 1 Junefrom 22 June
Physalis28 March – 15 July12 May – 29 August2 June – 29 August
Pumpkin20 April – 16 June1 June – 28 July22 June – 28 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 29 December—from 22 March
Radish——sow 22 March – 23 October
Sage11 January – 15 August1 March – 3 October22 March – 3 October
Scarlet sagefrom 21 March—from 2 June
Snapdragonfrom 26 Decemberfrom 1 Marchfrom 22 March
Soybean——sow 22 June – 3 September
Spinach——sow 22 March – 28 September
Stevia24 March – 6 July12 May – 24 August2 June – 24 August
Stock——sow from 22 March
Sunflower——sow from 12 June
Sweet alyssum——sow from 22 March
Sweet Corn4 April – 29 August26 April – 20 September17 May – 20 September
Sweet peafrom 18 Januaryfrom 1 Marchfrom 22 March
Sweet William——sow from 22 March
Swiss Chard——sow 22 March – 23 September
Thyme——sow 22 March – 4 August
Tomato21 March – 11 June12 May – 2 August2 June – 2 August
Turnip——sow 22 March – 25 September
Watercress——sow 22 March – 6 October
Watermelon4 May – 16 July1 June – 13 August22 June – 13 August
Zinniafrom 17 Mayfrom 21 Junefrom 12 July
Zucchini11 May – 15 August1 June – 5 September22 June – 5 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 Derby

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

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C10 January92 days earlier
10 °C18 April6 days later
15 °C2 June51 days later
18 °C22 June71 days later

Frost dates near Derby

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Nottingham (7 April) and latest in Stoke-on-Trent (27 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Nottingham22 km7 April23 November
Leicester39 km20 April19 November
Stoke-on-Trent48 km27 April15 November
Sheffield51 km15 April22 November
Birmingham55 km26 April19 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Derby

Within 15 km of Derby OpenStreetMap lists 19 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 1 plant nursery, 5 markets and 13 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Markeaton Garden Centre, 3 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Derby

Frosts in Derby usually come from about 22 November to about 12 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 Derby by month

Average weather in Derby over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: July (20.9 °C) and August (20.4 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 1.4 °C. About 845 mm of rain falls in a year, on 153 days; October is the wettest month (86 mm) and April the driest (49 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January6.71.46113
February8.22.16212
March102.77414
April12.43.84911
May16.27.56511
June19.210.77012
July20.912.67614
August20.412.46712
September17.810.38013
October13.97.98614
November9.54.27513
December7.83.18014

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 23 October
Crocus23 October – end of December
Daffodil23 October – end of December
Garlic23 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 23 October
Helleboreby 23 October
Hyacinth23 October – end of December
Lilyby 23 October
Ornamental onionby 23 October
Peonyby 23 October
Saffronby 23 October
Snowdropby 23 October
Tulip23 October – end of December
Wild garlicby 23 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).