Greenly Garden
Get the app
EN

Last and first frost dates in Exeter

United Kingdom

In Exeter the last spring frost usually comes around 3 April and the first autumn frost around 27 November, which leaves about 238 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 1 June to 7 August.

Last spring frostaround 3 April
First autumn frostaround 27 November
Frost-free days238 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 Exeter?

The last frost in Exeter 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 5 May. The first autumn frost follows around 27 November, about 238 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha11 February – 19 August23 March – 28 September13 April – 28 September
Ageratumfrom 16 March—from 1 June
Arugula——sow 13 March – 23 October
Basil25 April – 25 September2 June – 2 November23 June – 2 November
Beet——sow 13 March – 28 September
Bell Pepper3 April – 8 June2 June – 7 August23 June – 7 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 20 January—from 13 April
Bok Choy16 February – 6 October23 March – 10 November13 April – 10 November
Borage——sow 10 April – 3 October
Broad bean——sow 13 March – 19 August
Broccoli——sow 13 March – 12 August
Brussels Sprouts6 January – 10 July20 February – 24 August13 March – 24 August
Busy Lizziefrom 16 January—from 10 April
Cabbage——sow 13 March – 20 July
Calendula——sow from 13 March
Carrot——sow 13 March – 4 September
Cauliflower9 January – 12 August20 February – 23 September13 March – 23 September
Celeriac5 January – 9 June23 March – 25 August13 April – 25 August
Celery5 January – 19 June23 March – 4 September13 April – 4 September
Celosiafrom 1 Aprilfrom 16 Mayfrom 6 June
Chamomile——sow 13 March – 23 September
Chayote16 January – 2 June14 April – 29 August5 May – 29 August
Chickpea——sow 13 March – 9 August
Chicory26 January – 3 September—13 March – 28 September
Chili Pepper3 April – 15 July2 June – 13 September23 June – 13 September
China asterfrom 11 Aprilfrom 2 Junefrom 23 June
Chives——sow 13 March – 14 September
Cilantro——sow 13 March – 24 September
Corn——sow 5 May – 9 August
Corn poppy——sow from 13 March
Cosmosfrom 1 Aprilfrom 16 Mayfrom 6 June
Cucumber5 May – 15 August2 June – 12 September23 June – 12 September
Daikon——sow 13 March – 21 September
Delphiniumfrom 23 December—from 13 March
Dill——sow 13 March – 4 October
Edging lobeliafrom 19 January—from 13 April
Eggplant3 April – 8 June2 June – 7 August23 June – 7 August
Florence fennel6 February – 19 August23 March – 3 October13 April – 3 October
Foxglovefrom 5 December—from 13 March
Garden sorrel——sow 13 March – 22 September
Green Beans——sow 6 June – 17 August
Hollyhock——sow from 13 March
Hyssop——sow 13 March – 15 August
Kale——sow 13 March – 16 September
Kiwano9 April – 22 August11 May – 23 September1 June – 23 September
Kohlrabi——sow 13 March – 26 September
Leek12 December – 31 May20 February – 9 August13 March – 9 August
Lemon balm——sow 13 March – 18 September
Lettuce——sow 13 March – 1 October
Lisianthusfrom 25 Novemberfrom 20 Februaryfrom 13 March
Lovage——sow from 13 March
Luffa21 April – 16 June2 June – 28 July23 June – 28 July
Marigoldfrom 9 Februaryfrom 23 Marchfrom 13 April
Marjoram3 April – 3 September—23 June – 2 November
Melon5 May – 2 August2 June – 30 August23 June – 30 August
Microgreens——sow 6 June – 13 November
Moringa15 April – 8 September9 June – 2 November30 June – 2 November
Moss rosefrom 23 January—from 10 April
Mustard greens——sow 13 March – 13 October
Napa cabbage18 February – 13 September23 March – 16 October13 April – 16 October
Nasturtiumfrom 13 Februaryfrom 23 Marchfrom 13 April
Okra21 April – 27 August2 June – 8 October23 June – 8 October
Oregano22 December – 24 August20 February – 23 October13 March – 23 October
Pansyfrom 26 Decemberfrom 20 Februaryfrom 13 March
Parsley——sow 13 March – 12 September
Parsnip——sow 13 March – 1 August
Peanut26 April – 23 July2 June – 29 August23 June – 29 August
Peas——sow 13 March – 14 September
Petuniafrom 31 Marchfrom 2 Junefrom 23 June
Physalis27 March – 20 July11 May – 3 September1 June – 3 September
Pumpkin21 April – 21 June2 June – 2 August23 June – 2 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 20 December—from 13 March
Radish——sow 13 March – 28 October
Sage2 January – 20 August20 February – 8 October13 March – 8 October
Scarlet sagefrom 20 March—from 1 June
Snapdragonfrom 17 Decemberfrom 20 Februaryfrom 13 March
Soybean——sow 23 June – 8 September
Spinach——sow 13 March – 3 October
Stevia23 March – 11 July11 May – 29 August1 June – 29 August
Stock——sow from 13 March
Sunflower——sow from 6 June
Sweet alyssum——sow from 13 March
Sweet Corn30 March – 3 September21 April – 25 September12 May – 25 September
Sweet peafrom 9 Januaryfrom 20 Februaryfrom 13 March
Sweet William——sow from 13 March
Swiss Chard——sow 13 March – 28 September
Thyme——sow 13 March – 9 August
Tomato20 March – 16 June11 May – 7 August1 June – 7 August
Turnip——sow 13 March – 30 September
Watercress——sow 13 March – 11 October
Watermelon5 May – 21 July2 June – 18 August23 June – 18 August
Zinniafrom 5 Mayfrom 9 Junefrom 30 June
Zucchini12 May – 20 August2 June – 10 September23 June – 10 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 Exeter

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 10 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 59 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C13 April10 days later
15 °C1 June59 days later
18 °C23 June81 days later

Frost dates near Exeter

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Swansea (28 February) and latest in Bristol (11 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Plymouth58 km1 March1 December
Cardiff88 km25 March22 November
Swansea104 km28 February1 December
Bristol104 km11 April22 November
Southampton151 km4 April23 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Exeter

Within 15 km of Exeter OpenStreetMap lists 9 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 1 plant nursery, 2 markets and 13 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Bernaville Nurseries, 4 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Exeter

Frosts in Exeter usually come from about 27 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 Exeter by month

Average weather in Exeter over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: July (21.2 °C) and August (20.8 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 2.3 °C. About 980 mm of rain falls in a year, on 152 days; November is the wettest month (104 mm) and July the driest (61 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January8.42.38613
February9.43.38013
March10.73.98815
April13.14.86511
May16.58.17312
June19.511.27312
July21.212.96111
August20.812.86511
September18.3118012
October15.18.910214
November11.25.610414
December9.64.410314

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 28 October
Crocus28 October – end of December
Daffodil28 October – end of December
Garlic28 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 28 October
Helleboreby 28 October
Hyacinth28 October – end of December
Lilyby 28 October
Ornamental onionby 28 October
Peonyby 28 October
Saffronby 28 October
Snowdropby 28 October
Tulip28 October – end of December
Wild garlicby 28 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).