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Last and first frost dates in Galway

Ireland

In Galway the last spring frost usually comes around 17 March and the first autumn frost around 28 November, which leaves about 256 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 31 May to 8 August.

Last spring frostaround 17 March
First autumn frostaround 28 November
Frost-free days256 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 Galway?

The last frost in Galway usually comes around 17 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 24 February, while corn waits until 6 May. The first autumn frost follows around 28 November, about 256 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha6 February – 20 August18 March – 29 September8 April – 29 September
Ageratumfrom 15 March—from 31 May
Arugula——sow 24 February – 24 October
Basil15 May – 26 September22 June – 3 November13 July – 3 November
Beet——sow 24 February – 29 September
Bell Pepper23 April – 9 June22 June – 8 August13 July – 8 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 15 January—from 8 April
Bok Choy11 February – 7 October18 March – 11 November8 April – 11 November
Borage——sow 24 March – 4 October
Broad bean——sow 24 February – 20 August
Broccoli——sow 24 February – 13 August
Brussels Sprouts20 December – 11 July3 February – 25 August24 February – 25 August
Busy Lizziefrom 30 December—from 24 March
Cabbage——sow 24 February – 21 July
Calendula——sow from 24 February
Carrot——sow 24 February – 5 September
Cauliflower23 December – 13 August3 February – 24 September24 February – 24 September
Celeriac31 December – 10 June18 March – 26 August8 April – 26 August
Celery31 December – 20 June18 March – 5 September8 April – 5 September
Celosiafrom 8 Aprilfrom 23 Mayfrom 13 June
Chamomile——sow 24 February – 24 September
Chayote17 January – 3 June15 April – 30 August6 May – 30 August
Chickpea——sow 24 February – 10 August
Chicory9 January – 4 September—24 February – 29 September
Chili Pepper23 April – 16 July22 June – 14 September13 July – 14 September
China asterfrom 1 Mayfrom 22 Junefrom 13 July
Chives——sow 24 February – 15 September
Cilantro——sow 24 February – 25 September
Corn——sow 6 May – 10 August
Corn poppy——sow from 24 February
Cosmosfrom 8 Aprilfrom 23 Mayfrom 13 June
Cucumber25 May – 16 August22 June – 13 September13 July – 13 September
Daikon——sow 24 February – 22 September
Delphiniumfrom 6 December—from 24 February
Dill——sow 24 February – 5 October
Edging lobeliafrom 14 January—from 8 April
Eggplant23 April – 9 June22 June – 8 August13 July – 8 August
Florence fennel1 February – 20 August18 March – 4 October8 April – 4 October
Foxglovefrom 18 November—from 24 February
Garden sorrel——sow 24 February – 23 September
Green Beans——sow 13 June – 18 August
Hollyhock——sow from 24 February
Hyssop——sow 24 February – 16 August
Kale——sow 24 February – 17 September
Kiwano8 April – 23 August10 May – 24 September31 May – 24 September
Kohlrabi——sow 24 February – 27 September
Leek25 November – 1 June3 February – 10 August24 February – 10 August
Lemon balm——sow 24 February – 19 September
Lettuce——sow 24 February – 2 October
Lisianthusfrom 8 Novemberfrom 3 Februaryfrom 24 February
Lovage——sow from 24 February
Luffa11 May – 17 June22 June – 29 July13 July – 29 July
Marigoldfrom 4 Februaryfrom 18 Marchfrom 8 April
Marjoram23 April – 4 September—13 July – 3 November
Melon25 May – 3 August22 June – 31 August13 July – 31 August
Microgreens——sow 13 June – 14 November
Moringa25 April – 9 September19 June – 3 November10 July – 3 November
Moss rosefrom 6 January—from 24 March
Mustard greens——sow 24 February – 14 October
Napa cabbage13 February – 14 September18 March – 17 October8 April – 17 October
Nasturtiumfrom 8 Februaryfrom 18 Marchfrom 8 April
Okra11 May – 28 August22 June – 9 October13 July – 9 October
Oregano5 December – 25 August3 February – 24 October24 February – 24 October
Pansyfrom 9 Decemberfrom 3 Februaryfrom 24 February
Parsley——sow 24 February – 13 September
Parsnip——sow 24 February – 2 August
Peanut16 May – 24 July22 June – 30 August13 July – 30 August
Peas——sow 24 February – 15 September
Petuniafrom 20 Aprilfrom 22 Junefrom 13 July
Physalis26 March – 21 July10 May – 4 September31 May – 4 September
Pumpkin11 May – 22 June22 June – 3 August13 July – 3 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 3 December—from 24 February
Radish——sow 24 February – 29 October
Sage16 December – 21 August3 February – 9 October24 February – 9 October
Scarlet sagefrom 19 March—from 31 May
Snapdragonfrom 30 Novemberfrom 3 Februaryfrom 24 February
Soybean——sow 13 July – 9 September
Spinach——sow 24 February – 4 October
Stevia22 March – 12 July10 May – 30 August31 May – 30 August
Stock——sow from 24 February
Sunflower——sow from 13 June
Sweet alyssum——sow from 24 February
Sweet Corn29 March – 4 September20 April – 26 September11 May – 26 September
Sweet peafrom 23 Decemberfrom 3 Februaryfrom 24 February
Sweet William——sow from 24 February
Swiss Chard——sow 24 February – 29 September
Thyme——sow 24 February – 10 August
Tomato19 March – 17 June10 May – 8 August31 May – 8 August
Turnip——sow 24 February – 1 October
Watercress——sow 24 February – 12 October
Watermelon25 May – 22 July22 June – 19 August13 July – 19 August
Zinniafrom 15 Mayfrom 19 Junefrom 10 July
Zucchini1 June – 21 August22 June – 11 September13 July – 11 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 Galway

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 22 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 75 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C8 April22 days later
15 °C31 May75 days later
18 °C13 July118 days later

Frost dates near Galway

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Athlone (25 February) and latest in Sligo (8 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Limerick73 km13 March21 November
Athlone76 km25 February26 November
Mullingar117 km19 March23 November
Sligo118 km8 April21 November
Tralee119 km23 March22 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Galway

Within 15 km of Galway OpenStreetMap lists 9 garden centres, 1 plant nursery and 1 farm shop (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Woodie's Garden Centre, 1 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Galway

Frosts in Galway usually come from about 28 November to about 17 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 Galway by month

Average weather in Galway over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. No month averages 20 °C by day; the warmest, July, reaches 18.6 °C. No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 4 °C. About 1354 mm of rain falls in a year, on 199 days; October is the wettest month (141 mm) and May the driest (73 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January8.5410816
February9.34.412217
March10.54.411116
April12.85.77513
May168.67314
June17.611.29617
July18.612.511917
August18.512.814019
September16.710.911117
October13.88.914119
November10.66.112216
December9.25.113618

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 29 October
Crocusby 29 October
Daffodilby 29 October
Garlic29 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 29 October
Helleboreby 29 October
Hyacinthby 29 October
Lilyby 29 October
Ornamental onionby 29 October
Peonyby 29 October
Saffronby 29 October
Snowdropby 29 October
Tulipby 29 October
Wild garlicby 29 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).