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Last and first frost dates in Ipswich

United Kingdom

In Ipswich the last spring frost usually comes around 15 March and the first autumn frost around 29 November, which leaves about 259 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 25 May to 9 August.

Last spring frostaround 15 March
First autumn frostaround 29 November
Frost-free days259 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 Ipswich?

The last frost in Ipswich usually comes around 15 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 22 February, while corn waits until 26 April. The first autumn frost follows around 29 November, about 259 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 – 21 August25 March – 30 September15 April – 30 September
Ageratumfrom 9 March—from 25 May
Arugula——sow 22 February – 25 October
Basil16 April – 27 September24 May – 4 November14 June – 4 November
Beet——sow 22 February – 30 September
Bell Pepper25 March – 10 June24 May – 9 August14 June – 9 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 22 January—from 15 April
Bok Choy18 February – 8 October25 March – 12 November15 April – 12 November
Borage——sow 22 March – 5 October
Broad bean——sow 22 February – 21 August
Broccoli——sow 22 February – 14 August
Brussels Sprouts18 December – 12 July1 February – 26 August22 February – 26 August
Busy Lizziefrom 28 December—from 22 March
Cabbage——sow 22 February – 22 July
Calendula——sow from 22 February
Carrot——sow 22 February – 6 September
Cauliflower21 December – 14 August1 February – 25 September22 February – 25 September
Celeriac7 January – 11 June25 March – 27 August15 April – 27 August
Celery7 January – 21 June25 March – 6 September15 April – 6 September
Celosiafrom 24 Marchfrom 8 Mayfrom 29 May
Chamomile——sow 22 February – 25 September
Chayote7 January – 4 June5 April – 31 August26 April – 31 August
Chickpea——sow 22 February – 11 August
Chicory7 January – 5 September—22 February – 30 September
Chili Pepper25 March – 17 July24 May – 15 September14 June – 15 September
China asterfrom 2 Aprilfrom 24 Mayfrom 14 June
Chives——sow 22 February – 16 September
Cilantro——sow 22 February – 26 September
Corn——sow 26 April – 11 August
Corn poppy——sow from 22 February
Cosmosfrom 24 Marchfrom 8 Mayfrom 29 May
Cucumber26 April – 17 August24 May – 14 September14 June – 14 September
Daikon——sow 22 February – 23 September
Delphiniumfrom 4 December—from 22 February
Dill——sow 22 February – 6 October
Edging lobeliafrom 21 January—from 15 April
Eggplant25 March – 10 June24 May – 9 August14 June – 9 August
Florence fennel8 February – 21 August25 March – 5 October15 April – 5 October
Foxglovefrom 16 November—from 22 February
Garden sorrel——sow 22 February – 24 September
Green Beans——sow 29 May – 19 August
Hollyhock——sow from 22 February
Hyssop——sow 22 February – 17 August
Kale——sow 22 February – 18 September
Kiwano2 April – 24 August4 May – 25 September25 May – 25 September
Kohlrabi——sow 22 February – 28 September
Leek23 November – 2 June1 February – 11 August22 February – 11 August
Lemon balm——sow 22 February – 20 September
Lettuce——sow 22 February – 3 October
Lisianthusfrom 6 Novemberfrom 1 Februaryfrom 22 February
Lovage——sow from 22 February
Luffa12 April – 18 June24 May – 30 July14 June – 30 July
Marigoldfrom 11 Februaryfrom 25 Marchfrom 15 April
Marjoram25 March – 5 September—14 June – 4 November
Melon26 April – 4 August24 May – 1 September14 June – 1 September
Microgreens——sow 29 May – 15 November
Moringa14 April – 10 September8 June – 4 November29 June – 4 November
Moss rosefrom 4 January—from 22 March
Mustard greens——sow 22 February – 15 October
Napa cabbage20 February – 15 September25 March – 18 October15 April – 18 October
Nasturtiumfrom 15 Februaryfrom 25 Marchfrom 15 April
Okra12 April – 29 August24 May – 10 October14 June – 10 October
Oregano3 December – 26 August1 February – 25 October22 February – 25 October
Pansyfrom 7 Decemberfrom 1 Februaryfrom 22 February
Parsley——sow 22 February – 14 September
Parsnip——sow 22 February – 3 August
Peanut17 April – 25 July24 May – 31 August14 June – 31 August
Peas——sow 22 February – 16 September
Petuniafrom 22 Marchfrom 24 Mayfrom 14 June
Physalis20 March – 22 July4 May – 5 September25 May – 5 September
Pumpkin12 April – 23 June24 May – 4 August14 June – 4 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 1 December—from 22 February
Radish——sow 22 February – 30 October
Sage14 December – 22 August1 February – 10 October22 February – 10 October
Scarlet sagefrom 13 March—from 25 May
Snapdragonfrom 28 Novemberfrom 1 Februaryfrom 22 February
Soybean——sow 14 June – 10 September
Spinach——sow 22 February – 5 October
Stevia16 March – 13 July4 May – 31 August25 May – 31 August
Stock——sow from 22 February
Sunflower——sow from 29 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 22 February
Sweet Corn26 March – 5 September17 April – 27 September8 May – 27 September
Sweet peafrom 21 Decemberfrom 1 Februaryfrom 22 February
Sweet William——sow from 22 February
Swiss Chard——sow 22 February – 30 September
Thyme——sow 22 February – 11 August
Tomato13 March – 18 June4 May – 9 August25 May – 9 August
Turnip——sow 22 February – 2 October
Watercress——sow 22 February – 13 October
Watermelon26 April – 23 July24 May – 20 August14 June – 20 August
Zinniafrom 4 Mayfrom 8 Junefrom 29 June
Zucchini3 May – 22 August24 May – 12 September14 June – 12 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 Ipswich

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 31 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 71 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C15 April31 days later
15 °C25 May71 days later
18 °C14 June91 days later

Frost dates near Ipswich

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Brighton (8 February) and latest in London (4 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Norwich64 km31 March28 November
Cambridge73 km3 April24 November
London108 km4 April23 November
Ostend154 km3 April1 December
Brighton164 km8 February1 December

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Ipswich

Within 15 km of Ipswich OpenStreetMap lists 8 garden centres, 1 market and 3 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Laurel Farm Garden Centre & Farm Shop, 3 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Ipswich

Frosts in Ipswich usually come from about 29 November to about 15 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 Ipswich by month

Average weather in Ipswich over 2016–2025: the warmest month is August. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: July (21.4 °C) and August (21.6 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 2.3 °C. About 674 mm of rain falls in a year, on 132 days; October is the wettest month (76 mm) and April the driest (37 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January7.42.35611
February8.63.55011
March104.35313
April12.15.73710
May15.994911
June19.412.66010
July21.414.46112
August21.614.65410
September19.112.64910
October15.39.87612
November10.966310
December8.94.56612

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 30 October
Crocus30 October – end of December
Daffodil30 October – end of December
Garlic30 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 30 October
Helleboreby 30 October
Hyacinth30 October – end of December
Lilyby 30 October
Ornamental onionby 30 October
Peonyby 30 October
Saffronby 30 October
Snowdropby 30 October
Tulip30 October – end of December
Wild garlicby 30 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).