Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Lille

France

In Lille the last spring frost usually comes around 8 April and the first autumn frost around 21 November, which leaves about 227 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 16 May to 1 August.

Last spring frostaround 8 April
First autumn frostaround 21 November
Frost-free days227 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 Lille?

The last frost in Lille usually comes around 8 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 18 March, while corn waits until 20 April. The first autumn frost follows around 21 November, about 227 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 – 13 August25 March – 22 September15 April – 22 September
Ageratumfrom 28 February—from 16 May
Arugula——sow 18 March – 17 October
Basil13 April – 19 September21 May – 27 October11 June – 27 October
Beet——sow 18 March – 22 September
Bell Pepper22 March – 2 June21 May – 1 August11 June – 1 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 22 January—from 15 April
Bok Choy18 February – 30 September25 March – 4 November15 April – 4 November
Borage——sow 15 April – 27 September
Broad bean——sow 18 March – 13 August
Broccoli——sow 18 March – 6 August
Brussels Sprouts11 January – 4 July25 February – 18 August18 March – 18 August
Busy Lizziefrom 21 January—from 15 April
Cabbage——sow 18 March – 14 July
Calendula——sow from 18 March
Carrot——sow 18 March – 29 August
Cauliflower14 January – 6 August25 February – 17 September18 March – 17 September
Celeriac7 January – 3 June25 March – 19 August15 April – 19 August
Celery7 January – 13 June25 March – 29 August15 April – 29 August
Celosiafrom 18 Marchfrom 2 Mayfrom 23 May
Chamomile——sow 18 March – 17 September
Chayote1 January – 27 May30 March – 23 August20 April – 23 August
Chickpea——sow 18 March – 3 August
Chicory31 January – 28 August—18 March – 22 September
Chili Pepper22 March – 9 July21 May – 7 September11 June – 7 September
China asterfrom 30 Marchfrom 21 Mayfrom 11 June
Chives——sow 18 March – 8 September
Cilantro——sow 18 March – 18 September
Corn——sow 20 April – 3 August
Corn poppy——sow from 18 March
Cosmosfrom 18 Marchfrom 2 Mayfrom 23 May
Cucumber23 April – 9 August21 May – 6 September11 June – 6 September
Daikon——sow 18 March – 15 September
Delphiniumfrom 28 December—from 18 March
Dill——sow 18 March – 28 September
Edging lobeliafrom 21 January—from 15 April
Eggplant22 March – 2 June21 May – 1 August11 June – 1 August
Florence fennel8 February – 13 August25 March – 27 September15 April – 27 September
Foxglovefrom 10 December—from 18 March
Garden sorrel——sow 18 March – 16 September
Green Beans——sow 23 May – 11 August
Hollyhock——sow from 18 March
Hyssop——sow 18 March – 9 August
Kale——sow 18 March – 10 September
Kiwano24 March – 16 August25 April – 17 September16 May – 17 September
Kohlrabi——sow 18 March – 20 September
Leek17 December – 25 May25 February – 3 August18 March – 3 August
Lemon balm——sow 18 March – 12 September
Lettuce——sow 18 March – 25 September
Lisianthusfrom 30 Novemberfrom 25 Februaryfrom 18 March
Lovage——sow from 18 March
Luffa9 April – 10 June21 May – 22 July11 June – 22 July
Marigoldfrom 11 Februaryfrom 25 Marchfrom 15 April
Marjoram22 March – 28 August—11 June – 27 October
Melon23 April – 27 July21 May – 24 August11 June – 24 August
Microgreens——sow 23 May – 7 November
Moringa6 April – 2 September31 May – 27 October21 June – 27 October
Moss rosefrom 28 January—from 15 April
Mustard greens——sow 18 March – 7 October
Napa cabbage20 February – 7 September25 March – 10 October15 April – 10 October
Nasturtiumfrom 15 Februaryfrom 25 Marchfrom 15 April
Okra9 April – 21 August21 May – 2 October11 June – 2 October
Oregano27 December – 18 August25 February – 17 October18 March – 17 October
Pansyfrom 31 Decemberfrom 25 Februaryfrom 18 March
Parsley——sow 18 March – 6 September
Parsnip——sow 18 March – 26 July
Peanut14 April – 17 July21 May – 23 August11 June – 23 August
Peas——sow 18 March – 8 September
Petuniafrom 19 Marchfrom 21 Mayfrom 11 June
Physalis11 March – 14 July25 April – 28 August16 May – 28 August
Pumpkin9 April – 15 June21 May – 27 July11 June – 27 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 25 December—from 18 March
Radish——sow 18 March – 22 October
Sage7 January – 14 August25 February – 2 October18 March – 2 October
Scarlet sagefrom 4 March—from 16 May
Snapdragonfrom 22 Decemberfrom 25 Februaryfrom 18 March
Soybean——sow 11 June – 2 September
Spinach——sow 18 March – 27 September
Stevia7 March – 5 July25 April – 23 August16 May – 23 August
Stock——sow from 18 March
Sunflower——sow from 23 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 18 March
Sweet Corn14 March – 28 August5 April – 19 September26 April – 19 September
Sweet peafrom 14 Januaryfrom 25 Februaryfrom 18 March
Sweet William——sow from 18 March
Swiss Chard——sow 18 March – 22 September
Thyme——sow 18 March – 3 August
Tomato4 March – 10 June25 April – 1 August16 May – 1 August
Turnip——sow 18 March – 24 September
Watercress——sow 18 March – 5 October
Watermelon23 April – 15 July21 May – 12 August11 June – 12 August
Zinniafrom 26 Aprilfrom 31 Mayfrom 21 June
Zucchini30 April – 14 August21 May – 4 September11 June – 4 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 Lille

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 5 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 38 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C3 April5 days earlier
15 °C16 May38 days later
18 °C11 June64 days later

Frost dates near Lille

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Bruges (27 March) and latest in Ghent (12 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Kortrijk26 km4 April22 November
Bruges65 km27 March30 November
Ghent66 km12 April24 November
Mons66 km10 April19 November
Ostend66 km3 April1 December

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Lille

Within 15 km of Lille OpenStreetMap lists 14 garden centres, 3 farm-supply shops, 4 plant nurseries, 20 markets and 33 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Botanic, 6 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Lille

Frosts in Lille usually come from about 21 November to about 8 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 Lille by month

Average weather in Lille over 2016–2025: the warmest month is August. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: June–September (20.5–23.3 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 1.3 °C. About 775 mm of rain falls in a year, on 139 days; January is the wettest month (80 mm) and April the driest (45 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January6.71.38014
February8.92.45912
March11.33.36413
April14.54.94510
May18.48.66011
June22.112.56411
July23.113.85410
August23.314.36111
September20.511.96010
October169.28012
November10.557412
December8.137413

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 22 October
Crocus22 October – end of December
Daffodil22 October – end of December
Garlic22 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 22 October
Helleboreby 22 October
Hyacinth22 October – end of December
Lilyby 22 October
Ornamental onionby 22 October
Peonyby 22 October
Saffronby 22 October
Snowdropby 22 October
Tulip22 October – end of December
Wild garlicby 22 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).