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Last and first frost dates in Nelson

New Zealand

In Nelson the last spring frost usually comes around 4 August and the first autumn frost around 21 June, which leaves about 321 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 11 November to 29 February.

Last spring frostaround 4 August
First autumn frostaround 21 June
Frost-free days321 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 Nelson?

The last frost in Nelson usually comes around 4 August: 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 14 July, while corn waits until 28 September. The first autumn frost follows around 21 June, about 321 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha15 June – 12 March25 July – 21 April15 August – 21 April
Ageratumfrom 26 August—from 11 November
Arugula——sow 14 July – 16 May
Basil22 October – 18 April29 November – 26 May20 December – 26 May
Beet——sow 14 July – 21 April
Bell Pepper30 September – 31 December29 November – 29 February20 December – 29 February
Black-eyed Susanfrom 24 May—from 15 August
Bok Choy20 June – 29 April25 July – 3 June15 August – 3 June
Borage——sow 11 August – 26 April
Broad bean——sow 14 July – 12 March
Broccoli——sow 14 July – 5 March
Brussels Sprouts9 May – 1 February23 June – 17 March14 July – 17 March
Busy Lizziefrom 19 May—from 11 August
Cabbage——sow 14 July – 11 February
Calendula——sow from 14 July
Carrot——sow 14 July – 28 March
Cauliflower12 May – 5 March23 June – 16 April14 July – 16 April
Celeriac9 May – 1 January25 July – 18 March15 August – 18 March
Celery9 May – 11 January25 July – 28 March15 August – 28 March
Celosiafrom 18 Septemberfrom 2 Novemberfrom 23 November
Chamomile——sow 14 July – 16 April
Chayote11 June – 25 December7 September – 22 March28 September – 22 March
Chickpea——sow 14 July – 2 March
Chicory29 May – 27 March—14 July – 21 April
Chili Pepper30 September – 6 February29 November – 6 April20 December – 6 April
China asterfrom 8 Octoberfrom 29 Novemberfrom 20 December
Chives——sow 14 July – 7 April
Cilantro——sow 14 July – 17 April
Corn——sow 28 September – 2 March
Corn poppy——sow from 14 July
Cosmosfrom 18 Septemberfrom 2 Novemberfrom 23 November
Cucumber1 November – 8 March29 November – 5 April20 December – 5 April
Daikon——sow 14 July – 14 April
Delphiniumfrom 25 April—from 14 July
Dill——sow 14 July – 27 April
Edging lobeliafrom 23 May—from 15 August
Eggplant30 September – 31 December29 November – 29 February20 December – 29 February
Florence fennel10 June – 12 March25 July – 26 April15 August – 26 April
Foxglovefrom 7 April—from 14 July
Garden sorrel——sow 14 July – 15 April
Green Beans——sow 23 November – 10 March
Hollyhock——sow from 14 July
Hyssop——sow 14 July – 8 March
Kale——sow 14 July – 9 April
Kiwano19 September – 15 March21 October – 16 April11 November – 16 April
Kohlrabi——sow 14 July – 19 April
Leek14 April – 23 December23 June – 2 March14 July – 2 March
Lemon balm——sow 14 July – 11 April
Lettuce——sow 14 July – 24 April
Lisianthusfrom 28 Marchfrom 23 Junefrom 14 July
Lovage——sow from 14 July
Luffa18 October – 8 January29 November – 19 February20 December – 19 February
Marigoldfrom 13 Junefrom 25 Julyfrom 15 August
Marjoram30 September – 27 March—20 December – 26 May
Melon1 November – 24 February29 November – 23 March20 December – 23 March
Microgreens——sow 23 November – 6 June
Moringa23 September – 1 April17 November – 26 May8 December – 26 May
Moss rosefrom 26 May—from 11 August
Mustard greens——sow 14 July – 6 May
Napa cabbage22 June – 6 April25 July – 9 May15 August – 9 May
Nasturtiumfrom 17 Junefrom 25 Julyfrom 15 August
Okra18 October – 20 March29 November – 1 May20 December – 1 May
Oregano24 April – 17 March23 June – 16 May14 July – 16 May
Pansyfrom 28 Aprilfrom 23 Junefrom 14 July
Parsley——sow 14 July – 5 April
Parsnip——sow 14 July – 23 February
Peanut23 October – 14 February29 November – 22 March20 December – 22 March
Peas——sow 14 July – 7 April
Petuniafrom 27 Septemberfrom 29 Novemberfrom 20 December
Physalis6 September – 11 February21 October – 27 March11 November – 27 March
Pumpkin18 October – 13 January29 November – 24 February20 December – 24 February
Purple coneflowerfrom 22 April—from 14 July
Radish——sow 14 July – 21 May
Sage5 May – 13 March23 June – 1 May14 July – 1 May
Scarlet sagefrom 30 August—from 11 November
Snapdragonfrom 19 Aprilfrom 23 Junefrom 14 July
Soybean——sow 20 December – 1 April
Spinach——sow 14 July – 26 April
Stevia2 September – 2 February21 October – 22 March11 November – 22 March
Stock——sow from 14 July
Sunflower——sow from 23 November
Sweet alyssum——sow from 14 July
Sweet Corn7 September – 27 March29 September – 18 April20 October – 18 April
Sweet peafrom 12 Mayfrom 23 Junefrom 14 July
Sweet William——sow from 14 July
Swiss Chard——sow 14 July – 21 April
Thyme——sow 14 July – 2 March
Tomato30 August – 8 January21 October – 29 February11 November – 29 February
Turnip——sow 14 July – 23 April
Watercress——sow 14 July – 4 May
Watermelon1 November – 12 February29 November – 11 March20 December – 11 March
Zinniafrom 13 Octoberfrom 17 Novemberfrom 8 December
Zucchini8 November – 13 March29 November – 3 April20 December – 3 April

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 Nelson

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 11 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 99 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of July—
10 °C15 August11 days later
15 °C11 November99 days later
18 °C20 December138 days later

Frost dates near Nelson

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Blenheim (10 August) and latest in Wellington (17 August).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Blenheim63 km10 August31 May
Wellington125 km17 August—
Palmerston North221 km11 August21 June
New Plymouth254 km——
Christchurch257 km10 August5 June

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Nelson

Within 15 km of Nelson OpenStreetMap lists 1 garden centre, 1 farm-supply shop, 1 plant nursery and 2 markets (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Enhance with Plants, 13 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Nelson

Frosts in Nelson usually come from about 21 June to about 4 August. 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 Nelson by month

Average weather in Nelson over 2016–2025: the warmest month is January. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: December–March (20.7–22.8 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in July, average 5.5 °C. About 1252 mm of rain falls in a year, on 125 days; July is the wettest month (137 mm) and January the driest (84 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January22.814.4849
February22.314.1947
March20.712.6889
April1810.2969
May15.68.312710
June13.46.211011
July12.65.513710
August13.35.510711
September156.99313
October178.910612
November19.211.110913
December21.413.210111

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 May
Crocusby 22 May
Daffodilby 22 May
Garlic22 May – end of June
Grape hyacinthby 22 May
Helleboreby 22 May
Hyacinthby 22 May
Lilyby 22 May
Ornamental onionby 22 May
Peonyby 22 May
Saffronby 22 May
Snowdropby 22 May
Tulipby 22 May
Wild garlicby 22 May

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).