Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Novara

Italy

In Novara the last spring frost usually comes around 20 March and the first autumn frost around 22 November, which leaves about 247 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 18 April to 2 August.

Last spring frostaround 20 March
First autumn frostaround 22 November
Frost-free days247 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 Novara?

The last frost in Novara usually comes around 20 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 27 February, while corn waits until 3 April. The first autumn frost follows around 22 November, about 247 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha25 January – 14 August6 March – 23 September27 March – 23 September
Ageratumfrom 31 January—from 18 April
Arugula——sow 27 February – 18 October
Basil25 March – 20 September2 May – 28 October23 May – 28 October
Beet——sow 27 February – 23 September
Bell Pepper3 March – 3 June2 May – 2 August23 May – 2 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 3 January—from 27 March
Bok Choy30 January – 1 October6 March – 5 November27 March – 5 November
Borage——sow 27 March – 28 September
Broad bean——sow 27 February – 14 August
Broccoli——sow 27 February – 7 August
Brussels Sprouts23 December – 5 July6 February – 19 August27 February – 19 August
Busy Lizziefrom 2 January—from 27 March
Cabbage——sow 27 February – 15 July
Calendula——sow from 27 February
Carrot——sow 27 February – 30 August
Cauliflower26 December – 7 August6 February – 18 September27 February – 18 September
Celeriac19 December – 4 June6 March – 20 August27 March – 20 August
Celery19 December – 14 June6 March – 30 August27 March – 30 August
Celosiafrom 18 Februaryfrom 4 Aprilfrom 25 April
Chamomile——sow 27 February – 18 September
Chayote15 December – 28 May13 March – 24 August3 April – 24 August
Chickpea——sow 27 February – 4 August
Chicory12 January – 29 August—27 February – 23 September
Chili Pepper3 March – 10 July2 May – 8 September23 May – 8 September
China asterfrom 11 Marchfrom 2 Mayfrom 23 May
Chives——sow 27 February – 9 September
Cilantro——sow 27 February – 19 September
Corn——sow 3 April – 4 August
Corn poppy——sow from 27 February
Cosmosfrom 18 Februaryfrom 4 Aprilfrom 25 April
Cucumber4 April – 10 August2 May – 7 September23 May – 7 September
Daikon——sow 27 February – 16 September
Delphiniumfrom 9 December—from 27 February
Dill——sow 27 February – 29 September
Edging lobeliafrom 2 January—from 27 March
Eggplant3 March – 3 June2 May – 2 August23 May – 2 August
Florence fennel20 January – 14 August6 March – 28 September27 March – 28 September
Foxglovefrom 21 November—from 27 February
Garden sorrel——sow 27 February – 17 September
Green Beans——sow 25 April – 12 August
Hollyhock——sow from 27 February
Hyssop——sow 27 February – 10 August
Kale——sow 27 February – 11 September
Kiwano24 February – 17 August28 March – 18 September18 April – 18 September
Kohlrabi——sow 27 February – 21 September
Leek28 November – 26 May6 February – 4 August27 February – 4 August
Lemon balm——sow 27 February – 13 September
Lettuce——sow 27 February – 26 September
Lisianthusfrom 11 Novemberfrom 6 Februaryfrom 27 February
Lovage——sow from 27 February
Luffa21 March – 11 June2 May – 23 July23 May – 23 July
Marigoldfrom 23 Januaryfrom 6 Marchfrom 27 March
Marjoram3 March – 29 August—23 May – 28 October
Melon4 April – 28 July2 May – 25 August23 May – 25 August
Microgreens——sow 25 April – 8 November
Moringa18 March – 3 September12 May – 28 October2 June – 28 October
Moss rosefrom 9 January—from 27 March
Mustard greens——sow 27 February – 8 October
Napa cabbage1 February – 8 September6 March – 11 October27 March – 11 October
Nasturtiumfrom 27 Januaryfrom 6 Marchfrom 27 March
Okra21 March – 22 August2 May – 3 October23 May – 3 October
Oregano8 December – 19 August6 February – 18 October27 February – 18 October
Pansyfrom 12 Decemberfrom 6 Februaryfrom 27 February
Parsley——sow 27 February – 7 September
Parsnip——sow 27 February – 27 July
Peanut26 March – 18 July2 May – 24 August23 May – 24 August
Peas——sow 27 February – 9 September
Petuniafrom 28 Februaryfrom 2 Mayfrom 23 May
Physalis11 February – 15 July28 March – 29 August18 April – 29 August
Pumpkin21 March – 16 June2 May – 28 July23 May – 28 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 6 December—from 27 February
Radish——sow 27 February – 23 October
Sage19 December – 15 August6 February – 3 October27 February – 3 October
Scarlet sagefrom 4 February—from 18 April
Snapdragonfrom 3 Decemberfrom 6 Februaryfrom 27 February
Soybean——sow 23 May – 3 September
Spinach——sow 27 February – 28 September
Stevia7 February – 6 July28 March – 24 August18 April – 24 August
Stock——sow from 27 February
Sunflower——sow from 25 April
Sweet alyssum——sow from 27 February
Sweet Corn26 February – 29 August20 March – 20 September10 April – 20 September
Sweet peafrom 26 Decemberfrom 6 Februaryfrom 27 February
Sweet William——sow from 27 February
Swiss Chard——sow 27 February – 23 September
Thyme——sow 27 February – 4 August
Tomato4 February – 11 June28 March – 2 August18 April – 2 August
Turnip——sow 27 February – 25 September
Watercress——sow 27 February – 6 October
Watermelon4 April – 16 July2 May – 13 August23 May – 13 August
Zinniafrom 7 Aprilfrom 12 Mayfrom 2 June
Zucchini11 April – 15 August2 May – 5 September23 May – 5 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 Novara

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 3 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 29 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C4 February44 days earlier
10 °C23 March3 days later
15 °C18 April29 days later
18 °C23 May64 days later

Frost dates near Novara

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Busto Arsizio (27 February) and latest in Locarno (23 May).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Busto Arsizio25 km27 February29 November
Milan44 km28 February30 November
Como54 km15 March23 November
Lugano66 km11 March5 December
Locarno81 km23 May22 September

What to grow at home in winter in Novara

Frosts in Novara usually come from about 22 November to about 20 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 Novara by month

Average weather in Novara over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: May–September (21.3–28.5 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in January (-1.5 °C) and December (-0.5 °C). About 1445 mm of rain falls in a year, on 133 days; May is the wettest month (178 mm) and January the driest (50 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January7.8-1.5507
February10.60.6698
March14.13.21009
April187.411111
May21.311.717817
June26.716.814514
July28.518.614614
August28.318.615712
September23.514.512711
October18.51017412
November123.812411
December8.2-0.5647

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 23 October
Crocus23 October – end of December
Daffodil23 October – end of December
Garlic23 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 23 October
Helleboreby 23 October
Hyacinth23 October – end of December
Lilyby 23 October
Ornamental onionby 23 October
Peonyby 23 October
Saffronby 23 October
Snowdropby 23 October
Tulip23 October – end of December
Wild garlicby 23 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).