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Last and first frost dates in Palermo

Italy

In Palermo the last spring frost usually comes around 23 February and the first autumn frost around 23 December, which leaves about 303 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 13 May to 2 September.

Last spring frostaround 23 February
First autumn frostaround 23 December
Frost-free days303 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 Palermo?

The last frost in Palermo usually comes around 23 February: 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 2 February, while corn waits until 19 April. The first autumn frost follows around 23 December, about 303 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha28 January – 14 September9 March – 24 October30 March – 24 October
Ageratumfrom 25 February—from 13 May
Arugula——sow 2 February – 18 November
Basil30 March – 21 October7 May – 28 November28 May – 28 November
Beet——sow 2 February – 24 October
Bell Pepper8 March – 4 July7 May – 2 September28 May – 2 September
Black-eyed Susanfrom 6 January—from 30 March
Bok Choy2 February – 1 November9 March – 6 December30 March – 6 December
Borage——sow 2 March – 29 October
Broad bean——sow 2 February – 14 September
Broccoli——sow 2 February – 7 September
Brussels Sprouts28 November – 5 August12 January – 19 September2 February – 19 September
Busy Lizziefrom 8 December—from 2 March
Cabbage——sow 2 February – 15 August
Calendula——sow from 2 February
Carrot——sow 2 February – 30 September
Cauliflower1 December – 7 September12 January – 19 October2 February – 19 October
Celeriac22 December – 5 July9 March – 20 September30 March – 20 September
Celery22 December – 15 July9 March – 30 September30 March – 30 September
Celosiafrom 16 Marchfrom 30 Aprilfrom 21 May
Chamomile——sow 2 February – 19 October
Chayote31 December – 28 June29 March – 24 September19 April – 24 September
Chickpea——sow 2 February – 4 September
Chicory18 December – 29 September—2 February – 24 October
Chili Pepper8 March – 10 August7 May – 9 October28 May – 9 October
China asterfrom 16 Marchfrom 7 Mayfrom 28 May
Chives——sow 2 February – 10 October
Cilantro——sow 2 February – 20 October
Corn——sow 19 April – 4 September
Corn poppy——sow from 2 February
Cosmosfrom 16 Marchfrom 30 Aprilfrom 21 May
Cucumber9 April – 10 September7 May – 8 October28 May – 8 October
Daikon——sow 2 February – 17 October
Delphiniumfrom 14 November—from 2 February
Dill——sow 2 February – 30 October
Edging lobeliafrom 5 January—from 30 March
Eggplant8 March – 4 July7 May – 2 September28 May – 2 September
Florence fennel23 January – 14 September9 March – 29 October30 March – 29 October
Foxglovefrom 27 October—from 2 February
Garden sorrel——sow 2 February – 18 October
Green Beans——sow 21 May – 12 September
Hollyhock——sow from 2 February
Hyssop——sow 2 February – 10 September
Kale——sow 2 February – 12 October
Kiwano21 March – 17 September22 April – 19 October13 May – 19 October
Kohlrabi——sow 2 February – 22 October
Leek3 November – 26 June12 January – 4 September2 February – 4 September
Lemon balm——sow 2 February – 14 October
Lettuce——sow 2 February – 27 October
Lisianthusfrom 17 Octoberfrom 12 Januaryfrom 2 February
Lovage——sow from 2 February
Luffa26 March – 12 July7 May – 23 August28 May – 23 August
Marigoldfrom 26 Januaryfrom 9 Marchfrom 30 March
Marjoram8 March – 29 September—28 May – 28 November
Melon9 April – 28 August7 May – 25 September28 May – 25 September
Microgreens——sow 21 May – 9 December
Moringa19 March – 4 October13 May – 28 November3 June – 28 November
Moss rosefrom 15 December—from 2 March
Mustard greens——sow 2 February – 8 November
Napa cabbage4 February – 9 October9 March – 11 November30 March – 11 November
Nasturtiumfrom 30 Januaryfrom 9 Marchfrom 30 March
Okra26 March – 22 September7 May – 3 November28 May – 3 November
Oregano13 November – 19 September12 January – 18 November2 February – 18 November
Pansyfrom 17 Novemberfrom 12 Januaryfrom 2 February
Parsley——sow 2 February – 8 October
Parsnip——sow 2 February – 27 August
Peanut31 March – 18 August7 May – 24 September28 May – 24 September
Peas——sow 2 February – 10 October
Petuniafrom 5 Marchfrom 7 Mayfrom 28 May
Physalis8 March – 15 August22 April – 29 September13 May – 29 September
Pumpkin26 March – 17 July7 May – 28 August28 May – 28 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 11 November—from 2 February
Radish——sow 2 February – 23 November
Sage24 November – 15 September12 January – 3 November2 February – 3 November
Scarlet sagefrom 1 March—from 13 May
Snapdragonfrom 8 Novemberfrom 12 Januaryfrom 2 February
Soybean——sow 28 May – 4 October
Spinach——sow 2 February – 29 October
Stevia4 March – 6 August22 April – 24 September13 May – 24 September
Stock——sow from 2 February
Sunflower——sow from 21 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 2 February
Sweet Corn16 March – 29 September7 April – 21 October28 April – 21 October
Sweet peafrom 1 Decemberfrom 12 Januaryfrom 2 February
Sweet William——sow from 2 February
Swiss Chard——sow 2 February – 24 October
Thyme——sow 2 February – 4 September
Tomato1 March – 12 July22 April – 2 September13 May – 2 September
Turnip——sow 2 February – 26 October
Watercress——sow 2 February – 6 November
Watermelon9 April – 16 August7 May – 13 September28 May – 13 September
Zinniafrom 8 Aprilfrom 13 Mayfrom 3 June
Zucchini16 April – 15 September7 May – 6 October28 May – 6 October

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 Palermo

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 35 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 79 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C30 March35 days later
15 °C13 May79 days later
18 °C28 May94 days later

Frost dates near Palermo

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Messina (25 January) and latest in Cosenza (10 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Catania167 km26 January—
Messina192 km25 January—
Reggio Calabria200 km27 February19 December
Syracuse206 km——
Cosenza283 km10 April30 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Palermo

Within 15 km of Palermo OpenStreetMap lists 11 garden centres, 3 plant nurseries, 12 markets and 1 farm shop (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Vivai Lo Porto, 3 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Palermo

Frosts in Palermo usually come from about 23 December to about 23 February. 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 Palermo by month

Average weather in Palermo over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: June–September (23–28.3 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 1.8 °C. About 778 mm of rain falls in a year, on 121 days; November is the wettest month (99 mm) and July the driest (9 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January8.31.87713
February9.82.38010
March11.53.59013
April14.966011
May18.89.57710
June25.115345
July28.317.693
August27.417.3277
September2314.36312
October18.710.78011
November13.56.99914
December9.93.68212

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

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).