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Last and first frost dates in Plymouth

United Kingdom

In Plymouth the last spring frost usually comes around 1 March and the first autumn frost around 1 December, which leaves about 275 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 21 June to 11 August.

Last spring frostaround 1 March
First autumn frostaround 1 December
Frost-free days275 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 Plymouth?

The last frost in Plymouth usually comes around 1 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 8 February, while corn waits until 17 May. The first autumn frost follows around 1 December, about 275 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha6 January – 23 August15 February – 2 October8 March – 2 October
Ageratumfrom 5 April—from 21 June
Arugula——sow 8 February – 27 October
Basil19 May – 29 September26 June – 6 November17 July – 6 November
Beet——sow 8 February – 2 October
Bell Pepper27 April – 12 June26 June – 11 August17 July – 11 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 15 December—from 8 March
Bok Choy11 January – 10 October15 February – 14 November8 March – 14 November
Borage——sow 8 March – 7 October
Broad bean——sow 8 February – 23 August
Broccoli——sow 8 February – 16 August
Brussels Sprouts4 December – 14 July18 January – 28 August8 February – 28 August
Busy Lizziefrom 14 December—from 8 March
Cabbage——sow 8 February – 24 July
Calendula——sow from 8 February
Carrot——sow 8 February – 8 September
Cauliflower7 December – 16 August18 January – 27 September8 February – 27 September
Celeriac30 November – 13 June15 February – 29 August8 March – 29 August
Celery30 November – 23 June15 February – 8 September8 March – 8 September
Celosiafrom 6 Mayfrom 20 Junefrom 11 July
Chamomile——sow 8 February – 27 September
Chayote28 January – 6 June26 April – 2 September17 May – 2 September
Chickpea——sow 8 February – 13 August
Chicory24 December – 7 September—8 February – 2 October
Chili Pepper27 April – 19 July26 June – 17 September17 July – 17 September
China asterfrom 5 Mayfrom 26 Junefrom 17 July
Chives——sow 8 February – 18 September
Cilantro——sow 8 February – 28 September
Corn——sow 17 May – 13 August
Corn poppy——sow from 8 February
Cosmosfrom 6 Mayfrom 20 Junefrom 11 July
Cucumber29 May – 19 August26 June – 16 September17 July – 16 September
Daikon——sow 8 February – 25 September
Delphiniumfrom 20 November—from 8 February
Dill——sow 8 February – 8 October
Edging lobeliafrom 14 December—from 8 March
Eggplant27 April – 12 June26 June – 11 August17 July – 11 August
Florence fennel1 January – 23 August15 February – 7 October8 March – 7 October
Foxglovefrom 2 November—from 8 February
Garden sorrel——sow 8 February – 26 September
Green Beans——sow 11 July – 21 August
Hollyhock——sow from 8 February
Hyssop——sow 8 February – 19 August
Kale——sow 8 February – 20 September
Kiwano29 April – 26 August31 May – 27 September21 June – 27 September
Kohlrabi——sow 8 February – 30 September
Leek9 November – 4 June18 January – 13 August8 February – 13 August
Lemon balm——sow 8 February – 22 September
Lettuce——sow 8 February – 5 October
Lisianthusfrom 23 Octoberfrom 18 Januaryfrom 8 February
Lovage——sow from 8 February
Luffa15 May – 20 June26 June – 1 August17 July – 1 August
Marigoldfrom 4 Januaryfrom 15 Februaryfrom 8 March
Marjoram27 April – 7 September—17 July – 6 November
Melon29 May – 6 August26 June – 3 September17 July – 3 September
Microgreens——sow 11 July – 17 November
Moringa7 May – 12 September1 July – 6 November22 July – 6 November
Moss rosefrom 21 December—from 8 March
Mustard greens——sow 8 February – 17 October
Napa cabbage13 January – 17 September15 February – 20 October8 March – 20 October
Nasturtiumfrom 8 Januaryfrom 15 Februaryfrom 8 March
Okra15 May – 31 August26 June – 12 October17 July – 12 October
Oregano19 November – 28 August18 January – 27 October8 February – 27 October
Pansyfrom 23 Novemberfrom 18 Januaryfrom 8 February
Parsley——sow 8 February – 16 September
Parsnip——sow 8 February – 5 August
Peanut20 May – 27 July26 June – 2 September17 July – 2 September
Peas——sow 8 February – 18 September
Petuniafrom 24 Aprilfrom 26 Junefrom 17 July
Physalis16 April – 24 July31 May – 7 September21 June – 7 September
Pumpkin15 May – 25 June26 June – 6 August17 July – 6 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 17 November—from 8 February
Radish——sow 8 February – 1 November
Sage30 November – 24 August18 January – 12 October8 February – 12 October
Scarlet sagefrom 9 April—from 21 June
Snapdragonfrom 14 Novemberfrom 18 Januaryfrom 8 February
Soybean——sow 17 July – 12 September
Spinach——sow 8 February – 7 October
Stevia12 April – 15 July31 May – 2 September21 June – 2 September
Stock——sow from 8 February
Sunflower——sow from 11 July
Sweet alyssum——sow from 8 February
Sweet Corn15 April – 7 September7 May – 29 September28 May – 29 September
Sweet peafrom 7 Decemberfrom 18 Januaryfrom 8 February
Sweet William——sow from 8 February
Swiss Chard——sow 8 February – 2 October
Thyme——sow 8 February – 13 August
Tomato9 April – 20 June31 May – 11 August21 June – 11 August
Turnip——sow 8 February – 4 October
Watercress——sow 8 February – 15 October
Watermelon29 May – 25 July26 June – 22 August17 July – 22 August
Zinniafrom 27 Mayfrom 1 Julyfrom 22 July
Zucchini5 June – 24 August26 June – 14 September17 July – 14 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 Plymouth

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo).

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °Calready in the first week of January—
15 °C21 June112 days later
18 °C17 July138 days later

Frost dates near Plymouth

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Swansea (28 February) and latest in Bristol (11 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Exeter58 km3 April27 November
Swansea140 km28 February1 December
Cardiff141 km25 March22 November
Bristol162 km11 April22 November
Southampton202 km4 April23 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Plymouth

Within 15 km of Plymouth OpenStreetMap lists 8 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 5 markets and 2 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Plymouth Garden Centre, 4 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Plymouth

Frosts in Plymouth usually come from about 1 December to about 1 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 Plymouth by month

Average weather in Plymouth over 2016–2025: the warmest month is August. No month averages 20 °C by day; the warmest, August, reaches 18 °C. No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 7.1 °C. About 1103 mm of rain falls in a year, on 158 days; November is the wettest month (141 mm) and July the driest (54 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January9.97.111116
February9.87.39514
March10.17.49515
April11.28.45610
May13.610.95610
June16.113.66010
July17.915.3549
August1815.76410
September17.114.59313
October15.112.714016
November12.61014117
December11.28.813818

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 1 November
Crocusby 1 November
Daffodilby 1 November
Garlic1 November – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 1 November
Helleboreby 1 November
Hyacinthby 1 November
Lilyby 1 November
Ornamental onionby 1 November
Peonyby 1 November
Saffronby 1 November
Snowdropby 1 November
Tulipby 1 November
Wild garlicby 1 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).