Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Rafaela

Argentina

In Rafaela the last spring frost usually comes around 17 July and the first autumn frost around 17 June, which leaves about 335 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 30 July to 25 February.

Last spring frostaround 17 July
First autumn frostaround 17 June
Frost-free days335 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 Rafaela?

The last frost in Rafaela usually comes around 17 July: 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 26 June, while corn waits until 24 July. The first autumn frost follows around 17 June, about 335 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha24 May – 8 March3 July – 17 April24 July – 17 April
Ageratumfrom 14 May—from 30 July
Arugula——sow 26 June – 12 May
Basil10 July – 14 April17 August – 22 May7 September – 22 May
Beet——sow 26 June – 17 April
Bell Pepper18 June – 27 December17 August – 25 February7 September – 25 February
Black-eyed Susanfrom 2 May—from 24 July
Bok Choy29 May – 25 April3 July – 30 May24 July – 30 May
Borage——sow 24 July – 22 April
Broad bean——sow 26 June – 8 March
Broccoli——sow 26 June – 1 March
Brussels Sprouts21 April – 28 January5 June – 13 March26 June – 13 March
Busy Lizziefrom 1 May—from 24 July
Cabbage——sow 26 June – 7 February
Calendula——sow from 26 June
Carrot——sow 26 June – 24 March
Cauliflower24 April – 1 March5 June – 12 April26 June – 12 April
Celeriac17 April – 28 December3 July – 14 March24 July – 14 March
Celery17 April – 7 January3 July – 24 March24 July – 24 March
Celosiafrom 8 Junefrom 23 Julyfrom 13 August
Chamomile——sow 26 June – 12 April
Chayote6 April – 21 December3 July – 18 March24 July – 18 March
Chickpea——sow 26 June – 27 February
Chicory11 May – 23 March—26 June – 17 April
Chili Pepper18 June – 2 February17 August – 2 April7 September – 2 April
China asterfrom 26 Junefrom 17 Augustfrom 7 September
Chives——sow 26 June – 3 April
Cilantro——sow 26 June – 13 April
Corn——sow 24 July – 27 February
Corn poppy——sow from 26 June
Cosmosfrom 8 Junefrom 23 Julyfrom 13 August
Cucumber20 July – 4 March17 August – 1 April7 September – 1 April
Daikon——sow 26 June – 10 April
Delphiniumfrom 7 April—from 26 June
Dill——sow 26 June – 23 April
Edging lobeliafrom 1 May—from 24 July
Eggplant18 June – 27 December17 August – 25 February7 September – 25 February
Florence fennel19 May – 8 March3 July – 22 April24 July – 22 April
Foxglovefrom 20 March—from 26 June
Garden sorrel——sow 26 June – 11 April
Green Beans——sow 13 August – 6 March
Hollyhock——sow from 26 June
Hyssop——sow 26 June – 4 March
Kale——sow 26 June – 5 April
Kiwano7 June – 11 March9 July – 12 April30 July – 12 April
Kohlrabi——sow 26 June – 15 April
Leek27 March – 19 December5 June – 27 February26 June – 27 February
Lemon balm——sow 26 June – 7 April
Lettuce——sow 26 June – 20 April
Lisianthusfrom 10 Marchfrom 5 Junefrom 26 June
Lovage——sow from 26 June
Luffa6 July – 4 January17 August – 15 February7 September – 15 February
Marigoldfrom 22 Mayfrom 3 Julyfrom 24 July
Marjoram18 June – 23 March—7 September – 22 May
Melon20 July – 20 February17 August – 19 March7 September – 19 March
Microgreens——sow 13 August – 2 June
Moringa18 July – 28 March11 September – 22 May2 October – 22 May
Moss rosefrom 8 May—from 24 July
Mustard greens——sow 26 June – 2 May
Napa cabbage31 May – 2 April3 July – 5 May24 July – 5 May
Nasturtiumfrom 26 Mayfrom 3 Julyfrom 24 July
Okra6 July – 16 March17 August – 27 April7 September – 27 April
Oregano6 April – 13 March5 June – 12 May26 June – 12 May
Pansyfrom 10 Aprilfrom 5 Junefrom 26 June
Parsley——sow 26 June – 1 April
Parsnip——sow 26 June – 19 February
Peanut11 July – 10 February17 August – 18 March7 September – 18 March
Peas——sow 26 June – 3 April
Petuniafrom 15 Junefrom 17 Augustfrom 7 September
Physalis25 May – 7 February9 July – 23 March30 July – 23 March
Pumpkin6 July – 9 January17 August – 20 February7 September – 20 February
Purple coneflowerfrom 4 April—from 26 June
Radish——sow 26 June – 17 May
Sage17 April – 9 March5 June – 27 April26 June – 27 April
Scarlet sagefrom 18 May—from 30 July
Snapdragonfrom 1 Aprilfrom 5 Junefrom 26 June
Soybean——sow 7 September – 28 March
Spinach——sow 26 June – 22 April
Stevia21 May – 29 January9 July – 18 March30 July – 18 March
Stock——sow from 26 June
Sunflower——sow from 13 August
Sweet alyssum——sow from 26 June
Sweet Corn11 June – 23 March3 July – 14 April24 July – 14 April
Sweet peafrom 24 Aprilfrom 5 Junefrom 26 June
Sweet William——sow from 26 June
Swiss Chard——sow 26 June – 17 April
Thyme——sow 26 June – 27 February
Tomato18 May – 4 January9 July – 25 February30 July – 25 February
Turnip——sow 26 June – 19 April
Watercress——sow 26 June – 30 April
Watermelon20 July – 8 February17 August – 7 March7 September – 7 March
Zinniafrom 7 Augustfrom 11 Septemberfrom 2 October
Zucchini27 July – 9 March17 August – 30 March7 September – 30 March

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 Rafaela

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 July—
10 °Calready in the first week of July—
15 °C30 July13 days later
18 °C7 September52 days later

Frost dates near Rafaela

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Santa Fe (1 July) and latest in Villa Maria (29 July).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
San Francisco (Argentina)59 km29 July25 June
Santa Fe86 km1 July—
Paraná106 km8 July—
Rosario205 km16 July15 June
Villa Maria210 km29 July21 June

What to grow at home in winter in Rafaela

Frosts in Rafaela usually come from about 17 June to about 17 July. 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 Rafaela by month

Average weather in Rafaela over 2016–2025: the warmest month is January. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: August–April (20.1–31.1 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: January (31.1 °C), February (30.1 °C) and December (30.1 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in July, average 7.7 °C. About 933 mm of rain falls in a year, on 85 days; November is the wettest month (116 mm) and June the driest (25 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January31.120.91109
February30.119.91058
March27.518.111210
April23.514.91049
May19.511747
June17.18.1254
July177.7365
August20.18.9304
September23.111.4435
October25.614.2778
November28.4171168
December30.1191018

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 18 May
Crocusby 18 May
Daffodilby 18 May
Garlicby 18 May
Grape hyacinthby 18 May
Helleboreby 18 May
Hyacinthby 18 May
Lilyby 18 May
Ornamental onionby 18 May
Peonyby 18 May
Saffronby 18 May
Snowdropby 18 May
Tulipby 18 May
Wild garlicby 18 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).