Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Stara Zagora

Bulgaria

In Stara Zagora the last spring frost usually comes around 8 April and the first autumn frost around 18 November, which leaves about 224 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 10 May to 29 July.

Last spring frostaround 8 April
First autumn frostaround 18 November
Frost-free days224 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 Stara Zagora?

The last frost in Stara Zagora usually comes around 8 April: 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 18 March, while corn waits until 25 April. The first autumn frost follows around 18 November, about 224 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha13 February – 10 August25 March – 19 September15 April – 19 September
Ageratumfrom 22 February—from 10 May
Arugula——sow 18 March – 14 October
Basil2 April – 16 September10 May – 24 October31 May – 24 October
Beet——sow 18 March – 19 September
Bell Pepper11 March – 30 May10 May – 29 July31 May – 29 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 22 January—from 15 April
Bok Choy18 February – 27 September25 March – 1 November15 April – 1 November
Borage——sow 15 April – 24 September
Broad bean——sow 18 March – 10 August
Broccoli——sow 18 March – 3 August
Brussels Sprouts11 January – 1 July25 February – 15 August18 March – 15 August
Busy Lizziefrom 21 January—from 15 April
Cabbage——sow 18 March – 11 July
Calendula——sow from 18 March
Carrot——sow 18 March – 26 August
Cauliflower14 January – 3 August25 February – 14 September18 March – 14 September
Celeriac7 January – 31 May25 March – 16 August15 April – 16 August
Celery7 January – 10 June25 March – 26 August15 April – 26 August
Celosiafrom 7 Marchfrom 21 Aprilfrom 12 May
Chamomile——sow 18 March – 14 September
Chayote6 January – 24 May4 April – 20 August25 April – 20 August
Chickpea——sow 18 March – 31 July
Chicory31 January – 25 August—18 March – 19 September
Chili Pepper11 March – 6 July10 May – 4 September31 May – 4 September
China asterfrom 19 Marchfrom 10 Mayfrom 31 May
Chives——sow 18 March – 5 September
Cilantro——sow 18 March – 15 September
Corn——sow 25 April – 31 July
Corn poppy——sow from 18 March
Cosmosfrom 7 Marchfrom 21 Aprilfrom 12 May
Cucumber12 April – 6 August10 May – 3 September31 May – 3 September
Daikon——sow 18 March – 12 September
Delphiniumfrom 28 December—from 18 March
Dill——sow 18 March – 25 September
Edging lobeliafrom 21 January—from 15 April
Eggplant11 March – 30 May10 May – 29 July31 May – 29 July
Florence fennel8 February – 10 August25 March – 24 September15 April – 24 September
Foxglovefrom 10 December—from 18 March
Garden sorrel——sow 18 March – 13 September
Green Beans——sow 12 May – 8 August
Hollyhock——sow from 18 March
Hyssop——sow 18 March – 6 August
Kale——sow 18 March – 7 September
Kiwano18 March – 13 August19 April – 14 September10 May – 14 September
Kohlrabi——sow 18 March – 17 September
Leek17 December – 22 May25 February – 31 July18 March – 31 July
Lemon balm——sow 18 March – 9 September
Lettuce——sow 18 March – 22 September
Lisianthusfrom 30 Novemberfrom 25 Februaryfrom 18 March
Lovage——sow from 18 March
Luffa29 March – 7 June10 May – 19 July31 May – 19 July
Marigoldfrom 11 Februaryfrom 25 Marchfrom 15 April
Marjoram11 March – 25 August—31 May – 24 October
Melon12 April – 24 July10 May – 21 August31 May – 21 August
Microgreens——sow 12 May – 4 November
Moringa24 March – 30 August18 May – 24 October8 June – 24 October
Moss rosefrom 28 January—from 15 April
Mustard greens——sow 18 March – 4 October
Napa cabbage20 February – 4 September25 March – 7 October15 April – 7 October
Nasturtiumfrom 15 Februaryfrom 25 Marchfrom 15 April
Okra29 March – 18 August10 May – 29 September31 May – 29 September
Oregano27 December – 15 August25 February – 14 October18 March – 14 October
Pansyfrom 31 Decemberfrom 25 Februaryfrom 18 March
Parsley——sow 18 March – 3 September
Parsnip——sow 18 March – 23 July
Peanut3 April – 14 July10 May – 20 August31 May – 20 August
Peas——sow 18 March – 5 September
Petuniafrom 8 Marchfrom 10 Mayfrom 31 May
Physalis5 March – 11 July19 April – 25 August10 May – 25 August
Pumpkin29 March – 12 June10 May – 24 July31 May – 24 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 25 December—from 18 March
Radish——sow 18 March – 19 October
Sage7 January – 11 August25 February – 29 September18 March – 29 September
Scarlet sagefrom 26 February—from 10 May
Snapdragonfrom 22 Decemberfrom 25 Februaryfrom 18 March
Soybean——sow 31 May – 30 August
Spinach——sow 18 March – 24 September
Stevia1 March – 2 July19 April – 20 August10 May – 20 August
Stock——sow from 18 March
Sunflower——sow from 12 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 18 March
Sweet Corn16 March – 25 August7 April – 16 September28 April – 16 September
Sweet peafrom 14 Januaryfrom 25 Februaryfrom 18 March
Sweet William——sow from 18 March
Swiss Chard——sow 18 March – 19 September
Thyme——sow 18 March – 31 July
Tomato26 February – 7 June19 April – 29 July10 May – 29 July
Turnip——sow 18 March – 21 September
Watercress——sow 18 March – 2 October
Watermelon12 April – 12 July10 May – 9 August31 May – 9 August
Zinniafrom 13 Aprilfrom 18 Mayfrom 8 June
Zucchini19 April – 11 August10 May – 1 September31 May – 1 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 Stara Zagora

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 5 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 32 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C3 February64 days earlier
10 °C3 April5 days earlier
15 °C10 May32 days later
18 °C31 May53 days later

Frost dates near Stara Zagora

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Burgas (10 March) and latest in Sofia (12 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Plovdiv80 km26 March27 November
Burgas150 km10 March4 December
Ruse160 km29 March25 November
Sofia192 km12 April16 November
Varna205 km19 March4 December

What to grow at home in winter in Stara Zagora

Frosts in Stara Zagora usually come from about 18 November to about 8 April. 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 Stara Zagora by month

Average weather in Stara Zagora over 2016–2025: the warmest month is August. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: May–September (20.5–29.3 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in January (-2.6 °C), February (-0.9 °C) and December (-0.1 °C). About 691 mm of rain falls in a year, on 103 days; December is the wettest month (75 mm) and August the driest (29 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January5.5-2.6689
February8.4-0.9507
March11.81.65810
April16.45.46311
May20.59.97314
June25.8157010
July28.917.2406
August29.317.2295
September24.613295
October187.8657
November1247110
December7.3-0.1759

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 19 October
Crocus19 October – end of December
Daffodil19 October – end of December
Garlic19 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 19 October
Helleboreby 19 October
Hyacinth19 October – end of December
Lilyby 19 October
Ornamental onionby 19 October
Peonyby 19 October
Saffronby 19 October
Snowdropby 19 October
Tulip19 October – end of December
Wild garlicby 19 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).