Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Swansea

United Kingdom

In Swansea the last spring frost usually comes around 28 February and the first autumn frost around 1 December, which leaves about 276 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 24 May to 11 August.

Last spring frostaround 28 February
First autumn frostaround 1 December
Frost-free days276 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 Swansea?

The last frost in Swansea usually comes around 28 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 7 February, while corn waits until 1 May. The first autumn frost follows around 1 December, about 276 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha3 February – 23 August15 March – 2 October5 April – 2 October
Ageratumfrom 8 March—from 24 May
Arugula——sow 7 February – 27 October
Basil23 April – 29 September31 May – 6 November21 June – 6 November
Beet——sow 7 February – 2 October
Bell Pepper1 April – 12 June31 May – 11 August21 June – 11 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 12 January—from 5 April
Bok Choy8 February – 10 October15 March – 14 November5 April – 14 November
Borage——sow 7 March – 7 October
Broad bean——sow 7 February – 23 August
Broccoli——sow 7 February – 16 August
Brussels Sprouts3 December – 14 July17 January – 28 August7 February – 28 August
Busy Lizziefrom 13 December—from 7 March
Cabbage——sow 7 February – 24 July
Calendula——sow from 7 February
Carrot——sow 7 February – 8 September
Cauliflower6 December – 16 August17 January – 27 September7 February – 27 September
Celeriac28 December – 13 June15 March – 29 August5 April – 29 August
Celery28 December – 23 June15 March – 8 September5 April – 8 September
Celosiafrom 23 Marchfrom 7 Mayfrom 28 May
Chamomile——sow 7 February – 27 September
Chayote12 January – 6 June10 April – 2 September1 May – 2 September
Chickpea——sow 7 February – 13 August
Chicory23 December – 7 September—7 February – 2 October
Chili Pepper1 April – 19 July31 May – 17 September21 June – 17 September
China asterfrom 9 Aprilfrom 31 Mayfrom 21 June
Chives——sow 7 February – 18 September
Cilantro——sow 7 February – 28 September
Corn——sow 1 May – 13 August
Corn poppy——sow from 7 February
Cosmosfrom 23 Marchfrom 7 Mayfrom 28 May
Cucumber3 May – 19 August31 May – 16 September21 June – 16 September
Daikon——sow 7 February – 25 September
Delphiniumfrom 19 November—from 7 February
Dill——sow 7 February – 8 October
Edging lobeliafrom 11 January—from 5 April
Eggplant1 April – 12 June31 May – 11 August21 June – 11 August
Florence fennel29 January – 23 August15 March – 7 October5 April – 7 October
Foxglovefrom 1 November—from 7 February
Garden sorrel——sow 7 February – 26 September
Green Beans——sow 28 May – 21 August
Hollyhock——sow from 7 February
Hyssop——sow 7 February – 19 August
Kale——sow 7 February – 20 September
Kiwano1 April – 26 August3 May – 27 September24 May – 27 September
Kohlrabi——sow 7 February – 30 September
Leek8 November – 4 June17 January – 13 August7 February – 13 August
Lemon balm——sow 7 February – 22 September
Lettuce——sow 7 February – 5 October
Lisianthusfrom 22 Octoberfrom 17 Januaryfrom 7 February
Lovage——sow from 7 February
Luffa19 April – 20 June31 May – 1 August21 June – 1 August
Marigoldfrom 1 Februaryfrom 15 Marchfrom 5 April
Marjoram1 April – 7 September—21 June – 6 November
Melon3 May – 6 August31 May – 3 September21 June – 3 September
Microgreens——sow 28 May – 17 November
Moringa21 April – 12 September15 June – 6 November6 July – 6 November
Moss rosefrom 20 December—from 7 March
Mustard greens——sow 7 February – 17 October
Napa cabbage10 February – 17 September15 March – 20 October5 April – 20 October
Nasturtiumfrom 5 Februaryfrom 15 Marchfrom 5 April
Okra19 April – 31 August31 May – 12 October21 June – 12 October
Oregano18 November – 28 August17 January – 27 October7 February – 27 October
Pansyfrom 22 Novemberfrom 17 Januaryfrom 7 February
Parsley——sow 7 February – 16 September
Parsnip——sow 7 February – 5 August
Peanut24 April – 27 July31 May – 2 September21 June – 2 September
Peas——sow 7 February – 18 September
Petuniafrom 29 Marchfrom 31 Mayfrom 21 June
Physalis19 March – 24 July3 May – 7 September24 May – 7 September
Pumpkin19 April – 25 June31 May – 6 August21 June – 6 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 16 November—from 7 February
Radish——sow 7 February – 1 November
Sage29 November – 24 August17 January – 12 October7 February – 12 October
Scarlet sagefrom 12 March—from 24 May
Snapdragonfrom 13 Novemberfrom 17 Januaryfrom 7 February
Soybean——sow 21 June – 12 September
Spinach——sow 7 February – 7 October
Stevia15 March – 15 July3 May – 2 September24 May – 2 September
Stock——sow from 7 February
Sunflower——sow from 28 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 7 February
Sweet Corn27 March – 7 September18 April – 29 September9 May – 29 September
Sweet peafrom 6 Decemberfrom 17 Januaryfrom 7 February
Sweet William——sow from 7 February
Swiss Chard——sow 7 February – 2 October
Thyme——sow 7 February – 13 August
Tomato12 March – 20 June3 May – 11 August24 May – 11 August
Turnip——sow 7 February – 4 October
Watercress——sow 7 February – 15 October
Watermelon3 May – 25 July31 May – 22 August21 June – 22 August
Zinniafrom 11 Mayfrom 15 Junefrom 6 July
Zucchini10 May – 24 August31 May – 14 September21 June – 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 Swansea

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 36 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 85 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C5 April36 days later
15 °C24 May85 days later
18 °C21 June113 days later

Frost dates near Swansea

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Plymouth (1 March) and latest in Worcester (15 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Cardiff55 km25 March22 November
Bristol95 km11 April22 November
Exeter104 km3 April27 November
Worcester134 km15 April22 November
Plymouth140 km1 March1 December

What to grow at home in winter in Swansea

Frosts in Swansea usually come from about 1 December to about 28 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 Swansea by month

Average weather in Swansea over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. No month averages 20 °C by day; the warmest, July, reaches 19.7 °C. No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 3.7 °C. About 1683 mm of rain falls in a year, on 196 days; December is the wettest month (203 mm) and April the driest (84 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January8.23.715016
February8.94.414116
March10.34.712617
April12.86.18413
May169.49213
June18.312.410116
July19.713.911716
August19.414.113918
September17.812.516816
October14.710.218718
November11.26.817518
December9.45.620319

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).