Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Tralee

Ireland

In Tralee the last spring frost usually comes around 23 March and the first autumn frost around 22 November, which leaves about 244 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 31 May to 2 August.

Last spring frostaround 23 March
First autumn frostaround 22 November
Frost-free days244 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 Tralee?

The last frost in Tralee usually comes around 23 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 2 March, while corn waits until 6 May. The first autumn frost follows around 22 November, about 244 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha31 January – 14 August12 March – 23 September2 April – 23 September
Ageratumfrom 15 March—from 31 May
Arugula——sow 2 March – 18 October
Basil28 April – 20 September5 June – 28 October26 June – 28 October
Beet——sow 2 March – 23 September
Bell Pepper6 April – 3 June5 June – 2 August26 June – 2 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 9 January—from 2 April
Bok Choy5 February – 1 October12 March – 5 November2 April – 5 November
Borage——sow 30 March – 28 September
Broad bean——sow 2 March – 14 August
Broccoli——sow 2 March – 7 August
Brussels Sprouts26 December – 5 July9 February – 19 August2 March – 19 August
Busy Lizziefrom 5 January—from 30 March
Cabbage——sow 2 March – 15 July
Calendula——sow from 2 March
Carrot——sow 2 March – 30 August
Cauliflower29 December – 7 August9 February – 18 September2 March – 18 September
Celeriac25 December – 4 June12 March – 20 August2 April – 20 August
Celery25 December – 14 June12 March – 30 August2 April – 30 August
Celosiafrom 31 Marchfrom 15 Mayfrom 5 June
Chamomile——sow 2 March – 18 September
Chayote17 January – 28 May15 April – 24 August6 May – 24 August
Chickpea——sow 2 March – 4 August
Chicory15 January – 29 August—2 March – 23 September
Chili Pepper6 April – 10 July5 June – 8 September26 June – 8 September
China asterfrom 14 Aprilfrom 5 Junefrom 26 June
Chives——sow 2 March – 9 September
Cilantro——sow 2 March – 19 September
Corn——sow 6 May – 4 August
Corn poppy——sow from 2 March
Cosmosfrom 31 Marchfrom 15 Mayfrom 5 June
Cucumber8 May – 10 August5 June – 7 September26 June – 7 September
Daikon——sow 2 March – 16 September
Delphiniumfrom 12 December—from 2 March
Dill——sow 2 March – 29 September
Edging lobeliafrom 8 January—from 2 April
Eggplant6 April – 3 June5 June – 2 August26 June – 2 August
Florence fennel26 January – 14 August12 March – 28 September2 April – 28 September
Foxglovefrom 24 November—from 2 March
Garden sorrel——sow 2 March – 17 September
Green Beans——sow 5 June – 12 August
Hollyhock——sow from 2 March
Hyssop——sow 2 March – 10 August
Kale——sow 2 March – 11 September
Kiwano8 April – 17 August10 May – 18 September31 May – 18 September
Kohlrabi——sow 2 March – 21 September
Leek1 December – 26 May9 February – 4 August2 March – 4 August
Lemon balm——sow 2 March – 13 September
Lettuce——sow 2 March – 26 September
Lisianthusfrom 14 Novemberfrom 9 Februaryfrom 2 March
Lovage——sow from 2 March
Luffa24 April – 11 June5 June – 23 July26 June – 23 July
Marigoldfrom 29 Januaryfrom 12 Marchfrom 2 April
Marjoram6 April – 29 August—26 June – 28 October
Melon8 May – 28 July5 June – 25 August26 June – 25 August
Microgreens——sow 5 June – 8 November
Moringa26 April – 3 September20 June – 28 October11 July – 28 October
Moss rosefrom 12 January—from 30 March
Mustard greens——sow 2 March – 8 October
Napa cabbage7 February – 8 September12 March – 11 October2 April – 11 October
Nasturtiumfrom 2 Februaryfrom 12 Marchfrom 2 April
Okra24 April – 22 August5 June – 3 October26 June – 3 October
Oregano11 December – 19 August9 February – 18 October2 March – 18 October
Pansyfrom 15 Decemberfrom 9 Februaryfrom 2 March
Parsley——sow 2 March – 7 September
Parsnip——sow 2 March – 27 July
Peanut29 April – 18 July5 June – 24 August26 June – 24 August
Peas——sow 2 March – 9 September
Petuniafrom 3 Aprilfrom 5 Junefrom 26 June
Physalis26 March – 15 July10 May – 29 August31 May – 29 August
Pumpkin24 April – 16 June5 June – 28 July26 June – 28 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 9 December—from 2 March
Radish——sow 2 March – 23 October
Sage22 December – 15 August9 February – 3 October2 March – 3 October
Scarlet sagefrom 19 March—from 31 May
Snapdragonfrom 6 Decemberfrom 9 Februaryfrom 2 March
Soybean——sow 26 June – 3 September
Spinach——sow 2 March – 28 September
Stevia22 March – 6 July10 May – 24 August31 May – 24 August
Stock——sow from 2 March
Sunflower——sow from 5 June
Sweet alyssum——sow from 2 March
Sweet Corn31 March – 29 August22 April – 20 September13 May – 20 September
Sweet peafrom 29 Decemberfrom 9 Februaryfrom 2 March
Sweet William——sow from 2 March
Swiss Chard——sow 2 March – 23 September
Thyme——sow 2 March – 4 August
Tomato19 March – 11 June10 May – 2 August31 May – 2 August
Turnip——sow 2 March – 25 September
Watercress——sow 2 March – 6 October
Watermelon8 May – 16 July5 June – 13 August26 June – 13 August
Zinniafrom 16 Mayfrom 20 Junefrom 11 July
Zucchini15 May – 15 August5 June – 5 September26 June – 5 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 Tralee

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 10 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 69 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C2 April10 days later
15 °C31 May69 days later
18 °C26 June95 days later

Frost dates near Tralee

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Athlone (25 February) and latest in Kilkenny (7 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Limerick84 km13 March21 November
Cork94 km3 April21 November
Galway119 km17 March28 November
Kilkenny171 km7 April20 November
Athlone174 km25 February26 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Tralee

Within 15 km of Tralee OpenStreetMap lists 2 garden centres, 3 farm-supply shops, 1 plant nursery and 1 farm shop (collected 28 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Castlemaine Garden Centre, 12 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Tralee

Frosts in Tralee usually come from about 22 November to about 23 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 Tralee by month

Average weather in Tralee over 2016–2025: the warmest month is August. No month averages 20 °C by day; the warmest, August, reaches 18.2 °C. No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 3.8 °C. About 1485 mm of rain falls in a year, on 224 days; December is the wettest month (148 mm) and May the driest (79 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January8.73.813619
February9.54.714019
March10.44.212718
April12.75.68716
May15.68.37915
June17119919
July18.112.511619
August18.212.714221
September16.610.912520
October13.88.914119
November10.86.114519
December9.55.114820

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 October
Crocusby 23 October
Daffodilby 23 October
Garlic23 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 23 October
Helleboreby 23 October
Hyacinthby 23 October
Lilyby 23 October
Ornamental onionby 23 October
Peonyby 23 October
Saffronby 23 October
Snowdropby 23 October
Tulipby 23 October
Wild garlicby 23 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).