Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Utrecht

Netherlands

In Utrecht the last spring frost usually comes around 27 March and the first autumn frost around 23 November, which leaves about 241 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 20 May to 3 August.

Last spring frostaround 27 March
First autumn frostaround 23 November
Frost-free days241 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 Utrecht?

The last frost in Utrecht usually comes around 27 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 6 March, while corn waits until 26 April. The first autumn frost follows around 23 November, about 241 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 – 15 August25 March – 24 September15 April – 24 September
Ageratumfrom 4 March—from 20 May
Arugula——sow 6 March – 19 October
Basil11 April – 21 September19 May – 29 October9 June – 29 October
Beet——sow 6 March – 24 September
Bell Pepper20 March – 4 June19 May – 3 August9 June – 3 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 22 January—from 15 April
Bok Choy18 February – 2 October25 March – 6 November15 April – 6 November
Borage——sow 3 April – 29 September
Broad bean——sow 6 March – 15 August
Broccoli——sow 6 March – 8 August
Brussels Sprouts30 December – 6 July13 February – 20 August6 March – 20 August
Busy Lizziefrom 9 January—from 3 April
Cabbage——sow 6 March – 16 July
Calendula——sow from 6 March
Carrot——sow 6 March – 31 August
Cauliflower2 January – 8 August13 February – 19 September6 March – 19 September
Celeriac7 January – 5 June25 March – 21 August15 April – 21 August
Celery7 January – 15 June25 March – 31 August15 April – 31 August
Celosiafrom 21 Marchfrom 5 Mayfrom 26 May
Chamomile——sow 6 March – 19 September
Chayote7 January – 29 May5 April – 25 August26 April – 25 August
Chickpea——sow 6 March – 5 August
Chicory19 January – 30 August—6 March – 24 September
Chili Pepper20 March – 11 July19 May – 9 September9 June – 9 September
China asterfrom 28 Marchfrom 19 Mayfrom 9 June
Chives——sow 6 March – 10 September
Cilantro——sow 6 March – 20 September
Corn——sow 26 April – 5 August
Corn poppy——sow from 6 March
Cosmosfrom 21 Marchfrom 5 Mayfrom 26 May
Cucumber21 April – 11 August19 May – 8 September9 June – 8 September
Daikon——sow 6 March – 17 September
Delphiniumfrom 16 December—from 6 March
Dill——sow 6 March – 30 September
Edging lobeliafrom 21 January—from 15 April
Eggplant20 March – 4 June19 May – 3 August9 June – 3 August
Florence fennel8 February – 15 August25 March – 29 September15 April – 29 September
Foxglovefrom 28 November—from 6 March
Garden sorrel——sow 6 March – 18 September
Green Beans——sow 26 May – 13 August
Hollyhock——sow from 6 March
Hyssop——sow 6 March – 11 August
Kale——sow 6 March – 12 September
Kiwano28 March – 18 August29 April – 19 September20 May – 19 September
Kohlrabi——sow 6 March – 22 September
Leek5 December – 27 May13 February – 5 August6 March – 5 August
Lemon balm——sow 6 March – 14 September
Lettuce——sow 6 March – 27 September
Lisianthusfrom 18 Novemberfrom 13 Februaryfrom 6 March
Lovage——sow from 6 March
Luffa7 April – 12 June19 May – 24 July9 June – 24 July
Marigoldfrom 11 Februaryfrom 25 Marchfrom 15 April
Marjoram20 March – 30 August—9 June – 29 October
Melon21 April – 29 July19 May – 26 August9 June – 26 August
Microgreens——sow 26 May – 9 November
Moringa12 April – 4 September6 June – 29 October27 June – 29 October
Moss rosefrom 16 January—from 3 April
Mustard greens——sow 6 March – 9 October
Napa cabbage20 February – 9 September25 March – 12 October15 April – 12 October
Nasturtiumfrom 15 Februaryfrom 25 Marchfrom 15 April
Okra7 April – 23 August19 May – 4 October9 June – 4 October
Oregano15 December – 20 August13 February – 19 October6 March – 19 October
Pansyfrom 19 Decemberfrom 13 Februaryfrom 6 March
Parsley——sow 6 March – 8 September
Parsnip——sow 6 March – 28 July
Peanut12 April – 19 July19 May – 25 August9 June – 25 August
Peas——sow 6 March – 10 September
Petuniafrom 17 Marchfrom 19 Mayfrom 9 June
Physalis15 March – 16 July29 April – 30 August20 May – 30 August
Pumpkin7 April – 17 June19 May – 29 July9 June – 29 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 13 December—from 6 March
Radish——sow 6 March – 24 October
Sage26 December – 16 August13 February – 4 October6 March – 4 October
Scarlet sagefrom 8 March—from 20 May
Snapdragonfrom 10 Decemberfrom 13 Februaryfrom 6 March
Soybean——sow 9 June – 4 September
Spinach——sow 6 March – 29 September
Stevia11 March – 7 July29 April – 25 August20 May – 25 August
Stock——sow from 6 March
Sunflower——sow from 26 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 6 March
Sweet Corn23 March – 30 August14 April – 21 September5 May – 21 September
Sweet peafrom 2 Januaryfrom 13 Februaryfrom 6 March
Sweet William——sow from 6 March
Swiss Chard——sow 6 March – 24 September
Thyme——sow 6 March – 5 August
Tomato8 March – 12 June29 April – 3 August20 May – 3 August
Turnip——sow 6 March – 26 September
Watercress——sow 6 March – 7 October
Watermelon21 April – 17 July19 May – 14 August9 June – 14 August
Zinniafrom 2 Mayfrom 6 Junefrom 27 June
Zucchini28 April – 16 August19 May – 6 September9 June – 6 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 Utrecht

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 19 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 54 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C15 April19 days later
15 °C20 May54 days later
18 °C9 June74 days later

Frost dates near Utrecht

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Haarlem (19 March) and latest in Almere (15 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Amersfoort20 km10 April21 November
Almere32 km15 April21 November
Amsterdam35 km3 April21 November
Haarlem46 km19 March30 November
The Hague56 km10 April23 November

What to grow at home in winter in Utrecht

Frosts in Utrecht usually come from about 23 November to about 27 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 Utrecht by month

Average weather in Utrecht over 2016–2025: the warmest month is August. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: June (21.6 °C), July (22.2 °C) and August (22.6 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 1.8 °C. About 873 mm of rain falls in a year, on 154 days; October is the wettest month (89 mm) and April the driest (57 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January6.61.87714
February8.22.27213
March10.73.16513
April13.75.35712
May1896911
June21.6137111
July22.2147614
August22.614.57213
September19.7127411
October15.39.48914
November9.94.87514
December7.63.17614

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 24 October
Crocus24 October – end of December
Daffodil24 October – end of December
Garlic24 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 24 October
Helleboreby 24 October
Hyacinth24 October – end of December
Lilyby 24 October
Ornamental onionby 24 October
Peonyby 24 October
Saffronby 24 October
Snowdropby 24 October
Tulip24 October – end of December
Wild garlicby 24 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).