Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Van

Turkey

In Van the last spring frost usually comes around 24 April and the first autumn frost around 29 October, which leaves about 188 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 28 May to 9 July.

Last spring frostaround 24 April
First autumn frostaround 29 October
Frost-free days188 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 Van?

The last frost in Van usually comes around 24 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 3 April, while corn waits until 13 May. The first autumn frost follows around 29 October, about 188 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha1 March – 21 July10 April – 30 August1 May – 30 August
Ageratumfrom 12 March—from 28 May
Arugula——sow 3 April – 24 September
Basil7 April – 27 August15 May – 4 October5 June – 4 October
Beet——sow 3 April – 30 August
Bell Pepper16 March – 10 May15 May – 9 July5 June – 9 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 7 February—from 1 May
Bok Choy6 March – 7 September10 April – 12 October1 May – 12 October
Borage——sow 1 May – 4 September
Broad bean——sow 3 April – 21 July
Broccoli——sow 3 April – 14 July
Brussels Sprouts27 January – 11 June13 March – 26 July3 April – 26 July
Busy Lizziefrom 6 February—from 1 May
Cabbage——sow 3 April – 21 June
Calendula——sow from 3 April
Carrot——sow 3 April – 6 August
Cauliflower30 January – 14 July13 March – 25 August3 April – 25 August
Celeriac23 January – 11 May10 April – 27 July1 May – 27 July
Celery23 January – 21 May10 April – 6 August1 May – 6 August
Celosiafrom 28 Marchfrom 12 Mayfrom 2 June
Chamomile——sow 3 April – 25 August
Chayote24 January – 4 May22 April – 31 July13 May – 31 July
Chickpea——sow 3 April – 11 July
Chicory16 February – 5 August—3 April – 30 August
Chili Pepper16 March – 16 June15 May – 15 August5 June – 15 August
China asterfrom 24 Marchfrom 15 Mayfrom 5 June
Chives——sow 3 April – 16 August
Cilantro——sow 3 April – 26 August
Corn——sow 13 May – 11 July
Corn poppy——sow from 3 April
Cosmosfrom 28 Marchfrom 12 Mayfrom 2 June
Cucumber17 April – 17 July15 May – 14 August5 June – 14 August
Daikon——sow 3 April – 23 August
Delphiniumfrom 13 January—from 3 April
Dill——sow 3 April – 5 September
Edging lobeliafrom 6 February—from 1 May
Eggplant16 March – 10 May15 May – 9 July5 June – 9 July
Florence fennel24 February – 21 July10 April – 4 September1 May – 4 September
Foxglovefrom 26 December—from 3 April
Garden sorrel——sow 3 April – 24 August
Green Beans——sow 2 June – 19 July
Hollyhock——sow from 3 April
Hyssop——sow 3 April – 17 July
Kale——sow 3 April – 18 August
Kiwano5 April – 24 July7 May – 25 August28 May – 25 August
Kohlrabi——sow 3 April – 28 August
Leek2 January – 2 May13 March – 11 July3 April – 11 July
Lemon balm——sow 3 April – 20 August
Lettuce——sow 3 April – 2 September
Lisianthusfrom 16 Decemberfrom 13 Marchfrom 3 April
Lovage——sow from 3 April
Luffa3 April – 18 May15 May – 29 June5 June – 29 June
Marigoldfrom 27 Februaryfrom 10 Aprilfrom 1 May
Marjoram16 March – 5 August—5 June – 4 October
Melon17 April – 4 July15 May – 1 August5 June – 1 August
Microgreens——sow 2 June – 15 October
Moringa27 March – 10 August21 May – 4 October11 June – 4 October
Moss rosefrom 13 February—from 1 May
Mustard greens——sow 3 April – 14 September
Napa cabbage8 March – 15 August10 April – 17 September1 May – 17 September
Nasturtiumfrom 3 Marchfrom 10 Aprilfrom 1 May
Okra3 April – 29 July15 May – 9 September5 June – 9 September
Oregano12 January – 26 July13 March – 24 September3 April – 24 September
Pansyfrom 16 Januaryfrom 13 Marchfrom 3 April
Parsley——sow 3 April – 14 August
Parsnip——sow 3 April – 3 July
Peanut8 April – 24 June15 May – 31 July5 June – 31 July
Peas——sow 3 April – 16 August
Petuniafrom 13 Marchfrom 15 Mayfrom 5 June
Physalis23 March – 21 June7 May – 5 August28 May – 5 August
Pumpkin3 April – 23 May15 May – 4 July5 June – 4 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 10 January—from 3 April
Radish——sow 3 April – 29 September
Sage23 January – 22 July13 March – 9 September3 April – 9 September
Scarlet sagefrom 16 March—from 28 May
Snapdragonfrom 7 Januaryfrom 13 Marchfrom 3 April
Soybean——sow 5 June – 10 August
Spinach——sow 3 April – 4 September
Stevia19 March – 12 June7 May – 31 July28 May – 31 July
Stock——sow from 3 April
Sunflower——sow from 2 June
Sweet alyssum——sow from 3 April
Sweet Corn6 April – 5 August28 April – 27 August19 May – 27 August
Sweet peafrom 30 Januaryfrom 13 Marchfrom 3 April
Sweet William——sow from 3 April
Swiss Chard——sow 3 April – 30 August
Thyme——sow 3 April – 11 July
Tomato16 March – 18 May7 May – 9 July28 May – 9 July
Turnip——sow 3 April – 1 September
Watercress——sow 3 April – 12 September
Watermelon17 April – 22 June15 May – 20 July5 June – 20 July
Zinniafrom 16 Aprilfrom 21 Mayfrom 11 June
Zucchini24 April – 22 July15 May – 12 August5 June – 12 August

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 Van

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 7 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 34 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C6 April18 days earlier
10 °C1 May7 days later
15 °C28 May34 days later
18 °C5 June42 days later

Frost dates near Van

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Vagharshapat (27 March) and latest in Erzurum (11 May).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Vagharshapat203 km27 March22 November
Yerevan212 km7 April2 November
Erzurum240 km11 May16 October
Hrazdan255 km8 May20 October
Gyumri259 km27 April20 October

What to grow at home in winter in Van

Frosts in Van usually come from about 29 October to about 24 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 Van by month

Average weather in Van over 2016–2025: the warmest month is August. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: June–September (22.6–28.2 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in November–March (-9.8–-1.2 °C). About 420 mm of rain falls in a year, on 88 days; May is the wettest month (68 mm) and August the driest (8 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January-1-9.8429
February0.3-8.7338
March5.3-4.16412
April11.50.76213
May16.55.36814
June23.311195
July27.715113
August28.215.482
September22.611112
October15.14.7326
November7.9-1.2296
December2.2-5.7418

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 29 September
Crocus29 September – 21 November
Daffodil29 September – 21 November
Garlic29 September – 21 November
Grape hyacinthby 29 September
Helleboreby 29 September
Hyacinth29 September – 21 November
Lilyby 29 September
Ornamental onionby 29 September
Peonyby 29 September
Saffronby 29 September
Snowdropby 29 September
Tulip29 September – 21 November
Wild garlicby 29 September

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).