Greenly Garden
Get the app
EN

Last and first frost dates in Victoria

Canada

In Victoria the last spring frost usually comes around 1 March and the first autumn frost around 21 December, which leaves about 295 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 14 May to 31 August.

Last spring frostaround 1 March
First autumn frostaround 21 December
Frost-free days295 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 Victoria?

The last frost in Victoria usually comes around 1 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 8 February, while corn waits until 29 April. The first autumn frost follows around 21 December, about 295 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha16 February – 12 September28 March – 22 October18 April – 22 October
Ageratumfrom 26 February—from 14 May
Arugula——sow 8 February – 16 November
Basil15 April – 19 October23 May – 26 November13 June – 26 November
Beet——sow 8 February – 22 October
Bell Pepper24 March – 2 July23 May – 31 August13 June – 31 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 25 January—from 18 April
Bok Choy21 February – 30 October28 March – 4 December18 April – 4 December
Borage——sow 8 March – 27 October
Broad bean——sow 8 February – 12 September
Broccoli——sow 8 February – 5 September
Brussels Sprouts4 December – 3 August18 January – 17 September8 February – 17 September
Busy Lizziefrom 14 December—from 8 March
Cabbage——sow 8 February – 13 August
Calendula——sow from 8 February
Carrot——sow 8 February – 28 September
Cauliflower7 December – 5 September18 January – 17 October8 February – 17 October
Celeriac10 January – 3 July28 March – 18 September18 April – 18 September
Celery10 January – 13 July28 March – 28 September18 April – 28 September
Celosiafrom 11 Marchfrom 25 Aprilfrom 16 May
Chamomile——sow 8 February – 17 October
Chayote10 January – 26 June8 April – 22 September29 April – 22 September
Chickpea——sow 8 February – 2 September
Chicory24 December – 27 September—8 February – 22 October
Chili Pepper24 March – 8 August23 May – 7 October13 June – 7 October
China asterfrom 1 Aprilfrom 23 Mayfrom 13 June
Chives——sow 8 February – 8 October
Cilantro——sow 8 February – 18 October
Corn——sow 29 April – 2 September
Corn poppy——sow from 8 February
Cosmosfrom 11 Marchfrom 25 Aprilfrom 16 May
Cucumber25 April – 8 September23 May – 6 October13 June – 6 October
Daikon——sow 8 February – 15 October
Delphiniumfrom 20 November—from 8 February
Dill——sow 8 February – 28 October
Edging lobeliafrom 24 January—from 18 April
Eggplant24 March – 2 July23 May – 31 August13 June – 31 August
Florence fennel11 February – 12 September28 March – 27 October18 April – 27 October
Foxglovefrom 2 November—from 8 February
Garden sorrel——sow 8 February – 16 October
Green Beans——sow 16 May – 10 September
Hollyhock——sow from 8 February
Hyssop——sow 8 February – 8 September
Kale——sow 8 February – 10 October
Kiwano22 March – 15 September23 April – 17 October14 May – 17 October
Kohlrabi——sow 8 February – 20 October
Leek9 November – 24 June18 January – 2 September8 February – 2 September
Lemon balm——sow 8 February – 12 October
Lettuce——sow 8 February – 25 October
Lisianthusfrom 23 Octoberfrom 18 Januaryfrom 8 February
Lovage——sow from 8 February
Luffa11 April – 10 July23 May – 21 August13 June – 21 August
Marigoldfrom 14 Februaryfrom 28 Marchfrom 18 April
Marjoram24 March – 27 September—13 June – 26 November
Melon25 April – 26 August23 May – 23 September13 June – 23 September
Microgreens——sow 16 May – 7 December
Moringa7 April – 2 October1 June – 26 November22 June – 26 November
Moss rosefrom 21 December—from 8 March
Mustard greens——sow 8 February – 6 November
Napa cabbage23 February – 7 October28 March – 9 November18 April – 9 November
Nasturtiumfrom 18 Februaryfrom 28 Marchfrom 18 April
Okra11 April – 20 September23 May – 1 November13 June – 1 November
Oregano19 November – 17 September18 January – 16 November8 February – 16 November
Pansyfrom 23 Novemberfrom 18 Januaryfrom 8 February
Parsley——sow 8 February – 6 October
Parsnip——sow 8 February – 25 August
Peanut16 April – 16 August23 May – 22 September13 June – 22 September
Peas——sow 8 February – 8 October
Petuniafrom 21 Marchfrom 23 Mayfrom 13 June
Physalis9 March – 13 August23 April – 27 September14 May – 27 September
Pumpkin11 April – 15 July23 May – 26 August13 June – 26 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 17 November—from 8 February
Radish——sow 8 February – 21 November
Sage30 November – 13 September18 January – 1 November8 February – 1 November
Scarlet sagefrom 2 March—from 14 May
Snapdragonfrom 14 Novemberfrom 18 Januaryfrom 8 February
Soybean——sow 13 June – 2 October
Spinach——sow 8 February – 27 October
Stevia5 March – 4 August23 April – 22 September14 May – 22 September
Stock——sow from 8 February
Sunflower——sow from 16 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 8 February
Sweet Corn24 March – 27 September15 April – 19 October6 May – 19 October
Sweet peafrom 7 Decemberfrom 18 Januaryfrom 8 February
Sweet William——sow from 8 February
Swiss Chard——sow 8 February – 22 October
Thyme——sow 8 February – 2 September
Tomato2 March – 10 July23 April – 31 August14 May – 31 August
Turnip——sow 8 February – 24 October
Watercress——sow 8 February – 4 November
Watermelon25 April – 14 August23 May – 11 September13 June – 11 September
Zinniafrom 27 Aprilfrom 1 Junefrom 22 June
Zucchini2 May – 13 September23 May – 4 October13 June – 4 October

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 Victoria

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 48 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 74 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C18 April48 days later
15 °C14 May74 days later
18 °C13 June104 days later

Frost dates near Victoria

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Tacoma (15 March) and latest in Yakima (13 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Vancouver96 km27 March17 November
Seattle120 km20 March24 November
Tacoma148 km15 March3 December
Olympia159 km19 March15 November
Yakima296 km13 April24 October

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Victoria

Within 15 km of Victoria OpenStreetMap lists 6 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 7 markets and 6 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Mr. Fertilizer, 2 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Victoria

Frosts in Victoria usually come from about 21 December to about 1 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 Victoria by month

Average weather in Victoria over 2016–2025: the warmest month is August. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: June–September (20.1–24.6 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in February, average 2.6 °C. About 1055 mm of rain falls in a year, on 139 days; December is the wettest month (177 mm) and July the driest (11 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January7.43.215717
February7.42.610315
March10.24.19215
April13.36.56613
May189.8378
June20.812.1326
July24.414.6112
August24.615.3224
September20.112.9588
October148.712614
November9.85.817418
December7.23.417719

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 21 November
Crocus21 November – end of December
Daffodil21 November – end of December
Garlic21 November – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 21 November
Helleboreby 21 November
Hyacinth21 November – end of December
Lilyby 21 November
Ornamental onionby 21 November
Peonyby 21 November
Saffronby 21 November
Snowdropby 21 November
Tulip21 November – end of December
Wild garlicby 21 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).