GreenlyGardening in Kyrgyzstan: climate, frost dates and crops by region
We worked out the season of 9 cities of Kyrgyzstan from ten years of weather: the frost-free season lasts from 144 days in Karakol to 236 days in Jalal-Abad. The last spring frost comes first in Jalal-Abad (around 16 March) and last in Karakol (around 9 May).
Climate zones of Kyrgyzstan
By the days between the last spring frost and the first autumn frost.
| Zone | Cities | Frost-free days | Last spring frost | First autumn frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 210–269 frost-free days | Kara-Balta, Jalal-Abad, Osh | 214 – 236 | 16 March – 1 April | 1 November – 7 November |
| 150–209 frost-free days | Bishkek, Tokmok, Talas, Balykchy, Naryn | 150 – 202 | 3 April – 5 May | 2 October – 25 October |
| Short season: under 150 frost-free days | Karakol | 144 | 9 May | 30 September |
How the regions of Kyrgyzstan differ
The gap between the warmest month’s days and the coldest month’s nights is widest in Tokmok (38.3 °C) and smallest in Balykchy (29.9 °C): the smaller it is, the milder both winter and summer. Karakol is the wettest of these cities with 1,003 mm a year, Balykchy the driest with 506 mm. The hottest summer days are in Osh (32.7 °C on average in the warmest month), the coolest in Karakol (21.9 °C). In all 9 cities at least one month averages below 0 °C at night; the longest such winter is in Karakol (October–April).
Which crops suit which part of Kyrgyzstan
Season long enough: the days from planting to the first autumn frost cover the days to the first harvest on the plant card. 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.
| Crop | Planting out or sowing | Season long enough | Tight or too short |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | 21 April (Osh) – 24 July (Naryn) | all 9 | — |
| Cucumber | 6 May (Osh) – 23 August (Jalal-Abad) | all 9 | — |
| Bell Pepper, Eggplant | 6 May (Osh) – 24 July (Naryn) | 8 of 9: Bishkek, Tokmok, Kara-Balta, Talas and 4 more | 1 of 9: Karakol |
| Zucchini | 6 May (Osh) – 25 August (Karakol) | all 9 | — |
| Pumpkin | 6 May (Osh) – 19 July (Naryn) | 7 of 9: Bishkek, Tokmok, Kara-Balta, Talas and 3 more | 2 of 9: Karakol and Naryn |
| Watermelon | 6 May (Osh) – 4 August (Naryn) | 8 of 9: Bishkek, Tokmok, Kara-Balta, Talas and 4 more | 1 of 9: Karakol |
| Peas | 23 February (Jalal-Abad) – 25 August (Jalal-Abad) | all 9 | — |
| Garlic, Tulip, Daffodil, Crocus, Hyacinth | Autumn planting: 31 August (Karakol) – end of December (Jalal-Abad) | — | — |
Cities of Kyrgyzstan: weather in numbers
| City | Frost-free days | Warmest month, day | Coldest month, night | Rain a year | Driest month | Places to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishkek | 202 | July, 29.7 °C | January, -4.8 °C | 635 mm | January | 30 |
| Tokmok | 202 | July, 31.7 °C | January, -6.6 °C | 560 mm | January | — |
| Kara-Balta | 214 | July, 30.8 °C | January, -6.1 °C | 611 mm | August | — |
| Talas | 180 | July, 29.5 °C | January, -6.1 °C | 583 mm | January | — |
| Karakol | 144 | July, 21.9 °C | January, -12.5 °C | 1,003 mm | January | 3 |
| Balykchy | 192 | July, 22.2 °C | January, -7.7 °C | 506 mm | January | — |
| Naryn | 150 | July, 22.6 °C | January, -15.1 °C | 519 mm | January | — |
| Jalal-Abad | 236 | July, 32.2 °C | January, -4.8 °C | 797 mm | August | 2 |
| Osh | 224 | July, 32.7 °C | January, -4.8 °C | 558 mm | August | 7 |
ERA5 2016–2025 via Open-Meteo, 25 km grid cell of each city; dates by the Greenly calendar and the plant cards.
