Greenly Garden

Frost dates and when to plant in Catalonia

Spain

In Catalonia the last spring frost comes between 12 January (Tarragona) and 18 March (Manresa) — the median of 2016–2025 in 6 cities. The first autumn frost comes between 30 November (Girona) and 19 December (Lleida). The frost-free season lasts 259–322 days. Tomato: plant out into open ground 27 March – 29 August, earliest in Lleida, latest in Lleida.

Frost dates by city in Catalonia

CityLast spring frostFirst autumn frostFrost-free daysClimate zoneTomato: window
Tarragona12 Januarynone in ten years—Frost without a regular seasonfrom 27 March
Tortosa16 Januarynone in ten years—Frost without a regular seasonfrom 9 April
Barcelona24 January12 December322270 frost-free days or more25 April – 22 August
Lleida9 February19 December313270 frost-free days or more27 March – 29 August
Girona11 February30 November292270 frost-free days or more21 April – 10 August
Manresa18 March2 December259210–269 frost-free days20 April – 12 August

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 to plant in Catalonia: windows by crop

The earliest start and the latest end among the cities here, each with its city; every city’s own window is on its page. 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.

CropPlanting out or sowing
Tomato27 March (Lleida) – 29 August (Lleida)
Cucumber29 April (Lleida) – 4 October (Lleida)
Bell Pepper, Eggplant29 April (Lleida) – 29 August (Lleida)
Zucchini29 April (Lleida) – 2 October (Lleida)
Pumpkin29 April (Lleida) – 24 August (Lleida)
Watermelon29 April (Lleida) – 9 September (Lleida)
Peas3 January (Barcelona) – 6 October (Lleida)
GarlicAutumn planting: 1 October – end of December
Tulip, Daffodil, Crocus, HyacinthAutumn planting: by 12 November (Barcelona)

Weather by month in Catalonia

Across the 6 cities the warmest month is July (average days 28.5 … 34.6 °C) and the coldest January (average nights 1.4 … 6.1 °C). No city here averages below 0 °C at night in any month.

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mm
January10.5 … 14.6 °C1.4 … 6.1 °C43
February13.4 … 16 °C2.9 … 7.1 °C35
March15.6 … 18.2 °C4.9 … 8.8 °C66
April17.6 … 21.3 °C7.3 … 10.9 °C70
May21.1 … 26.1 °C10.8 … 14.4 °C53
June26.1 … 31.5 °C15.9 … 19.1 °C36
July28.5 … 34.6 °C18.6 … 21.9 °C33
August28.7 … 34.5 °C18.7 … 22.3 °C40
September24.6 … 28.7 °C14.6 … 19.1 °C69
October20.9 … 23.7 °C11.3 … 15.6 °C97
November14.9 … 18.3 °C5.6 … 10.4 °C58
December11.7 … 15.6 °C2.9 … 7.7 °C38

Day and night: the lowest … highest monthly average among the cities; rain: the middle city (ERA5 via Open-Meteo).

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