In the garden now (2 November 2026)
Bristol planting calendar
Bars show when each crop can go in and when a planting from that window is ready. The blue band is the frost season, from the average first autumn frost to the average last spring frost. Hover or tap a crop for details.
Sow indoorsSow or plant outdoorsHarvestFrost seasonToday
Swipe sideways to see the whole year →
Dates by crop
| Crop | Sow indoors | Sow / plant outdoors | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 18 – May 14 | Jun 13 – Jun 25 plant out | Sep 13 – Oct 13 |
| Pepper | No outdoor window passes all the checks here; grow it under cover or try a specialist variety. | ||
| Eggplant (aubergine) | Summers are too cool for a reliable outdoor crop. Grow it in a greenhouse or polytunnel. | ||
| Cucumber | May 27 – Jun 23 | Jun 24 – Jul 14 sow | Sep 1 – Oct 13 |
| Zucchini (courgette) | May 16 – Jun 12 | Jun 13 – Jul 20 sow | Aug 16 – Oct 13 |
| Pumpkin and winter squash | No outdoor window passes all the checks here; grow it under cover or try a specialist variety. | ||
| Watermelon | Summers are too cool for a reliable outdoor crop. Grow it in a greenhouse or polytunnel. | ||
| Sweet corn | – | May 24 – Jun 14 sow | Sep 13 – Oct 13 |
| Green beans | – | Jun 13 – Jul 14 sow | Aug 22 – Oct 13 |
| Peas | – | Feb 24 – Aug 29 sow | Jun 16 – Nov 29 |
| Lettuce | Feb 2 – Mar 2 | Mar 9 – Sep 12 sow | Jun 4 – Dec 2 |
| Spinach | – | Feb 23 – Sep 22 sow | May 26 – Dec 22 |
| Kale | Jan 19 – Feb 23 | Mar 2 – Sep 9 sow | Jun 12 – Jan 6 |
| Cabbage | Jan 25 – Mar 1 | Mar 15 – Aug 23 plant out | Jun 29 – Dec 13 |
| Broccoli | Jan 26 – Mar 2 | Mar 16 – Aug 30 plant out | Jun 20 – Dec 6 |
| Carrots | – | Mar 16 – Aug 31 sow | Jun 25 – Jan 6 |
| Beets (beetroot) | – | Mar 16 – Sep 5 sow | Jun 15 – Dec 13 |
| Radishes | – | Mar 7 – Oct 8 sow | May 7 – Dec 6 |
| Onions | Dec 29 – Feb 2 | Mar 9 – Jul 29 plant out | Jul 18 – Nov 22 |
| Garlic | – | Sep 26 – Oct 30 sow | Jun 23 – Jul 13 |
| Potatoes | – | Mar 29 – Aug 2 sow | Jul 19 – Nov 22 |
| Swiss chard | – | Mar 29 – Sep 10 sow | Jun 15 – Dec 13 |
| Basil | May 26 – Jun 23 | Jul 7 – Aug 10 plant out | Aug 12 – Oct 13 |
| Cilantro (coriander) | – | Mar 16 – Sep 24 sow | May 26 – Dec 6 |
| Parsley | Feb 1 – Mar 8 | Mar 29 – Aug 24 sow | Jul 3 – Dec 22 |
Dates are for a typical year and the middle of the window is the safest. Sow a little at a time across a window rather than all at once. Cold snaps, heat waves, frost pockets and city warmth all shift the real dates; watch the forecast.
Frost dates in Bristol
- Average last spring frost
- April 6
- Late frost (1 year in 10)
- April 22 approx.
- Average first autumn frost
- November 22
- Early frost (1 year in 10)
- November 8 approx.
- Frost-free growing season
- 229 days
“Average” is the date with an even chance of a later (spring) or earlier (autumn) frost: a night at or below 0 °C (32 °F) at screen height. Tender crops go out a week or two after the spring date, which brings the risk down to about one year in ten.
Source: Estimated from TerraClimate 1991–2020 climate normals (typical error about a week; how).
Climate at a glance
- Hardiness zone
- 9a estimate
- Average coldest winter night
- -5°C23°F
- Warmest month
- July, highs 22°C71°F
- Coldest month
- February, lows 3°C37°F
- Crops with an outdoor window
- 21 of 25
The zone follows the USDA scheme: bands of the average lowest temperature of the year, 10 °F wide, split into a and b halves. Estimated from monthly climate normals; about one city in ten we checked comes out a full half-zone off. It tells you which perennials survive winter, not when to sow.
Temperature and rain by month
Average highAverage lowRainFreezing point
| Month | High | Low | Mean | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8°C47°F | 3°C37°F | 6°C42°F | 83 mm3.3 in |
| February | 9°C48°F | 3°C37°F | 6°C42°F | 61 mm2.4 in |
| March | 11°C52°F | 4°C39°F | 7°C45°F | 61 mm2.4 in |
| April | 14°C57°F | 5°C42°F | 10°C49°F | 58 mm2.3 in |
| May | 17°C63°F | 8°C47°F | 13°C55°F | 61 mm2.4 in |
| June | 20°C68°F | 11°C52°F | 16°C60°F | 66 mm2.6 in |
| July | 22°C71°F | 13°C55°F | 17°C63°F | 65 mm2.6 in |
| August | 21°C71°F | 13°C55°F | 17°C63°F | 79 mm3.1 in |
| September | 19°C66°F | 11°C52°F | 15°C59°F | 72 mm2.8 in |
| October | 15°C59°F | 8°C47°F | 12°C53°F | 96 mm3.8 in |
| November | 11°C52°F | 5°C42°F | 8°C47°F | 97 mm3.8 in |
| December | 9°C48°F | 3°C38°F | 6°C43°F | 94 mm3.7 in |
Monthly averages 1991–2020 from TerraClimate (about 4 km grid).