Approx when would last frost be (how long is a piece of string)

[SaraJH]

Hi all,

Ridiculous question I know but we only moved up to the Midlands recently (well a couple of years ago but having been sorting out the house and garden we've never really taken any notice of frost dates until now) after being down in Berkshire. We're now near Uttoxeter.

Do any other Midlanders have any guesstimates of when the last frost will be up here?

Many thanks!

On an aside note, I was expecting to be moving to 'the frozen north' but to be honest I haven't noticed it being any more cold or wet than Berkshire.

[veggiechicken]

Second week of May for Uttoxeter

Good site at Adjusted gardening dates for the weather in your area of the UK

[SaraJH]

Thanks!

Second week of May it is then

Interestingly (for what reason I'm not yet sure) Reading, Berks (where I used to live) is also second week of May....

[mothhawk]

...On an aside note, I was expecting to be moving to 'the frozen north' but to be honest I haven't noticed it being any more cold or wet than Berkshire.

I know for southerners anywhere beyond Watford Gap is "The North", but now you're a Midlander you have to remember that you are not in the "north" until you can reach out and touch Hadrian's Wall. It will be a tad colder up there

Here in Leics I expect the frosts to be about over by the end of April but we are a fairly sheltered county. In Staffs you're a bit higher than me in both direction and altitude, so I think VC's about right with 2nd week of May.

[SaraJH]

Thanks Mothhawk,

Yes, it's amazing how many of my 'southern' friends think that we live in the back of beyond now!

Mind you, I was the same when we were looking to re-locate. We are both home based so location not crucial (except for my once per month jaunt to London, and our occasional visits to offices in the Midlands). I thought that Uttoxeter was miles away!

I now regularly search Rightmove for properties in Cheshire/ Lancs/ Yorks. That will be our next move in a few years. I'm sure that most of our friends will think that we've moved to the Outer Hebrides

[mothhawk]

..I now regularly search Rightmove for properties in Cheshire/ Lancs/ Yorks. That will be our next move in a few years. I'm sure that most of our friends will think that we've moved to the Outer Hebrides

Well if you keep moving north every few years you soon will have

[WendyC]

I think the last frost dates on Garden Focussed are way too early. For me it gives the last week in April as last frost. I wouldn't dream of planting out before third week in May. Up at the allotment, which is more exposed than my back garden, June frosts are not unheard of.

[Alison]

Southerners often seem to think that anything north of them is some sort of frozen wasteland. Would have thought so much TV stuff moving to Salford would help but they're still hideously London-centric in the media which is irritating to the rest of England let alone other parts of the UK. Have people look genuinely shocked that we have theatres and museums too, beggars belief in 2016.

Re frost dates, the info you can get online needs to be taken very much with a pinch of salt. Not only are they average dates which can vary significantly year to year but also can't take into consideration local variations where somebody can be in a frost pocket getting much lower temps than somebody only a couple of miles away.

[arch01]

I agree with Alison--last frost dates can vary quite a lot. My plot is 2 miles from the house but the last date of frost is probably a week apart (partly as the allotment is in a frost pocket). My avg last date of frost is 15 May but I don't plant out anything uncovered that is frost adverse (e.g. sweet corn) til June 1. Last year we had a late light frost in the last week of May and I saw a lot of dead sweet corn at the allotment.

Good luck!

[SaraJH]

Alison, I hope that I didn't offend you with my 'frozen north' comment, it was meant tongue in cheek given the typical Southern stereotype of anyone above the Watford Gap.

My family are actually from Ireland and the Midlands, so apart from having been born and bought up 'darn sarf' I do feel right at home where I am now living.

Plus, in my opinion of course, it is much more friendly up here (up, not really being very much 'up' from Reading)

[arch01]

I think the last frost dates on Garden Focussed are way too early. For me it gives the last week in April as last frost. I wouldn't dream of planting out before third week in May. Up at the allotment, which is more exposed than my back garden, June frosts are not unheard of.

Interesting. It is pretty good for my area. Although avg last dates of frost are just that and do vary a bit.

[Alison]

Alison, I hope that I didn't offend you with my 'frozen north' comment, it was meant tongue in cheek given the typical Southern stereotype of anyone above the Watford Gap.

My family are actually from Ireland and the Midlands, so apart from having been born and bought up 'darn sarf' I do feel right at home where I am now living.

Plus, in my opinion of course, it is much more friendly up here (up, not really being very much 'up' from Reading)

No, not offended at all, it came over as tongue in cheek but as you say there are some people who really do think that way

[veggiechicken]

As you say. Arch, avg last dates of frost are averages and nobody should take them as anything more than a general guide.
When it comes to stereotyping the UK, people think that Wales is always wet and windy, probably cold too, but we've had just 2 frosts this winter and no settling snow...............and its always sunshiny. I'll be very surprised if there is any more frost here this year, although the nights will be cold for a while longer.

[roitelet]

Don't put anything tender out until after the Sante Glass the 15th May and it is possible to get frost after that!

[vixylix]

I have never really paid attention to it - but I would be surprised to get frost here now, never mind in May! I had everything out early April last year (the weather was nicer!!) with no problems - maybe I was just very lucky!

My tomatoes do not have space inside until June though so they'll be outside one way or the other once the weather picks up!