GreenlyCologne: frost dates
Germany
In Cologne the last spring frost usually comes around 6 April and the first autumn frost around 20 November, which leaves about 228 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground around 12 May.
| Last spring frost | around 6 April |
|---|---|
| First autumn frost | around 20 November |
| Frost-free days | 228 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 to sow and plant
| Crop | Sow for seedlings | Plant out in a greenhouse | Open ground |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bell Pepper | 28 February | 13 May | 3 June |
| Chili Pepper | 14 March | 27 May | 17 June |
| Corn | — | 26 March | sow 16 April |
| Cucumber | 1 April | 13 May | 3 June |
| Eggplant | 4 March | 13 May | 3 June |
| Green Beans | 17 February | 26 March | 16 April |
| Melon | 22 March | 13 May | 3 June |
| Peas | — | 23 February | sow 16 March |
| Physalis | 7 March | 21 April | 12 May |
| Pumpkin | 15 March | 21 April | 12 May |
| Sweet Corn | — | 26 March | sow 16 April |
| Tomato | 23 February | 21 April | 12 May |
| Watermelon | 11 April | 13 May | 3 June |
| Zucchini | 20 March | 21 April | 12 May |
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.
Cologne: weather for the next 7 days
Forecast by Open-Meteo. Nights at or below 0 °C are marked as frost.
Planted in autumn
| Crop | Plant around |
|---|---|
| Crocus | 21 October |
| Daffodil | 21 October |
| Garlic | 21 October |
| Hyacinth | 21 October |
| Lily | 21 October |
| Tulip | 21 October |
A month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter.