Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Biel/Bienne

Switzerland

In Biel/Bienne the last spring frost usually comes around 29 April and the first autumn frost around 4 November, which leaves about 189 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 15 June to 15 July.

Last spring frostaround 29 April
First autumn frostaround 4 November
Frost-free days189 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 is the last frost in Biel/Bienne?

The last frost in Biel/Bienne usually comes around 29 April: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 8 April, while corn waits until 1 June. The first autumn frost follows around 4 November, about 189 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha12 March – 27 July21 April – 5 September12 May – 5 September
Ageratumfrom 30 March—from 15 June
Arugula——sow 8 April – 30 September
Basil29 April – 2 September6 June – 10 October27 June – 10 October
Beet——sow 8 April – 5 September
Bell Pepper7 April – 16 May6 June – 15 July27 June – 15 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 18 February—from 12 May
Bok Choy17 March – 13 September21 April – 18 October12 May – 18 October
Borage——sow 6 May – 10 September
Broad bean——sow 8 April – 27 July
Broccoli——sow 8 April – 20 July
Brussels Sprouts1 February – 17 June18 March – 1 August8 April – 1 August
Busy Lizziefrom 11 February—from 6 May
Cabbage——sow 8 April – 27 June
Calendula——sow from 8 April
Carrot——sow 8 April – 12 August
Cauliflower4 February – 20 July18 March – 31 August8 April – 31 August
Celeriac3 February – 17 May21 April – 2 August12 May – 2 August
Celery3 February – 27 May21 April – 12 August12 May – 12 August
Celosiafrom 16 Aprilfrom 31 Mayfrom 21 June
Chamomile——sow 8 April – 31 August
Chayote12 February – 10 May11 May – 6 August1 June – 6 August
Chickpea——sow 8 April – 17 July
Chicory21 February – 11 August—8 April – 5 September
Chili Pepper7 April – 22 June6 June – 21 August27 June – 21 August
China asterfrom 15 Aprilfrom 6 Junefrom 27 June
Chives——sow 8 April – 22 August
Cilantro——sow 8 April – 1 September
Corn——sow 1 June – 17 July
Corn poppy——sow from 8 April
Cosmosfrom 16 Aprilfrom 31 Mayfrom 21 June
Cucumber9 May – 23 July6 June – 20 August27 June – 20 August
Daikon——sow 8 April – 29 August
Delphiniumfrom 18 January—from 8 April
Dill——sow 8 April – 11 September
Edging lobeliafrom 17 February—from 12 May
Eggplant7 April – 16 May6 June – 15 July27 June – 15 July
Florence fennel7 March – 27 July21 April – 10 September12 May – 10 September
Foxglovefrom 31 December—from 8 April
Garden sorrel——sow 8 April – 30 August
Green Beans——sow 21 June – 25 July
Hollyhock——sow from 8 April
Hyssop——sow 8 April – 23 July
Kale——sow 8 April – 24 August
Kiwano23 April – 30 July25 May – 31 August15 June – 31 August
Kohlrabi——sow 8 April – 3 September
Leek7 January – 8 May18 March – 17 July8 April – 17 July
Lemon balm——sow 8 April – 26 August
Lettuce——sow 8 April – 8 September
Lisianthusfrom 21 Decemberfrom 18 Marchfrom 8 April
Lovage——sow from 8 April
Luffa25 April – 24 May6 June – 5 July27 June – 5 July
Marigoldfrom 10 Marchfrom 21 Aprilfrom 12 May
Marjoram7 April – 11 August—27 June – 10 October
Melon9 May – 10 July6 June – 7 August27 June – 7 August
Microgreens——sow 21 June – 21 October
Moringa17 April – 16 August11 June – 10 October2 July – 10 October
Moss rosefrom 18 February—from 6 May
Mustard greens——sow 8 April – 20 September
Napa cabbage19 March – 21 August21 April – 23 September12 May – 23 September
Nasturtiumfrom 14 Marchfrom 21 Aprilfrom 12 May
Okra25 April – 4 August6 June – 15 September27 June – 15 September
Oregano17 January – 1 August18 March – 30 September8 April – 30 September
Pansyfrom 21 Januaryfrom 18 Marchfrom 8 April
Parsley——sow 8 April – 20 August
Parsnip——sow 8 April – 9 July
Peanut30 April – 30 June6 June – 6 August27 June – 6 August
Peas——sow 8 April – 22 August
Petuniafrom 4 Aprilfrom 6 Junefrom 27 June
Physalis10 April – 27 June25 May – 11 August15 June – 11 August
Pumpkin25 April – 29 May6 June – 10 July27 June – 10 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 15 January—from 8 April
Radish——sow 8 April – 5 October
Sage28 January – 28 July18 March – 15 September8 April – 15 September
Scarlet sagefrom 3 April—from 15 June
Snapdragonfrom 12 Januaryfrom 18 Marchfrom 8 April
Soybean——sow 27 June – 16 August
Spinach——sow 8 April – 10 September
Stevia6 April – 18 June25 May – 6 August15 June – 6 August
Stock——sow from 8 April
Sunflower——sow from 21 June
Sweet alyssum——sow from 8 April
Sweet Corn22 April – 11 August14 May – 2 September4 June – 2 September
Sweet peafrom 4 Februaryfrom 18 Marchfrom 8 April
Sweet William——sow from 8 April
Swiss Chard——sow 8 April – 5 September
Thyme——sow 8 April – 17 July
Tomato3 April – 24 May25 May – 15 July15 June – 15 July
Turnip——sow 8 April – 7 September
Watercress——sow 8 April – 18 September
Watermelon9 May – 28 June6 June – 26 July27 June – 26 July
Zinniafrom 7 Mayfrom 11 Junefrom 2 July
Zucchini16 May – 28 July6 June – 18 August27 June – 18 August

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. 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.

When the soil warms up in Biel/Bienne

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo). The soil reaches 10 °C 13 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 47 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C21 March39 days earlier
10 °C12 May13 days later
15 °C15 June47 days later
18 °C27 June59 days later

Frost dates near Biel/Bienne

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Neuchâtel (29 March) and latest in Fribourg (26 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Bern26 km24 April3 November
Neuchâtel29 km29 March28 November
Fribourg39 km26 April6 November
Thun52 km24 April6 November
Basel53 km5 April20 November

What to grow at home in winter in Biel/Bienne

Frosts in Biel/Bienne usually come from about 4 November to about 29 April. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Biel/Bienne by month

Average weather in Biel/Bienne over 2016–2025: the warmest month is August. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: July (20.7 °C) and August (20.9 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in December–March (-4.3–-0.9 °C). About 1384 mm of rain falls in a year, on 183 days; June is the wettest month (153 mm) and February the driest (82 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January2-4.312316
February4.8-2.68214
March7.4-0.99014
April10.71.99714
May13.95.714019
June19.310.815318
July20.711.913616
August20.91212115
September16.78.510314
October12.5511013
November6.2011515
December3.3-2.811415

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 5 October
Crocus5 October – 7 December
Daffodil5 October – 7 December
Garlic5 October – 7 December
Grape hyacinthby 5 October
Helleboreby 5 October
Hyacinth5 October – 7 December
Lilyby 5 October
Ornamental onionby 5 October
Peonyby 5 October
Saffronby 5 October
Snowdropby 5 October
Tulip5 October – 7 December
Wild garlicby 5 October

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).