Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Darmstadt

Germany

In Darmstadt the last spring frost usually comes around 14 April and the first autumn frost around 18 November, which leaves about 218 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 20 May to 29 July.

Last spring frostaround 14 April
First autumn frostaround 18 November
Frost-free days218 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 Darmstadt?

The last frost in Darmstadt usually comes around 14 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 24 March, while corn waits until 2 May. The first autumn frost follows around 18 November, about 218 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha19 February – 10 August31 March – 19 September21 April – 19 September
Ageratumfrom 4 March—from 20 May
Arugula——sow 24 March – 14 October
Basil9 April – 16 September17 May – 24 October7 June – 24 October
Beet——sow 24 March – 19 September
Bell Pepper18 March – 30 May17 May – 29 July7 June – 29 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 28 January—from 21 April
Bok Choy24 February – 27 September31 March – 1 November21 April – 1 November
Borage——sow 21 April – 24 September
Broad bean——sow 24 March – 10 August
Broccoli——sow 24 March – 3 August
Brussels Sprouts17 January – 1 July3 March – 15 August24 March – 15 August
Busy Lizziefrom 27 January—from 21 April
Cabbage——sow 24 March – 11 July
Calendula——sow from 24 March
Carrot——sow 24 March – 26 August
Cauliflower20 January – 3 August3 March – 14 September24 March – 14 September
Celeriac13 January – 31 May31 March – 16 August21 April – 16 August
Celery13 January – 10 June31 March – 26 August21 April – 26 August
Celosiafrom 22 Marchfrom 6 Mayfrom 27 May
Chamomile——sow 24 March – 14 September
Chayote13 January – 24 May11 April – 20 August2 May – 20 August
Chickpea——sow 24 March – 31 July
Chicory6 February – 25 August—24 March – 19 September
Chili Pepper18 March – 6 July17 May – 4 September7 June – 4 September
China asterfrom 26 Marchfrom 17 Mayfrom 7 June
Chives——sow 24 March – 5 September
Cilantro——sow 24 March – 15 September
Corn——sow 2 May – 31 July
Corn poppy——sow from 24 March
Cosmosfrom 22 Marchfrom 6 Mayfrom 27 May
Cucumber19 April – 6 August17 May – 3 September7 June – 3 September
Daikon——sow 24 March – 12 September
Delphiniumfrom 3 January—from 24 March
Dill——sow 24 March – 25 September
Edging lobeliafrom 27 January—from 21 April
Eggplant18 March – 30 May17 May – 29 July7 June – 29 July
Florence fennel14 February – 10 August31 March – 24 September21 April – 24 September
Foxglovefrom 16 December—from 24 March
Garden sorrel——sow 24 March – 13 September
Green Beans——sow 27 May – 8 August
Hollyhock——sow from 24 March
Hyssop——sow 24 March – 6 August
Kale——sow 24 March – 7 September
Kiwano28 March – 13 August29 April – 14 September20 May – 14 September
Kohlrabi——sow 24 March – 17 September
Leek23 December – 22 May3 March – 31 July24 March – 31 July
Lemon balm——sow 24 March – 9 September
Lettuce——sow 24 March – 22 September
Lisianthusfrom 6 Decemberfrom 3 Marchfrom 24 March
Lovage——sow from 24 March
Luffa5 April – 7 June17 May – 19 July7 June – 19 July
Marigoldfrom 17 Februaryfrom 31 Marchfrom 21 April
Marjoram18 March – 25 August—7 June – 24 October
Melon19 April – 24 July17 May – 21 August7 June – 21 August
Microgreens——sow 27 May – 4 November
Moringa2 April – 30 August27 May – 24 October17 June – 24 October
Moss rosefrom 3 February—from 21 April
Mustard greens——sow 24 March – 4 October
Napa cabbage26 February – 4 September31 March – 7 October21 April – 7 October
Nasturtiumfrom 21 Februaryfrom 31 Marchfrom 21 April
Okra5 April – 18 August17 May – 29 September7 June – 29 September
Oregano2 January – 15 August3 March – 14 October24 March – 14 October
Pansyfrom 6 Januaryfrom 3 Marchfrom 24 March
Parsley——sow 24 March – 3 September
Parsnip——sow 24 March – 23 July
Peanut10 April – 14 July17 May – 20 August7 June – 20 August
Peas——sow 24 March – 5 September
Petuniafrom 15 Marchfrom 17 Mayfrom 7 June
Physalis15 March – 11 July29 April – 25 August20 May – 25 August
Pumpkin5 April – 12 June17 May – 24 July7 June – 24 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 31 December—from 24 March
Radish——sow 24 March – 19 October
Sage13 January – 11 August3 March – 29 September24 March – 29 September
Scarlet sagefrom 8 March—from 20 May
Snapdragonfrom 28 Decemberfrom 3 Marchfrom 24 March
Soybean——sow 7 June – 30 August
Spinach——sow 24 March – 24 September
Stevia11 March – 2 July29 April – 20 August20 May – 20 August
Stock——sow from 24 March
Sunflower——sow from 27 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 24 March
Sweet Corn22 March – 25 August13 April – 16 September4 May – 16 September
Sweet peafrom 20 Januaryfrom 3 Marchfrom 24 March
Sweet William——sow from 24 March
Swiss Chard——sow 24 March – 19 September
Thyme——sow 24 March – 31 July
Tomato8 March – 7 June29 April – 29 July20 May – 29 July
Turnip——sow 24 March – 21 September
Watercress——sow 24 March – 2 October
Watermelon19 April – 12 July17 May – 9 August7 June – 9 August
Zinniafrom 22 Aprilfrom 27 Mayfrom 17 June
Zucchini26 April – 11 August17 May – 1 September7 June – 1 September

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 Darmstadt

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 4 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 36 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C31 January73 days earlier
10 °C10 April4 days earlier
15 °C20 May36 days later
18 °C7 June54 days later

Frost dates near Darmstadt

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Mainz (5 April) and latest in Heidelberg (20 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Frankfurt27 km13 April17 November
Mainz29 km5 April23 November
Wiesbaden37 km5 April23 November
Mannheim44 km14 April20 November
Heidelberg51 km20 April12 November

What to grow at home in winter in Darmstadt

Frosts in Darmstadt usually come from about 18 November to about 14 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 Darmstadt by month

Average weather in Darmstadt over 2016–2025: the warmest month is August. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: June–September (20.3–24.6 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in January (-0.6 °C). About 913 mm of rain falls in a year, on 152 days; January is the wettest month (93 mm) and April the driest (60 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January4.4-0.69316
February7.10.77313
March10.52.27512
April14.24.86012
May18.39.18913
June23.513.97511
July24.514.97112
August24.615.36611
September20.311.77110
October14.988013
November8.43.17414
December5.518615

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 19 October
Crocus19 October – end of December
Daffodil19 October – end of December
Garlic19 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 19 October
Helleboreby 19 October
Hyacinth19 October – end of December
Lilyby 19 October
Ornamental onionby 19 October
Peonyby 19 October
Saffronby 19 October
Snowdropby 19 October
Tulip19 October – end of December
Wild garlicby 19 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).