Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Göttingen

Germany

In Göttingen the last spring frost usually comes around 27 April and the first autumn frost around 17 November, which leaves about 204 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 26 May to 28 July.

Last spring frostaround 27 April
First autumn frostaround 17 November
Frost-free days204 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 Göttingen?

The last frost in Göttingen usually comes around 27 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 6 April, while corn waits until 5 May. The first autumn frost follows around 17 November, about 204 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha4 March – 9 August13 April – 18 September4 May – 18 September
Ageratumfrom 10 March—from 26 May
Arugula——sow 6 April – 13 October
Basil15 April – 15 September23 May – 23 October13 June – 23 October
Beet——sow 6 April – 18 September
Bell Pepper24 March – 29 May23 May – 28 July13 June – 28 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 10 February—from 4 May
Bok Choy9 March – 26 September13 April – 31 October4 May – 31 October
Borage——sow 4 May – 23 September
Broad bean——sow 6 April – 9 August
Broccoli——sow 6 April – 2 August
Brussels Sprouts30 January – 30 June16 March – 14 August6 April – 14 August
Busy Lizziefrom 9 February—from 4 May
Cabbage——sow 6 April – 10 July
Calendula——sow from 6 April
Carrot——sow 6 April – 25 August
Cauliflower2 February – 2 August16 March – 13 September6 April – 13 September
Celeriac26 January – 30 May13 April – 15 August4 May – 15 August
Celery26 January – 9 June13 April – 25 August4 May – 25 August
Celosiafrom 30 Marchfrom 14 Mayfrom 4 June
Chamomile——sow 6 April – 13 September
Chayote16 January – 23 May14 April – 19 August5 May – 19 August
Chickpea——sow 6 April – 30 July
Chicory19 February – 24 August—6 April – 18 September
Chili Pepper24 March – 5 July23 May – 3 September13 June – 3 September
China asterfrom 1 Aprilfrom 23 Mayfrom 13 June
Chives——sow 6 April – 4 September
Cilantro——sow 6 April – 14 September
Corn——sow 5 May – 30 July
Corn poppy——sow from 6 April
Cosmosfrom 30 Marchfrom 14 Mayfrom 4 June
Cucumber25 April – 5 August23 May – 2 September13 June – 2 September
Daikon——sow 6 April – 11 September
Delphiniumfrom 16 January—from 6 April
Dill——sow 6 April – 24 September
Edging lobeliafrom 9 February—from 4 May
Eggplant24 March – 29 May23 May – 28 July13 June – 28 July
Florence fennel27 February – 9 August13 April – 23 September4 May – 23 September
Foxglovefrom 29 December—from 6 April
Garden sorrel——sow 6 April – 12 September
Green Beans——sow 4 June – 7 August
Hollyhock——sow from 6 April
Hyssop——sow 6 April – 5 August
Kale——sow 6 April – 6 September
Kiwano3 April – 12 August5 May – 13 September26 May – 13 September
Kohlrabi——sow 6 April – 16 September
Leek5 January – 21 May16 March – 30 July6 April – 30 July
Lemon balm——sow 6 April – 8 September
Lettuce——sow 6 April – 21 September
Lisianthusfrom 19 Decemberfrom 16 Marchfrom 6 April
Lovage——sow from 6 April
Luffa11 April – 6 June23 May – 18 July13 June – 18 July
Marigoldfrom 2 Marchfrom 13 Aprilfrom 4 May
Marjoram24 March – 24 August—13 June – 23 October
Melon25 April – 23 July23 May – 20 August13 June – 20 August
Microgreens——sow 4 June – 3 November
Moringa7 April – 29 August1 June – 23 October22 June – 23 October
Moss rosefrom 16 February—from 4 May
Mustard greens——sow 6 April – 3 October
Napa cabbage11 March – 3 September13 April – 6 October4 May – 6 October
Nasturtiumfrom 6 Marchfrom 13 Aprilfrom 4 May
Okra11 April – 17 August23 May – 28 September13 June – 28 September
Oregano15 January – 14 August16 March – 13 October6 April – 13 October
Pansyfrom 19 Januaryfrom 16 Marchfrom 6 April
Parsley——sow 6 April – 2 September
Parsnip——sow 6 April – 22 July
Peanut16 April – 13 July23 May – 19 August13 June – 19 August
Peas——sow 6 April – 4 September
Petuniafrom 21 Marchfrom 23 Mayfrom 13 June
Physalis21 March – 10 July5 May – 24 August26 May – 24 August
Pumpkin11 April – 11 June23 May – 23 July13 June – 23 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 13 January—from 6 April
Radish——sow 6 April – 18 October
Sage26 January – 10 August16 March – 28 September6 April – 28 September
Scarlet sagefrom 14 March—from 26 May
Snapdragonfrom 10 Januaryfrom 16 Marchfrom 6 April
Soybean——sow 13 June – 29 August
Spinach——sow 6 April – 23 September
Stevia17 March – 1 July5 May – 19 August26 May – 19 August
Stock——sow from 6 April
Sunflower——sow from 4 June
Sweet alyssum——sow from 6 April
Sweet Corn29 March – 24 August20 April – 15 September11 May – 15 September
Sweet peafrom 2 Februaryfrom 16 Marchfrom 6 April
Sweet William——sow from 6 April
Swiss Chard——sow 6 April – 18 September
Thyme——sow 6 April – 30 July
Tomato14 March – 6 June5 May – 28 July26 May – 28 July
Turnip——sow 6 April – 20 September
Watercress——sow 6 April – 1 October
Watermelon25 April – 11 July23 May – 8 August13 June – 8 August
Zinniafrom 27 Aprilfrom 1 Junefrom 22 June
Zucchini2 May – 10 August23 May – 31 August13 June – 31 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 Göttingen

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 8 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 29 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C15 February71 days earlier
10 °C19 April8 days earlier
15 °C26 May29 days later
18 °C13 June47 days later

Frost dates near Göttingen

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Hanover (9 April) and latest in Erfurt (23 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Kassel38 km20 April17 November
Braunschweig92 km16 April19 November
Hanover94 km9 April21 November
Erfurt98 km23 April7 November
Bielefeld111 km20 April18 November

What to grow at home in winter in Göttingen

Frosts in Göttingen usually come from about 17 November to about 27 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 Göttingen by month

Average weather in Göttingen over 2016–2025: the warmest month is August. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: June (22.3 °C), July (22.9 °C) and August (23.5 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in January (-0.8 °C) and February (-0.3 °C). About 742 mm of rain falls in a year, on 149 days; January is the wettest month (73 mm) and April the driest (48 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January4-0.87316
February6.3-0.36513
March9.40.85812
April13.23.44810
May17.57.75912
June22.312.16611
July22.913.27313
August23.513.46612
September19.610.35110
October14.27.46614
November7.92.55212
December5.20.86514

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 18 October
Crocus18 October – end of December
Daffodil18 October – end of December
Garlic18 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 18 October
Helleboreby 18 October
Hyacinth18 October – end of December
Lilyby 18 October
Ornamental onionby 18 October
Peonyby 18 October
Saffronby 18 October
Snowdropby 18 October
Tulip18 October – end of December
Wild garlicby 18 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).