Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Jena

Germany

In Jena the last spring frost usually comes around 19 April and the first autumn frost around 14 November, which leaves about 209 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 17 May to 25 July.

Last spring frostaround 19 April
First autumn frostaround 14 November
Frost-free days209 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 Jena?

The last frost in Jena usually comes around 19 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 29 March, while corn waits until 29 April. The first autumn frost follows around 14 November, about 209 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha24 February – 6 August5 April – 15 September26 April – 15 September
Ageratumfrom 1 March—from 17 May
Arugula——sow 29 March – 10 October
Basil10 April – 12 September18 May – 20 October8 June – 20 October
Beet——sow 29 March – 15 September
Bell Pepper19 March – 26 May18 May – 25 July8 June – 25 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 2 February—from 26 April
Bok Choy1 March – 23 September5 April – 28 October26 April – 28 October
Borage——sow 26 April – 20 September
Broad bean——sow 29 March – 6 August
Broccoli——sow 29 March – 30 July
Brussels Sprouts22 January – 27 June8 March – 11 August29 March – 11 August
Busy Lizziefrom 1 February—from 26 April
Cabbage——sow 29 March – 7 July
Calendula——sow from 29 March
Carrot——sow 29 March – 22 August
Cauliflower25 January – 30 July8 March – 10 September29 March – 10 September
Celeriac18 January – 27 May5 April – 12 August26 April – 12 August
Celery18 January – 6 June5 April – 22 August26 April – 22 August
Celosiafrom 28 Marchfrom 12 Mayfrom 2 June
Chamomile——sow 29 March – 10 September
Chayote10 January – 20 May8 April – 16 August29 April – 16 August
Chickpea——sow 29 March – 27 July
Chicory11 February – 21 August—29 March – 15 September
Chili Pepper19 March – 2 July18 May – 31 August8 June – 31 August
China asterfrom 27 Marchfrom 18 Mayfrom 8 June
Chives——sow 29 March – 1 September
Cilantro——sow 29 March – 11 September
Corn——sow 29 April – 27 July
Corn poppy——sow from 29 March
Cosmosfrom 28 Marchfrom 12 Mayfrom 2 June
Cucumber20 April – 2 August18 May – 30 August8 June – 30 August
Daikon——sow 29 March – 8 September
Delphiniumfrom 8 January—from 29 March
Dill——sow 29 March – 21 September
Edging lobeliafrom 1 February—from 26 April
Eggplant19 March – 26 May18 May – 25 July8 June – 25 July
Florence fennel19 February – 6 August5 April – 20 September26 April – 20 September
Foxglovefrom 21 December—from 29 March
Garden sorrel——sow 29 March – 9 September
Green Beans——sow 2 June – 4 August
Hollyhock——sow from 29 March
Hyssop——sow 29 March – 2 August
Kale——sow 29 March – 3 September
Kiwano25 March – 9 August26 April – 10 September17 May – 10 September
Kohlrabi——sow 29 March – 13 September
Leek28 December – 18 May8 March – 27 July29 March – 27 July
Lemon balm——sow 29 March – 5 September
Lettuce——sow 29 March – 18 September
Lisianthusfrom 11 Decemberfrom 8 Marchfrom 29 March
Lovage——sow from 29 March
Luffa6 April – 3 June18 May – 15 July8 June – 15 July
Marigoldfrom 22 Februaryfrom 5 Aprilfrom 26 April
Marjoram19 March – 21 August—8 June – 20 October
Melon20 April – 20 July18 May – 17 August8 June – 17 August
Microgreens——sow 2 June – 31 October
Moringa5 April – 26 August30 May – 20 October20 June – 20 October
Moss rosefrom 8 February—from 26 April
Mustard greens——sow 29 March – 30 September
Napa cabbage3 March – 31 August5 April – 3 October26 April – 3 October
Nasturtiumfrom 26 Februaryfrom 5 Aprilfrom 26 April
Okra6 April – 14 August18 May – 25 September8 June – 25 September
Oregano7 January – 11 August8 March – 10 October29 March – 10 October
Pansyfrom 11 Januaryfrom 8 Marchfrom 29 March
Parsley——sow 29 March – 30 August
Parsnip——sow 29 March – 19 July
Peanut11 April – 10 July18 May – 16 August8 June – 16 August
Peas——sow 29 March – 1 September
Petuniafrom 16 Marchfrom 18 Mayfrom 8 June
Physalis12 March – 7 July26 April – 21 August17 May – 21 August
Pumpkin6 April – 8 June18 May – 20 July8 June – 20 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 5 January—from 29 March
Radish——sow 29 March – 15 October
Sage18 January – 7 August8 March – 25 September29 March – 25 September
Scarlet sagefrom 5 March—from 17 May
Snapdragonfrom 2 Januaryfrom 8 Marchfrom 29 March
Soybean——sow 8 June – 26 August
Spinach——sow 29 March – 20 September
Stevia8 March – 28 June26 April – 16 August17 May – 16 August
Stock——sow from 29 March
Sunflower——sow from 2 June
Sweet alyssum——sow from 29 March
Sweet Corn22 March – 21 August13 April – 12 September4 May – 12 September
Sweet peafrom 25 Januaryfrom 8 Marchfrom 29 March
Sweet William——sow from 29 March
Swiss Chard——sow 29 March – 15 September
Thyme——sow 29 March – 27 July
Tomato5 March – 3 June26 April – 25 July17 May – 25 July
Turnip——sow 29 March – 17 September
Watercress——sow 29 March – 28 September
Watermelon20 April – 8 July18 May – 5 August8 June – 5 August
Zinniafrom 25 Aprilfrom 30 Mayfrom 20 June
Zucchini27 April – 7 August18 May – 28 August8 June – 28 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 Jena

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 6 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 28 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C3 February75 days earlier
10 °C13 April6 days earlier
15 °C17 May28 days later
18 °C8 June50 days later

Frost dates near Jena

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Halle (Saale) (13 April) and latest in Karlovy Vary (27 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Erfurt40 km23 April7 November
Halle (Saale)67 km13 April19 November
Leipzig71 km21 April17 November
Chemnitz95 km25 April15 November
Karlovy Vary119 km27 April26 October

What to grow at home in winter in Jena

Frosts in Jena usually come from about 14 November to about 19 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 Jena by month

Average weather in Jena over 2016–2025: the warmest month is August. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: June–September (20.3–24.5 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in January (-0.9 °C) and February (-0.1 °C). About 650 mm of rain falls in a year, on 133 days; May is the wettest month (65 mm) and April the driest (40 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January4.1-0.95714
February6.4-0.14711
March9.51.14712
April13.644010
May17.88.36511
June23.313.26011
July24.214.46211
August24.514.56311
September20.311549
October14.87.86211
November8.32.74410
December5.30.64912

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 15 October
Crocus15 October – end of December
Daffodil15 October – end of December
Garlic15 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 15 October
Helleboreby 15 October
Hyacinth15 October – end of December
Lilyby 15 October
Ornamental onionby 15 October
Peonyby 15 October
Saffronby 15 October
Snowdropby 15 October
Tulip15 October – end of December
Wild garlicby 15 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).