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Last and first frost dates in Lugano

Switzerland

In Lugano the last spring frost usually comes around 11 March and the first autumn frost around 5 December, which leaves about 269 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 28 April to 15 August.

Last spring frostaround 11 March
First autumn frostaround 5 December
Frost-free days269 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 Lugano?

The last frost in Lugano usually comes around 11 March: 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 18 February, while corn waits until 5 April. The first autumn frost follows around 5 December, about 269 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha24 January – 27 August5 March – 6 October26 March – 6 October
Ageratumfrom 10 February—from 28 April
Arugula——sow 18 February – 31 October
Basil31 March – 3 October8 May – 10 November29 May – 10 November
Beet——sow 18 February – 6 October
Bell Pepper9 March – 16 June8 May – 15 August29 May – 15 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 2 January—from 26 March
Bok Choy29 January – 14 October5 March – 18 November26 March – 18 November
Borage——sow 18 March – 11 October
Broad bean——sow 18 February – 27 August
Broccoli——sow 18 February – 20 August
Brussels Sprouts14 December – 18 July28 January – 1 September18 February – 1 September
Busy Lizziefrom 24 December—from 18 March
Cabbage——sow 18 February – 28 July
Calendula——sow from 18 February
Carrot——sow 18 February – 12 September
Cauliflower17 December – 20 August28 January – 1 October18 February – 1 October
Celeriac18 December – 17 June5 March – 2 September26 March – 2 September
Celery18 December – 27 June5 March – 12 September26 March – 12 September
Celosiafrom 6 Marchfrom 20 Aprilfrom 11 May
Chamomile——sow 18 February – 1 October
Chayote17 December – 10 June15 March – 6 September5 April – 6 September
Chickpea——sow 18 February – 17 August
Chicory3 January – 11 September—18 February – 6 October
Chili Pepper9 March – 23 July8 May – 21 September29 May – 21 September
China asterfrom 17 Marchfrom 8 Mayfrom 29 May
Chives——sow 18 February – 22 September
Cilantro——sow 18 February – 2 October
Corn——sow 5 April – 17 August
Corn poppy——sow from 18 February
Cosmosfrom 6 Marchfrom 20 Aprilfrom 11 May
Cucumber10 April – 23 August8 May – 20 September29 May – 20 September
Daikon——sow 18 February – 29 September
Delphiniumfrom 30 November—from 18 February
Dill——sow 18 February – 12 October
Edging lobeliafrom 1 January—from 26 March
Eggplant9 March – 16 June8 May – 15 August29 May – 15 August
Florence fennel19 January – 27 August5 March – 11 October26 March – 11 October
Foxglovefrom 12 November—from 18 February
Garden sorrel——sow 18 February – 30 September
Green Beans——sow 11 May – 25 August
Hollyhock——sow from 18 February
Hyssop——sow 18 February – 23 August
Kale——sow 18 February – 24 September
Kiwano6 March – 30 August7 April – 1 October28 April – 1 October
Kohlrabi——sow 18 February – 4 October
Leek19 November – 8 June28 January – 17 August18 February – 17 August
Lemon balm——sow 18 February – 26 September
Lettuce——sow 18 February – 9 October
Lisianthusfrom 2 Novemberfrom 28 Januaryfrom 18 February
Lovage——sow from 18 February
Luffa27 March – 24 June8 May – 5 August29 May – 5 August
Marigoldfrom 22 Januaryfrom 5 Marchfrom 26 March
Marjoram9 March – 11 September—29 May – 10 November
Melon10 April – 10 August8 May – 7 September29 May – 7 September
Microgreens——sow 11 May – 21 November
Moringa23 March – 16 September17 May – 10 November7 June – 10 November
Moss rosefrom 31 December—from 18 March
Mustard greens——sow 18 February – 21 October
Napa cabbage31 January – 21 September5 March – 24 October26 March – 24 October
Nasturtiumfrom 26 Januaryfrom 5 Marchfrom 26 March
Okra27 March – 4 September8 May – 16 October29 May – 16 October
Oregano29 November – 1 September28 January – 31 October18 February – 31 October
Pansyfrom 3 Decemberfrom 28 Januaryfrom 18 February
Parsley——sow 18 February – 20 September
Parsnip——sow 18 February – 9 August
Peanut1 April – 31 July8 May – 6 September29 May – 6 September
Peas——sow 18 February – 22 September
Petuniafrom 6 Marchfrom 8 Mayfrom 29 May
Physalis21 February – 28 July7 April – 11 September28 April – 11 September
Pumpkin27 March – 29 June8 May – 10 August29 May – 10 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 27 November—from 18 February
Radish——sow 18 February – 5 November
Sage10 December – 28 August28 January – 16 October18 February – 16 October
Scarlet sagefrom 14 February—from 28 April
Snapdragonfrom 24 Novemberfrom 28 Januaryfrom 18 February
Soybean——sow 29 May – 16 September
Spinach——sow 18 February – 11 October
Stevia17 February – 19 July7 April – 6 September28 April – 6 September
Stock——sow from 18 February
Sunflower——sow from 11 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 18 February
Sweet Corn27 February – 11 September21 March – 3 October11 April – 3 October
Sweet peafrom 17 Decemberfrom 28 Januaryfrom 18 February
Sweet William——sow from 18 February
Swiss Chard——sow 18 February – 6 October
Thyme——sow 18 February – 17 August
Tomato14 February – 24 June7 April – 15 August28 April – 15 August
Turnip——sow 18 February – 8 October
Watercress——sow 18 February – 19 October
Watermelon10 April – 29 July8 May – 26 August29 May – 26 August
Zinniafrom 12 Aprilfrom 17 Mayfrom 7 June
Zucchini17 April – 28 August8 May – 18 September29 May – 18 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 Lugano

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 15 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 48 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C25 January45 days earlier
10 °C26 March15 days later
15 °C28 April48 days later
18 °C29 May79 days later

Frost dates near Lugano

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Busto Arsizio (27 February) and latest in Locarno (23 May).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Bellinzona22 km7 April15 November
Locarno22 km23 May22 September
Como23 km15 March23 November
Busto Arsizio44 km27 February29 November
Milan63 km28 February30 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Lugano

Within 15 km of Lugano OpenStreetMap lists 8 garden centres, 2 markets and 10 farm shops (collected 27 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Keller Thomi SA, 3 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Lugano

Frosts in Lugano usually come from about 5 December to about 11 March. 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 Lugano by month

Average weather in Lugano over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: May–September (20.3–27.5 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 0.8 °C. About 1983 mm of rain falls in a year, on 159 days; August is the wettest month (260 mm) and January the driest (67 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January9.10.8679
February11.22.3839
March13.53.712611
April17.17.214512
May20.311.420819
June25.516.422517
July27.518.620918
August27.318.726015
September22.714.819515
October18.610.722214
November12.75.215512
December102.1888

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 November
Crocus5 November – end of December
Daffodil5 November – end of December
Garlic5 November – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 5 November
Helleboreby 5 November
Hyacinth5 November – end of December
Lilyby 5 November
Ornamental onionby 5 November
Peonyby 5 November
Saffronby 5 November
Snowdropby 5 November
Tulip5 November – end of December
Wild garlicby 5 November

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).