Last frost: when can tomatoes go outside?
In Central Europe, gardeners traditionally wait for the “Ice Saints” (Eisheiligen), the feast days from 11 to 15 May. According to old weather lore, night frosts are no longer expected after that. It is a rule of thumb, not a forecast.
The background
In May, cold air from the north can still reach Central Europe, and on clear nights the ground may freeze. According to the German weather service, such a cold spell does not happen every year or exactly on those days. In cool and high areas, frost is possible until the end of May.
Frost-tender – only after mid-May
Tomato, sweet pepper, chilli, aubergine, cucumber, courgette, pumpkin, beans, sweetcorn, basil and nasturtium. In the calendar they are marked “frost-tender” and are never scheduled outdoors before mid-May.
Hardy – can go out earlier
Peas, carrots, radishes, spinach, onions, lettuce and cabbage tolerate light cold and are sown or planted from March or April.
Using your own last frost date
If you know when the last frost usually occurs where you live – from your own notes, a local gardening club or a weather service – enter the date in the sowing calendar. All frost-tender plants then move to after that date. If frost is forecast, a fleece cover protects plants overnight.
Note: The dates apply to Central Europe (e.g. Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Benelux countries, Poland, northern France). In warmer regions such as the Mediterranean, many dates come earlier; in Scandinavia or at high altitude, later. Use “Climate” and “Last frost” to adjust the calendar.
Sources
- Bavarian State Research Center for Viticulture and Horticulture (LWG), Bavarian Garden Academy: vegetable garden guides (in German) – lwg.bayern.de/gartenakademie
- Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), German weather service: phenology and the “Ice Saints” (in German) – dwd.de, phenology
- Federal Centre for Nutrition (BZfE): seasonal calendar for fruit and vegetables (in German) – bzfe.de
- Seed packets and variety descriptions from seed producers – the information on the packet always takes precedence.
The dates in the calendar are typical ranges for Central Europe. Variety, location, soil and weather can shift them. As of November 2026.