When to plant tomato in Cologne

Tomato is frost-tender, so every date keys off Cologne's last spring frost of Mar 26.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 7 – Mar 28
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Jun 2 – Jun 23
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Aug 1 – Aug 26
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
60 – 85 d
Cologne's 238-day season leaves this much room.
Tomato on Cologne's growing year
Frost-bounded season with crops mapped onto the 12-month axis.
Frost risk Growing Harvest
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
MAR 26
NOV 17

Common questions

When will tomato be ready to harvest in Cologne?

Expect to harvest from around early August (Aug 1–Aug 26) in Cologne, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.

When should I start tomato seeds indoors in Cologne?

Start seeds indoors around early March (Mar 7–Mar 28) in Cologne, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.

When can I transplant tomato outdoors in Cologne?

Transplant outdoors around early June (Jun 2–Jun 23) in Cologne, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.

How long is the growing season in Cologne?

Cologne has roughly 238 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow tomato to maturity outdoors.

The rule of thumb

Sow tomato 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out 2–3 weeks after it. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and Cologne's frost dates.

Confidence 89/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.