Complete outdoor planting calendar for all common vegetables – from early-spring crops like lettuce and spinach to heat-loving plants like tomatoes and aubergines.
📊 62 plant profiles – Click any plant for a detailed page with planting times, frost protection and growing tips. Growing Degree Days (GDD) tells you the right time to plant outdoors.
| Plant | Frost Sensitivity | Planting Time | Min. Night°C | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artichoke Artischocke |
Medium | from GDD 100–200 | 5°C | Perennial – protect rhizomes in winter. |
| Asparagus Spargel |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 2°C | Perennial – only harvest after 3 years. |
| Aubergine/Eggplant Aubergine |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 14°C | Most heat-demanding vegetable – needs stable warm weather. |
| Bean Bohne |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 10°C | Cold-sensitive – only plant after ice saints. |
| Beefsteak Tomato Fleischtomate |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 12°C | Very sensitive – protect from rain, wind and cold. |
| Beetroot Rote Bete |
Medium | from GDD 100–200 | 5°C | Robust – but no hard frost for young plants. |
| Bell Pepper Paprika |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 12°C | Heat-loving – needs stable warm weather. |
| Broad Bean Dicke Bohne |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 2°C | Early plant – tolerates light frost. |
| Broccoli Brokkoli |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 2°C | Frost-hardy to −5°C – likes cool temperatures. |
| Brussels Sprouts Rosenkohl |
Very low | from GDD 100–200 | -5°C | Cold improves the flavour – harvest after frost. |
| Bush Bean Buschbohne |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 10°C | Direct sow after ice saints – no cold tolerated. |
| Butterhead Lettuce Kopfsalat |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 2°C | Frost-hardy to −5°C – ideal spring and autumn plant. |
| Butternut Squash Butternut |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 10°C | Long ripening time – plant early, no frost. |
| Carrot Möhre |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 2°C | Direct sowing – tolerates light frosts. |
| Carrot (Baby) Karotte |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 2°C | Like carrot – robust and cold-tolerant. |
| Cauliflower Blumenkohl |
Medium | from GDD 50–100 | 5°C | More sensitive than broccoli – protect heads from frost. |
| Celeriac Knollensellerie |
High | from GDD 100–200 | 8°C | Long growing period – start early indoors, cold-sensitive. |
| Celery Sellerie |
High | from GDD 100–200 | 8°C | Cold shock promotes bolting – plant late. |
| Chard Mangold |
Medium | from GDD 100–200 | 5°C | Robust and versatile – great for beginners. |
| Cherry Tomato Cherrytomate |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 10°C | More robust than beefsteak tomato – but no frost tolerated. |
| Chilli Chili |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 12°C | Tropical plant – absolutely no frost. |
| Chinese Cabbage Chinakohl |
Medium | from GDD 100–200 | 5°C | Bolts easily – prefer cool conditions. |
| Corn/Maize Mais |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 10°C | Wind-pollinated – plant at least 4 rows side by side. |
| Courgette/Zucchini Zucchini |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 10°C | Large-leafed – wind-sensitive, out after frost. |
| Cucumber Gurke |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 12°C | Sensitive to cold and mildew. |
| Florence Fennel Fenchel |
Medium | from GDD 100–200 | 5°C | Bolts easily in cold – choose warm conditions. |
| Garlic Knoblauch |
Very low | from GDD 50–100 | -4°C | Needs cold phase – autumn planting optimal. |
| Hokkaido Pumpkin Hokkaido |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 10°C | More robust pumpkin – but still no frost. |
| Honeydew Melon Honigmelone |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 14°C | Heat-demanding – better in cold greenhouse or under foil. |
| Iceberg Lettuce Eisbergsalat |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 3°C | Slightly more heat-demanding than butterhead lettuce. |
| Kale Grünkohl |
Very low | from GDD 100–200 | -5°C | Frost improves the flavour – almost impossible to kill. |
| Kohlrabi Kohlrabi |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 2°C | Robust and fast-growing – ideal for beginners. |
| Lamb's Lettuce Feldsalat |
Very low | from GDD 50–100 | -5°C | Extremely frost-hardy – grows even in snow. |
| Leaf Lettuce Pflücksalat |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 1°C | Very cold-tolerant – can be harvested multiple times. |
| Leek Lauch |
Very low | from GDD 50–100 | -5°C | Very frost-hardy – can stay in the bed through winter. |
| Lettuce Salat |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 2°C | Cold-tolerant – bolts quickly in heat. |
| Melon Melone |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 14°C | Very heat-demanding – in Germany only with protection. |
| Okra Okra |
Very high | from GDD 500+ | 16°C | Tropical – in Germany only realistic with foil or greenhouse. |
| Onion Zwiebel |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 2°C | Frost-hardy – avoid waterlogging, ripens in dry conditions. |
| Pak Choi Pak Choi |
Medium | from GDD 100–200 | 5°C | Fast-growing – bolts easily in cold or heat. |
| Parsnip Pastinake |
Very low | from GDD 50–100 | -3°C | Frost improves flavour – great for winter harvest. |
| Pea Erbse |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 2°C | Early sower – tolerates light frost, likes cool springs. |
| Pepperoncini Peperoni |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 12°C | Like chilli – heat-loving and frost-sensitive. |
| Potato Kartoffel |
High | from GDD 100–200 | 7°C | Sensitive to blight in wet conditions. |
| Pumpkin Kürbis |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 10°C | Needs lots of space and no frost. |
| Radish Radieschen |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 2°C | Fastest vegetable – harvestable in 3–4 weeks. |
| Radish (large) Rettich |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 2°C | Fast and robust – bolts in heat. |
| Red Cabbage Rotkohl |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 2°C | Like white cabbage – robust and frost-hardy. |
| Rhubarb Rhabarber |
Very low | from GDD 50–100 | -5°C | Very robust and frost-hardy – perennial plant. |
| Romaine Lettuce Romanasalat |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 2°C | Robust and more heat-tolerant than butterhead lettuce. |
| Runner Bean Stangenbohne |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 10°C | Wind-sensitive – climbing structure and sheltered spot needed. |
| Salsify Schwarzwurzel |
Very low | from GDD 50–100 | -5°C | Very frost-hardy – deep soil for good root development. |
| Savoy Cabbage Wirsing |
Very low | from GDD 100–200 | -4°C | Very frost-hardy – autumn and winter harvest possible. |
| Shallot Schalotte |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 0°C | Frost-hardy – like onion but finer in flavour. |
| Spinach Spinat |
Very low | from GDD 50–100 | -3°C | Very cold-tolerant – bolts quickly in warmth. |
| Spring Onion Frühlingszwiebel |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 2°C | Robust – sow early, harvest quickly. |
| Stalk Celery Staudensellerie |
High | from GDD 100–200 | 8°C | Moisture-loving – water regularly. |
| Sugar Snap Pea Zuckererbse |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 2°C | Like pea – climbing support needed, wind-sensitive. |
| Sweet Potato Süßkartoffel |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 14°C | Tropical plant – needs warmth and no cold. |
| Tomato Tomate |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 10°C | Only outside after ice saints – botrytis risk in persistent rain. |
| Watermelon Wassermelone |
Very high | from GDD 300–350 | 16°C | In Germany only realistic with polytunnel. |
| White Cabbage Weißkohl |
Low | from GDD 50–100 | 2°C | Frost-hardy – but sensitive to slug damage. |
GrowPilot.guide calculates the current GDD for your location and gives you a daily planting recommendation — tailored to your chosen plant.
Start for free →