Garden Guide
Garden Guide for Berlin, Berlin & Brandenburg
Berlin sits in a temperate climate zone with a hint of continental influence. Summers here are often warm to hot, while winters are cool. The soil in Berlin is typically sandy and well-draining, thanks to those ancient glacial deposits. This is brilliant for drainage, but it does mean your plants might get thirsty rather quickly!
Here in Berlin, in Climate Zone 7b, you can usually start sowing seeds outdoors from early April, once the last frost has passed. Many crops thrive here, like garden lettuce (start indoors March-September, harvest May-October) and radishes (sow/germinate April-September, harvest June-October). For frost-sensitive plants such as tomatoes (start indoors April-May, harvest August-October) and potatoes (start indoors April, harvest July-October), it's best to wait until after the 'Ice Saints' (mid-May) before moving them outdoors. You can expect the first frost around mid-November.
Also applies to: Potsdam, Oranienburg, Bernau, Königs Wusterhausen, Brandenburg an der Havel
Plan your Berlin garden in the Fryd appPlanting Calendar
When to start indoors, sow outdoors, and harvest in Berlin.
| Crop | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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| Carrots ●●● ●●○ ●○○ | |
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| Lettuce (Lettuce) ●●○ ●●○ ●●○ | |
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| Cucumber / Gherkin ●●● ●●○ ●●● | |
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| Courgette / Zucchini ●●● ●●● ●●● | |
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| Pepper / Paprika ●●● ●●○ ●●● | |
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| Potato ●●● ●●○ ●●● | |
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| Radishes ●●● ●●○ ●○○ | |
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| Tomato (Bush tomato) ●●● ●●○ ●●● | |
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| Onion ●●● ●●○ ●●○ | |
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| Tomato (Cocktail bush tomato) ●●● ●●○ ●●● | |
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| Bean (Dwarf bean) ●●● ●●○ ●○○ | |
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| Pea ●●● ●●○ ●○○ | |
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| Basil ●●● ●●○ ●●● | |
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| Beetroot ●●● ●●○ ●●○ | |
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| Strawberry ●●● ●●○ ●●● | |
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| Kohlrabi / German turnip / Turnip cabbage ●●● ●●○ ●●○ | |
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| Garlic ●●● ●●○ ●○○ | |
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| Pumpkin / Squash ●●● ●●● ●●● | |
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| Broccoli ●●● ●●● ●●● | |
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| Common marigold ●●● ●○○ | |
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Planting Calendar Berlin
- Carrots: Sowing Apr - Jun, Harvest Aug - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
- Lettuce (Lettuce): Start indoors Mar - Sep, Sowing Apr - Sep, Harvest May - Oct (Light: medium, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)
- Cucumber / Gherkin: Start indoors May - Jun, Sowing Jun - Jul, Harvest Jul - Sep (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
- Courgette / Zucchini: Start indoors May - Jun, Sowing Jun - Jul, Harvest Aug - Oct (Light: high, Water: high, Nutrients: high)
- Pepper / Paprika: Start indoors Mar, Sowing Jun - Jul, Harvest Aug - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
- Potato: Start indoors Apr, Sowing May - Jun, Harvest Jul - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
- Radishes: Sowing Apr - Sep, Harvest Jun - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
- Tomato (Bush tomato): Start indoors Apr - May, Sowing Jun - Jul, Harvest Aug - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
- Onion: Start indoors Feb - Mar, Sowing Apr - May, Harvest Aug - Sep (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)
- Tomato (Cocktail bush tomato): Start indoors Apr - May, Sowing Jun - Jul, Harvest Aug - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
- Bean (Dwarf bean): Start indoors May, Sowing Jun - Jul, Harvest Aug - Sep (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
- Pea: Sowing Apr - Jul, Harvest Jun - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
- Basil: Start indoors Apr - Jul, Sowing Jun - Aug, Harvest Jun - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
- Beetroot: Start indoors Mar, Sowing May - Jun, Harvest Aug - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)
- Strawberry: Start indoors Mar - May, Sowing Apr - Jun, Harvest Jun - Sep (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
- Kohlrabi / German turnip / Turnip cabbage: Start indoors Apr - May, Sowing May - Jun, Harvest Jul - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)
- Garlic: Sowing Oct - Nov, Harvest Jul - Aug (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
- Pumpkin / Squash: Start indoors May - Jun, Sowing Jun - Jul, Harvest Sep - Oct (Light: high, Water: high, Nutrients: high)
- Broccoli: Start indoors Mar - May, Sowing Jun - Jul, Harvest Aug - Oct (Light: high, Water: high, Nutrients: high)
- Common marigold: Start indoors Apr, Sowing May - Aug, Harvest Jul - Oct (Light: high, Nutrients: low)
Based on Fryd planting data for Zone 7b, 2026.
Companion Planting for Berlin
Plants that thrive together in Berlin & Brandenburg.
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Lettuce (Lettuce) + Carrots
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Radishes + Carrots
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Lettuce (Lettuce) + Radishes
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Onion + Cucumber / Gherkin
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Garlic + Cucumber / Gherkin
Plan companions visually
Drag and drop crops in the Fryd bed planner to see companion matches.
Try Fryd →Growing Tips for Berlin
Give Your Plants a Head Start
Give your plants a head start by sowing seeds indoors, especially for crops like garden lettuce (from March) or kohlrabi (from April). This trick helps extend your harvest season and keeps your young plants safe from any unexpected late frosts. Just ensure you use a fine seed compost and sow them at the correct depth, about 0.5 to 1 cm deep.
Consistent Moisture is Key
Lots of plants, like radishes and broccoli, need a steady supply of water to really thrive and prevent them from getting tough or woody. With Berlin's sandy soils, regular watering is vitally important to stop them from drying out too quickly. Pumpkins and courgette, in particular, are exceptionally thirsty!
Soak Up the Sun for a Bountiful Harvest
Most vegetables, like onions, tomatoes, and peppers, are absolute sun worshippers! Pick a spot in your garden that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily to encourage plenty of fruit. Basil also loves warmth and is quite sensitive to frost.
Don't Forget Soil Preparation!
Loose, humus-rich soil is the secret to happy, healthy plants. Radishes and onions love well-drained soil, while broccoli is quite fond of deeper, limy soils. Before you sow or plant, make sure to mix in some compost or well-rotted manure to give your plants a nutrient boost.
Common Pests & Diseases
Aphids
Aphids can attack lots of plants, especially tender young shoots. You can hose them off with a strong spray of water, or invite natural predators like ladybirds to your garden. A simple mix of insecticidal soap and water can also help keep these tiny pests under control.
Slugs & Snails
Slugs and snails are a common nuisance, especially for lettuce and young radishes. Try hand-picking them regularly, setting up slug barriers, or using iron phosphate slug pellets, which are safe for pets and hedgehogs. And don't forget to encourage natural predators like hedgehogs and birds!
Late Blight
This fungal disease often affects tomatoes and potatoes, especially when it's damp. Make sure your plants have enough space between them and snip off any affected leaves immediately. Always water your plants at the base to keep the foliage dry and help prevent its spread.
Cabbage White Butterfly
The cabbage white butterfly is fond of laying its eggs on brassicas like kohlrabi and broccoli. Protect your precious plants with fine-mesh insect netting to prevent those butterflies from laying. Also, make sure to regularly check the undersides of leaves for caterpillars and pick them off.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant tomatoes in Berlin?
Tomatoes are extremely sensitive to frost, so in Berlin, you should only plant them outdoors after the 'Ice Saints' (mid-May). You can start them indoors from April to May to get strong seedlings established. Pick a sunny, sheltered spot for them!
What climate zone is Berlin in?
Berlin is located in USDA Climate Zone 7b. This means our average annual minimum temperatures typically range between -15°C and -12.2°C (5°F and 10°F). This zone is excellent for growing a wide variety of vegetables and ornamental plants!
What grows particularly well in Berlin gardens?
Many crops do exceptionally well in Berlin gardens! Think radishes, garden lettuce, carrots, and potatoes – they're all quite cold-hardy. Onions, peas, and various cabbages like kohlrabi and broccoli are also very popular and yield excellent harvests. Just remember to pay close attention to what each plant specifically needs.
When is the last frost in Berlin?
The last frost in Berlin is usually expected around early April. However, it's always advisable to keep a close eye on the weather forecast. For frost-sensitive plants like beans, cucumbers, or pumpkins, it's safest to wait until after the 'Ice Saints' (mid-May) before planting them outdoors.
