Garden Guide

Garden Guide for Bern, Bernese Midlands

Bern is located in temperate climate zone 7b and enjoys a climate with mild winters and warm summers, influenced by its proximity to the Alps. The soils are often loamy-humus rich and well-draining, creating ideal conditions for many crops. Pay attention to the local microclimates in your garden.

In Bern, climate zone 7b, you can start your main sowing after the last frost in mid-April and harvest until the first frost in early November. You can sow garden lettuce from April to September and harvest from April to October. Sow radishes from April to September for a harvest from June to October, while tomatoes (started off indoors March to May) will bear fruit from July to October.

Zone 7b Last frost: Mid April First frost: Early November temperate

Also applies to: Thun, Fribourg, Solothurn, Biel/Bienne, Burgdorf, Langenthal

Plan your Bern garden in the Fryd app

Planting Calendar

When to start indoors, sow outdoors, and harvest in Bern.

Light Water Nutrients

Start indoors Sowing Harvest

Planting calendar for Bern, Zone 7b
Crop	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Carrots ●●● ●●○ ●○○
Lettuce (Lettuce) ●●○ ●●○ ●●○
Cucumber / Gherkin ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Courgette / Zucchini ●●● ●●● ●●●
Pepper / Paprika ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Potato ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Radishes ●●● ●●○ ●○○
Tomato (Bush tomato) ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Tomato (Cocktail bush tomato) ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Onion ●●● ●●○ ●●○
Bean (Dwarf bean) ●●● ●●○ ●○○
Pea ●●● ●●○ ●○○
Basil ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Beetroot ●●● ●●○ ●●○
Strawberry ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Kohlrabi / German turnip / Turnip cabbage ●●● ●●○ ●●○
Garlic ●●● ●●○ ●○○
Pumpkin / Squash ●●● ●●● ●●●
Broccoli ●●● ●●● ●●●
Chard ●●○ ●●○ ●●○

Carrots ●●● ●●○ ●○○

Lettuce (Lettuce) ●●○ ●●○ ●●○

Cucumber / Gherkin ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Courgette / Zucchini ●●● ●●● ●●●

Pepper / Paprika ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Potato ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Radishes ●●● ●●○ ●○○

Tomato (Bush tomato) ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Tomato (Cocktail bush tomato) ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Onion ●●● ●●○ ●●○

Bean (Dwarf bean) ●●● ●●○ ●○○

Pea ●●● ●●○ ●○○

Basil ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Beetroot ●●● ●●○ ●●○

Strawberry ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Kohlrabi / German turnip / Turnip cabbage ●●● ●●○ ●●○

Garlic ●●● ●●○ ●○○

Pumpkin / Squash ●●● ●●● ●●●

Broccoli ●●● ●●● ●●●

Chard ●●○ ●●○ ●●○

Planting Calendar Bern

Carrots: Sowing Apr - Jun, Harvest Jul - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
Lettuce (Lettuce): Start indoors Mar - Sep, Sowing Apr - Sep, Harvest Apr - 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 Apr - Jun, Sowing Jun - Jul, Harvest Jul - Oct (Light: high, Water: high, Nutrients: high)
Pepper / Paprika: Start indoors Mar - Apr, Sowing Jun - Jul, Harvest Aug - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Potato: Start indoors Mar - Apr, Sowing Apr - Jul, 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 Mar - May, Sowing Jun - Jul, Harvest Jul - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Tomato (Cocktail bush tomato): Start indoors Mar - May, Sowing Jun - Jul, Harvest Jul - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Onion: Start indoors Feb - Mar, Sowing Mar - May, Harvest Aug - Sep (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)
Bean (Dwarf bean): Start indoors May - Jun, Sowing Jun - Aug, Harvest Jul - Sep (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
Pea: Sowing Apr - Jul, Harvest Jun - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
Basil: Start indoors Apr - Aug, Sowing Jun - Aug, Harvest Jun - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Beetroot: Start indoors Mar - Apr, Sowing Apr - Jul, Harvest Jul - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)
Strawberry: Start indoors Mar - May, Sowing Apr - Jul, Harvest Jun - Sep (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Kohlrabi / German turnip / Turnip cabbage: Start indoors Mar - Jun, Sowing Apr - Jul, Harvest Jun - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)
Garlic: Sowing Sep - Nov, Harvest Jun - 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 Jul - Oct (Light: high, Water: high, Nutrients: high)
Chard: Start indoors Feb - May, Sowing Apr - Jul, Harvest Jun - Oct (Light: medium, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)

Based on Fryd planting data for Zone 7b, 2026.

Companion Planting for Bern

Plants that thrive together in Bernese Midlands.

Lettuce (Lettuce) + Carrots

Chard + Carrots

Lettuce (Lettuce) + Radishes

Onion + Cucumber / Gherkin

Garlic + Cucumber / Gherkin

Plan companions visually

Drag and drop crops in the Fryd bed planner to see companion matches.

Try Fryd →

Growing Tips for Bern

Soil Care is Essential

Radishes and carrots prefer humus-rich, well-draining, and loose soil. Consistent moisture is crucial to prevent woody or fuzzy roots.

Warmth and Light for Heavy Feeders

Plants like tomatoes, peppers, and pumpkins love sunny, warm, and sheltered spots. Ensure they get enough light and warmth, especially during fruit development, to achieve abundant harvests.

Consistent Water and Nutrient Supply

Broccoli and potatoes are heavy feeders and require a constant supply of water and nutrients. Keep the soil consistently moist, but avoid waterlogging to promote healthy growth.

Common Pests & Diseases

•

Identify and Combat Aphids

Aphids are small, often green or black insects that gather on young shoots and leaves. Regularly spray affected plants with a mild soapy solution to remove these pests.

•

Keep Snails in Check

Snails are especially active after rain and love to munch on young plants. Hand-pick them in the evening, set up beer traps, or install snail fences to protect your beds.

•

Prevent Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew appears as a white, powdery coating on leaves and stems, especially in humid weather. Ensure good air circulation between plants and strengthen them with horsetail or milk sprays.

•

Spot Potato Beetles Early

The potato beetle is a striped beetle whose larvae cause significant damage to potato plants. Regularly check your potatoes and hand-pick beetles and larvae to prevent them from spreading.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant tomatoes in Bern?

You can start off tomatoes indoors in Bern from March to May and plant the young seedlings outdoors from mid-May. You'll then harvest from July to October.

What climate zone is Bern in?

Bern is in climate zone 7b. This means you can expect mild winters and warm summers, allowing for a diverse range of garden designs.

Which vegetables grow best in Bern?

Many crops thrive wonderfully in Bern, including garden lettuce, radishes, carrots, and chard, all of which are cold-hardy. Heat-loving plants like tomatoes and courgettes are also very successful by starting them off indoors.

When is the last frost in Bern?

The last frost in Bern is typically in mid-April. Wait until this danger has definitely passed before planting frost-sensitive crops like beans, cucumbers, or pumpkins.