Garden Guide
Garden Guide for Bolzano, South Tyrol
Bolzano is nestled in a sheltered valley basin and enjoys a mild, almost Mediterranean transitional climate, falling into USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The soils are often rich in humus and well-draining, perfect for a wide variety of crops. The sunny locations allow for a long growing season.
In Bolzano, Hardiness Zone 7a, the gardening season kicks off after the last frost in early April and lasts until the first frost in early November. You can start garden lettuce indoors from March to September and harvest from April to October. Sow radishes from March to September, while tomatoes are started indoors from March to May and harvested from July to October. Potatoes are planted from April to July and harvested starting in July.
Also applies to: Merano, Bressanone, Laives, Caldaro, Lana, Brunico
Plan your Bolzano garden in the Fryd appPlanting Calendar
When to start indoors, sow outdoors, and harvest in Bolzano.
| 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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| Tomato (Cocktail bush tomato) ●●● ●●○ ●●● | |
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| Onion ●●● ●●○ ●●○ | |
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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 Bolzano
- Carrots: Sowing Apr - Jul, Harvest Jul - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
- Lettuce (Lettuce): Start indoors Mar - Sep, Sowing Apr - Oct, 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 Mar - 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 - Jul, 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 - Jul, 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 Apr - 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)
- Common marigold: Start indoors Mar - Apr, Sowing May - Aug, Harvest Jul - Oct (Light: high, Nutrients: low)
Based on Fryd planting data for Zone 7a, 2026.
Companion Planting for Bolzano
Plants that thrive together in South Tyrol.
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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 Bolzano
Soil Preparation is Key
Ensure your garden has loose, humus-rich, and well-draining soil. Many plants like radishes, onions, and garlic thrive best in this type of soil, which prevents waterlogging.
Ensure Consistent Moisture
Fast-growing crops like radishes and broccoli especially need a constant water supply. Dryness can lead to woody radishes and hinder the growth of other plants.
Harness Sun and Warmth
Many vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, squash, and zucchini love full-sun, warm spots. Make sure to only plant frost-sensitive plants outdoors from mid-May.
Start Seeds Indoors for a Head Start
Take advantage of starting seeds indoors for crops like lettuce, tomatoes, or kohlrabi to extend your harvest season. Begin in spring to get sturdy young plants ready for transplanting after the last frost.
Common Pests & Diseases
Combat Aphids
If you have an aphid infestation, you can spray plants with a mixture of water and insecticidal soap. Using beneficial insects like ladybugs also helps to naturally control the population.
Keep Slugs Away
Protect your young plants from slugs by installing slug fences or setting up beer traps. Regularly hand-picking them in the evening is also an effective method.
Prevent Cabbage Root Flies
To avoid cabbage root flies on kohlrabi or broccoli, cover your beds with horticultural fleece or insect netting. Good crop rotation and removing plant debris also reduce the risk.
Control Colorado Potato Beetles
Regularly check your potato plants for Colorado potato beetles and hand-pick both the beetles and their larvae. Wide crop rotation and planting companion plants can also help.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant tomatoes in Bolzano?
You should start tomatoes indoors in Bolzano from March to May and only transplant the young plants outdoors from mid-May, once no more frosts are expected. Harvesting then begins from July to October.
What hardiness zone is Bolzano in?
Bolzano is in Hardiness Zone 7a, which indicates relatively mild winters and a long growing season. This allows for the cultivation of a wide range of vegetables and fruits.
Which vegetables grow particularly well in Bolzano?
Thanks to the mild climate, many crops thrive exceptionally well in Bolzano, including garden lettuce, radishes, carrots, onions, and potatoes. Heat-loving plants like tomatoes, zucchini, and squash are also very successful.
When is the last frost in Bolzano?
The last frost in Bolzano is typically expected in early April. It's advisable to only plant frost-sensitive plants outdoors after this time to avoid damage.
