Overview
- With the 11–15 May Eisheiligen approaching, gardeners are advised to set out tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers only after about 16 May once temperatures hold above roughly 10°C.
- The German Weather Service defines late frost as frost after growth has begun, which can scorch blossoms and young shoots in gardens, orchards and vineyards.
- May tasks include direct sowing beans and radishes, then transplanting warm‑season crops like zucchini, tomatoes and cucumbers after the frost window passes.
- If a cold night is forecast, move potted plants indoors or cover beds with fleece to keep tender leaves and flowers from freezing.
- Recent years have sometimes brought no May frosts, which the weather service says may reflect climate warming, so experts recommend following local short‑range forecasts over fixed calendar rules.