Location
Growing vegetables in Zürich
What grows well here — and when you need to sow. Worked out from 10 years of frost data for climate zone 8a.
Frost dates for Zürich
At 429 m the last frost falls around week 17 on average — put tomatoes out before the ice saints in mid-May and you will often regret it.
- Last spring frost: week 17
- KW 17
- First autumn frost: week 45
- KW 45
- Ø yearly minimum: -9.4°C (10-year average)
- -9.4°C
- Growing season
- 28 weeks
- Elevation
- 429 m
Source: Open-Meteo archive API, years 2015–2024
The frost weeks are ten-year averages, not a forecast. The archive grid is about ten kilometres wide — nearby places can end up with the same figures, and a slope or an inner city will differ a little. Good enough to plan with; not a guarantee.
What you can grow in Zürich
These 12 plants grow reliably in climate zone 8a.
Cape gooseberry
Anise hyssop
Aronia
Artichoke
Eggplant
Wild garlic
Basil
Cauliflower
Fenugreek
Bean
Summer savory
Borage
Frequently asked questions — Zürich
Why these crops in particular?+
Every plant listed is rated for USDA zone 8a. That's the zone worked out for Zürich from 10 years of frost data — not a marketing list, just what actually copes here.
Are the frost dates reliable?+
The data comes from the Open-Meteo archive, averaged over 2015–2024. Specific to Zürich — not a national average borrowed from somewhere else.
What's next?+
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