The Czech Republic sits in a continental climate zone with warm summers and cold winters, though with considerable regional variation. Prague and central Bohemia receive around 450–500 mm of annual precipitation. South Moravia, around Brno and Znojmo, is the driest region — sometimes receiving under 400 mm — and functions almost like a sub-Mediterranean microclimate in summer. The Šumava foothills and Jeseníky mountains have much higher rainfall and shorter growing seasons.
The following schedule accounts for these differences where relevant. Where a task timing depends on altitude or region, this is noted. The base assumption is a garden at lowland elevation in Bohemia or Moravia, with average frost dates in late March and late October.
Spring — March to May
March
March is the most unpredictable month in a Czech garden. The average last frost date for Prague is around 15 April, but late cold snaps occur well into April, and occasionally into early May in exposed or elevated positions. Do not plant tender crops outdoors before mid-April at the earliest; wait until after the so-called "ledoví muži" (Ice Saints, 12–15 May) for anything frost-sensitive.
- Remove winter protection (straw, burlap, mulch) from beds on dry days above 5°C. Do not remove it all at once from tender plants — acclimatise gradually over a week.
- Prune fruit trees when temperatures are consistently above 0°C and before bud break. Apple and pear pruning in March is standard in Bohemia; cherry and plum should wait until April to reduce the risk of silver leaf fungus entering fresh wounds.
- Sharpen and oil all tools before the season begins in earnest. Check handles for cracks.
- Start slow-growing crops (celery, celeriac, leeks) indoors under grow lights or on a warm windowsill.
April
Soil in flat Bohemian and Moravian gardens is usually workable by early April, though wetter years can push this back by two to three weeks. The ground should crumble rather than smear when squeezed; working wet clay destroys soil structure.
- Fork over vegetable beds, incorporating compost or well-rotted manure at 3–5 kg per square metre.
- Direct sow hardy crops: spinach, radish, early carrots, peas. Sow beetroot from mid-April.
- Plant onion sets and shallots once soil temperature reaches 7°C. A soil thermometer is worth the modest investment.
- Begin lawn care: scarify if heavy thatch has accumulated, overseed bare patches, apply slow-release fertiliser.
- Prune roses to outward-facing buds once new growth begins. Remove any winter-killed wood entirely.
May
After the Ice Saints (12–15 May), planting out tender crops is generally safe across most of the Czech lowlands, though north-facing gardens and those at altitudes above 400 m should wait a further week or two.
- Plant out tomatoes, courgettes, peppers and cucumbers after 15 May. Harden off seedlings grown indoors for one to two weeks before planting.
- Direct sow French beans, squash and sweetcorn in the second half of May.
- Hoe between rows of emerging crops weekly to control annual weeds before they set seed.
- Water newly planted trees and shrubs during dry spells — roots have not yet extended beyond the original root ball.
Summer — June to August
June
June is generally the wettest month across most of the Czech Republic. Rainfall often comes as heavy thunderstorms rather than steady rain, which can flatten soft crops and cause surface capping on bare soil. A thin mulch of straw or composted bark around vegetable plants prevents splash contamination and maintains soil moisture between storms.
- Begin harvesting early crops: radishes, spinach, lettuces, peas.
- Thin fruit where trees have set heavily — June drop handles some of this naturally, but a hand-thinned crop produces larger individual fruit. Apple: thin to one per cluster, 15–20 cm apart. Plum: one fruit per 5 cm of stem.
- Mow lawn weekly once growth is active. Set cutting height at 4–5 cm to leave some drought resistance; cutting shorter puts grass under stress in dry spells.
- Strawberry runners can be pegged down to propagate new plants for a fresh bed.
July
In South Moravia, July is typically the driest and hottest month. Soils lose water quickly in the sandy loam and limestone areas around Znojmo and Mikulov. Watering in the morning — before 10:00 — reduces evaporation loss and fungal disease compared with evening watering, which leaves foliage wet overnight.
- Water vegetables deeply (2–3 cm of water per week) rather than shallowly and frequently. Deep watering encourages deeper root development.
- Continue hoeing to prevent weeds from setting seed. One weed plant allowed to set seed introduces hundreds of seeds to the soil bank.
- Harvest courgettes while still young (15–20 cm); left to grow, they divert energy from the plant and become coarse in texture.
- Apply a liquid feed (tomato fertiliser or comfrey liquid) to tomatoes and peppers every ten days once flowering begins.
August
August brings the main harvest period for most vegetable crops and the early apple and plum varieties. It is also the time to begin preparing ground for autumn and next spring.
- Harvest onions when tops begin to fall naturally. Dry them on the soil surface for a week in good weather, then move to a dry airy store.
- Sow green manures (phacelia, mustard, winter rye) on cleared ground to protect soil structure over winter.
- Take cuttings from lavender, rosemary and other shrubby herbs. Semi-ripe cuttings taken in August root reliably with minimal equipment.
- Order spring bulbs. Tulip and narcissus bulbs are best planted October through November; ordering in August ensures availability.
Autumn — September to November
September
September is the second busiest month in a Czech garden, after May. The main apple harvest (Bohemian and Moravian varieties: Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Idared) typically falls between late August and mid-October depending on variety and location. Late varieties — Belle de Boskoop, Šampion — often run into October.
- Harvest winter squash and pumpkins before the first frost. Cure in a warm location for ten days to harden the skin before storage.
- Lift and store root vegetables — beetroot, parsnip, carrot — before hard frost. Carrots can remain in the ground under a mulch of straw until December in most lowland Czech locations, though slugs become an increasing problem.
- Plant garlic in the second half of September or early October. Autumn-planted garlic overwinters as a small plant and produces significantly larger bulbs than spring-planted equivalents.
- Rake fallen leaves from the lawn as they accumulate — a thick mat excludes light and air and creates conditions favourable to fungal disease.
October
The first ground frosts typically arrive in October in lowland Czech gardens, though the timing varies by two to three weeks depending on location and that specific year's conditions. Monitor the forecast and prepare accordingly.
- Lift and store tender bulbs and tubers: dahlias, cannas, gladioli. Dry thoroughly before storage in a cool but frost-free location.
- Plant spring bulbs: narcissus, crocus, grape hyacinth, scilla. Tulips are better planted in November once the soil has cooled, reducing the risk of tulip fire disease.
- Prepare new planting beds for next season by rough-digging and incorporating compost. Leave in large clods over winter — frost breaks the structure down considerably.
- Drain and store garden hoses. Insulate or drain outdoor taps.
November
By mid-November, most lowland Czech gardens have had at least one hard frost. Garden activity slows but does not stop.
- Plant tulip bulbs once soil is consistently below 10°C — this reduces the risk of the fungal disease Botrytis tulipae taking hold in the warm soil.
- Apply mulch (well-rotted compost, bark chips) to the root zone of marginally hardy plants: fig, bay, certain roses.
- Clean and store tools as described in the tool maintenance guide. Sharpen, oil, and hang tools in a dry location.
- Plant bare-root trees and shrubs during November and December when soil is not frozen. Bare-root plants establish better than pot-grown equivalents planted in spring, and are substantially cheaper.
Winter — December to February
December and January
Little practical garden work is possible when the ground is frozen. These months are useful for planning, ordering seeds, and structural maintenance.
- Order seeds for the coming season from Czech suppliers (Semo, Zahradnictví Chrest, Hortus) or from specialist European sources for unusual varieties.
- Review what worked and what failed in the previous season. Rotation plans for vegetable beds are easier to map out now than in April under time pressure.
- Prune wisteria and other vigorous climbers in January when dormant. This is the only reliably effective time to control wisteria's growth.
- Check stored bulbs and root vegetables for rot. Remove any showing signs of deterioration before they spread to adjacent material.
February
February marks the beginning of the indoor growing season. In a heated room or heated greenhouse, the first sowings of the year can begin.
- Sow chillies and aubergines indoors in the second half of February — these need the longest growing season of any common vegetable crop.
- Prune apple and pear trees during mild spells (above 0°C and dry). Avoid pruning during frost or persistent wet weather.
- Check fruit tree ties and stakes. Trees planted in autumn may have been disturbed by frost heave and need firming back in.
This schedule is a reference framework, not a fixed timetable. Czech weather varies considerably from year to year, and the best indication of when to plant is what the soil and weather are actually doing, not what the calendar says. A soil thermometer and a habit of observing rather than following a predetermined schedule are more useful than any printed guide.
Related reading: Essential Garden Tools for Czech Seasons and How to Maintain Garden Tools Properly.
Last updated: 1 May 2026 · ČHMÚ — Czech Hydrometeorological Institute