Frost Saints Are Done: Time to Start Your Balcony Garden

Three men and one woman have kept Swiss hobby gardeners on edge for centuries: Pankratius, Servatius, Bonifatius, and Cold Sophie. The five days between 11 and 15 May are considered the last possible frost nights of the year – and only after them can sensitive plants like tomatoes, basil, or aubergines truly leave the windowsill.

Who Are the Frost Saints?

The Frost Saints (Eisheilige) were historical figures – bishops and martyrs from the 3rd and 4th centuries, whose feast days happen to fall in that unstable May week. They have nothing to do with the weather, really, but farmers and gardeners linked their names over the centuries to a simple lesson: don't trust the weather before these days, because a sudden cold-air intrusion from the north can still bring frost in mid-May.

The old farmers' saying "Pankraz, Servaz, Bonifaz make way for summer at last" still holds regional truth – and statistics confirm it: in the Swiss midlands, ground temperatures rarely drop below zero after 15 May. Cold Sophie on 15 May gives the green light for heat-loving plants.

Did you know? The tomato isn't botanically a fruit in the classic sense – it's a berry, belonging to the nightshade family along with potatoes and aubergines. It originated in the Andes of South America and only reached Europe in the 16th century via Spanish conquistadors. For a long time it was considered poisonous and grown purely as an ornamental plant.

Tomatoes on the Balcony: What You Really Need

Anyone who has never grown tomatoes on a balcony often underestimates how little space is actually required. A single plant in a 20-litre pot can deliver three to four kilos of fruit over the season. Three things matter: a sunny spot with at least six hours of direct sunlight per day, nutrient-rich soil, and consistent watering – best done in the morning, directly at the root ball, never on the leaves (or you risk the dreaded blight).

A good self-watering planter takes a lot of stress off beginners – it can bridge two to three dry days. Support is essential: a tomato can grow up to two metres in a good season and needs either a spiral stake or a string to climb. For something modular, a raised bed on wheels is ideal – easy to move or store after the season.

Which Varieties Actually Thrive on a Balcony?

Not every tomato feels at home in a pot. Bush tomatoes like 'Tumbling Tom' or 'Balcony Magic' stay compact and barely need staking. Cherry tomatoes like 'Tigerella' or 'Mexican Honey' reward you with fruit all summer. For something more exotic: 'Black Krim', an old Russian variety with dark purple fruit and a surprisingly sweet flavour.

Swiss treasure trove: ProSpecieRara preserves over 200 old tomato varieties in Switzerland, many of which exist nowhere else in the world. If you want to visit a variety garden: at Wildegg Castle in Aargau, around 100 varieties are on display each summer – a living gene museum on the grounds of a historic castle.

What Else Belongs on a Balcony

Tomatoes love company. Basil isn't just the perfect culinary partner – it also keeps pests like whiteflies away. Marigolds bloom in between and attract hoverflies, which in turn eat aphids. If you want more, add planters for strawberries (best planted in batches every two weeks – that gives you fresh berries all summer), chillies, courgettes in a large raised bed, or salads in shallow boxes.

For day-to-day care, a good garden tool set with hand shovel, planting trowel, and shears is worth it – along with an elegant watering can that can stand decoratively on the balcony all summer. A seed or starter kit, by the way, also makes a thoughtful gift for anyone who doesn't have a garden but loves to dig in the soil.

More Than a Hobby

Balcony gardening is more than a pleasant pastime. Studies from England and Germany show: those who regularly dig in the soil are demonstrably more relaxed, sleep better, and spend more time outside. And in the end, something real lands on your plate – tomatoes that actually taste like summer, not like Holland in February.

Have a browse through the enjoymedia range: from starter kits to planters and watering cans, you'll find everything for a productive balcony summer. Which variety will land in your pot this year?