There are many vegetables you can grow outdoors in winter in a cold climate. The trick is to choose the right crops, start them on time, and provide protection from the cold weather using season extenders like frost cloths or cold frames.
Ready to get started? See How to Grow Vegetables Outdoors in Winter.
The Best Vegetables To Grow In Winter
If you live in a cold climate where temperatures go below freezing in winter, contrary to what we’ve been told, there are lots of options for growing vegetables—even when it’s cold or snowy outside.
The secret is to choose the right seeds, start on time, and protect your crops.
The best part is, growing food like fresh, leafy greens from November to March is a whole new gardening adventure. Never underestimate the joy of harvesting fresh veggies during the holiday season!
There are three main things to know to make it work.
- Choose Cool or Cold-Tolerant Veggies
First, you need to choose vegetables that tolerate cool or cold growing conditions, often listed as semi-hardy or hardy in seed catalogs.
These are vegetables that do not fruit or require pollinators—it’s the ones with edible leaves, stems, and roots.
Some seed shops sell seed collections like these ones suited to fall and winter growing which makes it very handy to find just what you need.
- Start Your Seeds Before It’s Cold
Next, the seeds need to be started in mid or late summer or early fall to ensure the plants can mature before winter sets in.
I share my fall and winter seed sowing plan for vegetable crops here.
And finally, while some of these selections are cold-tolerant, to prevent the plant tissues from freezing, you will need some sort of protective covers over your winter beds.
This article on growing vegetables in winter lists all the steps for getting started as well as suggestions for season extenders (protective covers) like frost cloths (also called “floating row covers”), cold frames, and polytunnels.
What works in your region depends on your climate and growing conditions.
I’ve provided a beginner list of vegetables to try below.
1Beets
Beets
Growing Tips
- Part-Sun
- Optimal Soil Temperature For Seed Sowing
50-80°F (10-26°C) - Seed to Harvest
40-70 days
Notes
- Everything is edible including tops and roots.
- Look for ‘leaf beets’ for best tops.
- Soak seeds in warm water for one hour prior to sowing.
Winter Growing Tips
- Direct sow outdoors in late summer.
- Soak seeds prior to sowing to speed up germination.
2Broccoli
Broccoli | Raab
Growing Tips
- Full Sun
- Optimal Soil Temperature For Seed Sowing
50-85°F (10-30°C) - Seed to Harvest
40-60 days
Notes
- Everything is edible including leaves, tops, and florets.
Winter Growing Tips
- Other vegetables in the brassica family are also excellent winter crops including Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower.
- Start seeds midsummer.
- Everything is edible including the leaves, tops, and florets.
3Carrots
Carrots
Growing Tips
- Part Sun
- Optimal Soil Temperature For Seed Sowing
45-85°F (7-30°C) - Seed to Harvest
55 days
Notes
- Everything is edible including tops and roots.
- Baby types are fast-growers including Amsterdam, Adelaide, and Paris Market Atlas.
Winter Growing Tips
- Direct sow outdoors in late summer.
- Turnips are another option for winter tolerant root vegetables.
- Everything is edible including the tops and roots.
4Collards
Collards
Growing Tips
- Part Sun
- Optimal Soil Temperature For Seed Sowing
50-85°F (10-30°C) - Seed to Harvest
30-80 days
Notes
- A favorite, nutritious green from the cabbage family.
- Look for Champion Collards—open-pollinated and cold-hardy.
Winter Growing Tips
5Endive | Chicory | Radicchio
Endive | Chicory | Radicchio
Growing Tips
- Full or Part Sun
- Optimal Soil Temperature For Seed Sowing
50-72°F (10-22°C) - Seed to Harvest
35-50 days
Notes
- Endive or chicory is the name for a group of leafy vegetables that includes radicchio, known for their somewhat bitter flavor.
- They come in all sorts of colors including white, green, red, and purple.
Winter Growing Tips
- Start seeds mid-summer.
- Try a few varieties to find your favorites.
6Kale
Kale
Growing Tips
- Part Sun
- Optimal Soil Temperature For Seed Sowing
50-85°F (10-30°C) - Seed to Harvest
30-65 days
Notes
- If you’re not a big fan of kale, try harvesting early when the leaves are still tender. You may change your mind! They are also delicious in soups!
Winter Growing Tips
- Start seeds mid-summer.
- There are lots of cold-resistant varieties including winterbor, redbor, and winter red.
7Leafy Greens
Mesclun Mix
Growing Tips
- Part Sun
- Optimal Soil Temperature for Seed Sowing
50-72°F (10-22°C) - Seed to Harvest
30-45 days
Notes
- Mesclun mix is a name used for salad greens sold with a variety of seeds in each pack.
- Each seed seller has their own unique combinations.
- This is the easiest way to grow salad greens in one container.
This is a general term for a whole bunch of delicious greens perfect for salads, soups, and stir-fries.
- Mache / Corn Salad
- Pak choi / Bok Choy
Winter Growing Tips
- Sow directly outdoors in late summer. You can continue sowing every few weeks if harvesting some in fall.
8Parsley
Parsley
Growing Tips
- Part Sun
- Optimal Soil Temperature For Seed Sowing
85°F (10-30°C) - Seed to Harvest
70-90 days
Notes
- Flat-leaf (robust flavor) and curly-leaf (decorative) varieties.
Winter Growing Tips
- Plant transplants in late summer.
- Some parsley survives the winter without any covers at all. Check your seed packet for notes on cold tolerance.
9Scallions
Scallions | Green Onion
Growing Tips
- Full Sun
- Optimal Soil Temperature For Seed Sowing
70-75°F (21-25°C) - Seed to Harvest
40-50 days
Notes
- Grow micro-onion greens, baby bulbs, or onion stalks. Everything is edible at every stage.
Winter Growing Tips
- Start seeds mid-summer.
- If you want another onion, also consider growing leeks.
10Swiss Chard
Chard
Growing Tips
- Part Sun
- Optimal Soil Temperature For Seed Sowing
50-85°F (10-30°C) - Seed to Harvest
30-60 days
Notes
There are lots of varieties of Swiss chard in all sorts of colors. It’s my favorite vegetable to stir fry.
Winter Growing Tips
- Direct sow outdoors in late summer.
- Many types of Swiss chard are considered moderately winter hardy. But with the right covers, they will last all winter long.
Shop For Seeds
Botanical Interests (US Shipping) has a selection of frost-tolerant seeds here:
Use their search box to refine the search to include Frost Tolerant options.
Resources
I hope this gives you some ideas for your winter garden. Pour over those seed catalogs and stock up on hardy options. And get your seeds soon so you have time to sow and grow before the cold weather arrives.
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
Growing Vegetables
A Weekly Indoor & Outdoor Seed Sowing Plan for Beginners
by Melissa J. Will
This ebook is a digital file (PDF format) you save to your device. It is not a physical product.
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Melissa J. Will
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