It’s that time again! Winter is on the way, and it’s time to consider which crops to grow and how well we can protect them. Don’t just hang up your trowel simply because it’s getting frosty. There are many winter crops to grow and harvest from your garden this season! Here are 28 great cold-tolerant vegetables for your winter garden.
Growing crops for winter harvest
Most winter crops are either leafy vegetables or root crops. Classic fruiting crops (tomatoes, melons, et cetera) are generally not cold-hardy, although there are a few that make the list below!
Winter crops are limited by low/short daylight levels, cool-weather precipitation, and cold temperatures (and temperature swings). Cooler areas often make use of season-extension gardening gear like cloches, cold frames, polytunnels/hoop-houses, row covers, unheated greenhouses, and other winter crop protection.
Winter gardening is about harvesting crops all winter that was planted in the summer and fall. Slow-growing crops like brassicas need a longer time to mature than really speedy crops like arugula and radishes. Now let’s look at the list!
1. Lettuce
Lettuce is a kitchen staple for salads and sandwiches, no matter what time of year. Lettuce can grow tremendously well during winter, and some types can tolerate light frost even without a cover. In Zone 4/5 and cooler, it will grow most consistently in a covered polytunnel, cold frame (as above), or other unheated covered areas (like a greenhouse).
In mild climates, plant seeds every few weeks to have an ongoing harvest throughout winter. In borderline zones, sow extra lettuce every few weeks in the fall until seed germination stalls:
- Buttercrunch Butterhead Lettuce Seeds (Organic, Heirloom)
- Rouge d’Hiver Romaine Lettuce Seeds (Organic, Heirloom)
- Salad Bowl Green Lettuce Seeds
2. Kale
Kale is perhaps my favorite winter crop. I first grew kale during the winter when I lived in chilly Zone 3 (northern Alberta). I was amazed at the cold temperatures it could put up with! In truly cold areas, it may need a bit of winter protection, but here in Zone 5, it’s fine without cover for much of the winter. The leaves even get sweeter after a few freezes. What a wonderfully wintery crop! Here are my faves:
- Lacinato Kale Seeds (Italian Heirloom)
- Scarlet Curled Kale Seeds (Open-Pollinated)
- Nero Toscana Italian Dinosaur Kale Seeds (Organic, Heirloom)
- Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch Kale Seeds (Organic, Heirloom)
3. Spinach
Spinach is an excellent winter crop, as it’s cold-tolerant and is versatile in the kitchen. Use fresh winter spinach in salads, smoothies, and even cooked pasta dishes for some healthy homegrown greens in the dead of winter. Direct-sow through August and September until seed germination is hampered by cool weather.
- Bloomsdale Spinach Seeds (Organic, Heirloom)
- Avenger Spinach Seeds (Hybrid)
- Renegade All-Season Spinach Seeds (Organic, Hybrid)
4. Radish
Certain types of radish (known as winter radishes) are typically sown in mid-to-late summer for fall-to-winter harvest. The yummy roots are triggered to grow by the shorter day lengths of autumn, leading to yummy radishes for holiday meals! Radishes may need a cold frame or other types of season-extending cover in cooler climates to enable winter harvest. In the coldest zones, harvest them in fall and store them for use throughout the winter.
- Noir Gros Rond Black Spanish Winter Radish Seeds (Heirloom)
- Miyashige White Daikon Radish Seeds (Organic, Heirloom)
- Mantanghong Beauty Heart Chinese Watermelon Radish Seeds
5. Garlic
Garlic is a winter crop in many areas, depending on the climate. In cooler areas plant garlic in the fall to overwinter in the garden soil, ready for harvest in the following summer. So, while this crop isn’t ready for harvest during the winter, it certainly deserves a spot in your winter garden!
6. Cabbage
Cabbage is commonly harvested in November, once it’s been sweetened a bit by frost (cabbage plants are frost-tolerant). In mild areas, however, it’s possible to leave healthy cabbage plants growing for a winter crop harvest in December or even January. Cooler areas can harvest cabbages before the snow flies for use later on in the winter, as many varieties store well for 3-6 months. Yay for coleslaw! Here are some excellent winter cabbages to grow:
7. Brussel Sprouts
Brussel sprouts are like mini cabbages that grow on a central stalk. Like cabbages, Brussel sprouts are frost-hardy plants that actually grow sweeter in cool temperatures. Choose a winter-ready variety, like:
8. Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard is a classic winter crop for the garden, as most types are frost-tolerant. It will overwinter well in mild climates and can survive under a cold frame or other season extenders in cooler areas. Here are some lovely varieties to use in wintertime salads, smoothies, and cozy casseroles:
- Celebration Rainbow Swiss Chard Seeds
- Ruby Red Swiss Chard Seeds (Organic, Heirloom)
- Bright Lights Swiss Chard Seeds
9. Beets
Beets are related to chard but are grown for their yummy red roots. Grow them as you would chard (above), harvesting throughout winter. Beets make delicious winter soups and can even be roasted into yummy chips!
- Chioggia Italian Beet Seeds (Organic, Heirloom)
- Detroit Dark Red Beet Seeds (Heirloom)
- Golden Boy Beet Seeds
10. Mustard greens
Mustard is well known for its ability to survive colder temperatures. The greens do not withstand hard frost but can tolerate light ones. They do tremendously well in well-drained, fertile soil. Here are two lovely mustards to add to your winter vegetable garden:
11. Cauliflower
Cauliflower can often be sown in the late summer or fall for winter harvest. While the plants may need protection in cooler zones, this winter crop can generally hold its own in the garden in areas with mild winters. Fully-grown heads of cauliflower can be left in the garden until you’re ready to use them. Here are a couple winter-ready varieties:
12. Radicchio
Radicchio is a wonderful and truly underrated winter crop. This lovely fancy leafy vegetable grows best in cool temperatures and overwinters well down to Zone 4! Radicchio regrows from its base (cut-and-come-again) for harvest again from the same plant when temperatures allow. It’s time to add this leafy gourmet veggie to the fall garden:
13. Collard greens
Collard greens are an extremely cold-hardy (and heat-hardy) winter crop. They can withstand temperatures below freezing without cover in many areas, and certainly will overwinter with some season extension in the coldest growing zones. Here is a classic garden heirloom collard to grow this winter:
- Georgia Southern Collards Seeds (Heirloom)
- Vates Collard Greens Seeds (Heirloom)
- Flash Collard Greens Seeds (Hybrid)
14. Mâche (corn salad)
Mâche is a specialty winter crop grown for its lovely mini leafy greens. Also called corn salad (for reasons unbeknownst to me), well-rooted mâche can tolerate extreme cold. It should, however, be planted in fertile, well-drained soils. Here is a lovely cold-tolerant variety to try:
- Big-Seeded Mâche (Corn Salad) Seeds (Heirloom)
- Granon Organic Corn Salad Seeds
- Vit Corn Salad Mache Seeds
15. Leeks
Leeks are a classic winter crop as these plants can generally tolerate a few freezes. Like some of the other crops on this list, leeks also improve their flavour after a few frosts or even hard freezes. Leeks store well in the ground and can be harvested throughout winter as long as the ground is kept from freezing with a cold frame or other cover. Try these types:
16. Arugula
Arugula injects some flavour into crisp wintertime meals! This leafy green is well-suited to winter harvest (and is perfect in a salad or atop a freshly-made pizza). Be sure to include some arugula alongside your lettuce and spinach this fall!
17. Carrots
Carrots are a natural biennial plant and have evolved to survive in the ground over wintertime so they can flower the following summer. While the roots can withstand the freeze, the tops don’t tolerate it. It’s also pretty difficult to harvest carrots from the frozen ground! For this reason, gardeners in cooler areas tend to cover their carrot crops with clear poly or a cold frame to encourage the area to stay warmer.
- Carnival Blend Gourmet Carrot Seeds (Organic)
- Hercules Carrot Seeds (Hybrid)
- Cosmic Purple Carrot Seeds
18. Parsnips
Like carrots, parsnip roots survive in the ground throughout winter. And like many other root veggies, the cold weather improves the flavour by turning bland starches into sweet sugars! Parsnips truly are an excellent winter crop. Here are two to try:
19. Green onions
Green onions are a favourite in the kitchen year-round. Scallion-type onions can be planted throughout the growing season, well into late summer and early fall. Best of all, these plants are cut-and-come-again, which means that you can harvest the green tops from the same plant twice! This makes for a super space-saver (and yummy winter baked potato topping).
- White Lisbon Bunching Scallion Green Onion Seeds (Organic, Heirloom)
- Italian Red of Florence Bunching/Scallion Onion Seeds
- Varna Green Onion/Scallion Seeds (Organic)
20. Broccoli
Broccoli is frost tolerant and tends to grow best in the cool temperatures of autumn. Certain types have been bred for cold tolerance beyond a frost or two. Here are two varieties of broccoli that can be planted in the summer or early fall for a wintertime harvest:
- Waltham 29 Broccoli Seeds (Heirloom)
- Di Cicco Broccoli Seeds (Organic, Heirloom)
- Emerald Crown Broccoli
21. Parsley
Parsley is a biennial plant that’s naturally resistant to cold temperatures. While it is possible to grow herbs indoors in the winter, parsley does just fine with a bit of cover out in the garden. Who likes a yummy wintertime bowl of tabbouleh!? I like to grow both common types:
- Flat-Leaf Italian Parsley Seeds (Organic, Heirloom)
- Curly Parsley Seeds (Organic, Heirloom)
- Forest Green Parsley Seeds
22. Rutabaga
Rutabaga always seems to be an under-appreciated root vegetable. These sweet veggies can be mashed along with potatoes or roasted alongside a main dish in the oven. Wait for cold weather to arrive prior to harvesting your rutabagas, as it really does improve the flavour!
23. Turnips
Turnips make a good winter crop as they get much sweeter once they’ve been exposed to cold temperatures. Sow in the early fall for winter harvests (smaller varieties will be ready in early winter, while larger types will take a little longer to mature). Here are two different but lovely winter turnips:
- Market Express Baby Japanese Turnip Seeds
- Purple Top White Globe Turnip Seeds (Organic, Heirloom)
- White Egg Turnip Seeds
24. Chives
Chives are a perennial culinary herb in the onion family. These cold-hardy plants persist through cool temperatures and can be used in place of green onions. Plant them once and enjoy them forever!
25. Bok Choi
Bok Choi is a cold-loving green that’s quick to grow and versatile in cooking. There are a few different types of bok choi that overwinter particularly well (even a few that can be grown in containers in mild climates!):
26. Peas
Peas thrive in the crisp days of autumn, just as they do in the first dewy mornings of spring. They can be sown from late summer through wintertime for a continual winter crop of lovely homegrown peas:
27. Cilantro
Cilantro is another leafy green herb that grows best in cooler temperatures. Like parsley, it can also be grown indoors, but there’s every reason to leave some cilantro plants to overwinter out in the garden! Here’s one of the best all-round types to grow (year-round):
28. Chervil
Chervil is another parsley-like herb that thrives in cooler temperatures. Along with the previously-mentioned chives, chervil is an important ingredient in the french gourmet cooking Fines Herbes blend. Here is the classic “fine herb” chervil for your year-round garden:
Happy winter gardening!!! (…from chilly Canada…)
