Plants to grow in winter

Winter vegetables to grow outdoors

Getting these vegetables to a reasonable size before the first frost means you can harvest them as long as they remain accessible. You can also overwinter some varieties for that late winter or early spring harvest.

Beets

Plant beets 6 to 8 weeks before your first expected frost. Harvest as baby greens or leave in the ground to mature into delicious, vitamin-rich roots. In most locations, beets can stay in the ground all winter if mulched when very cold weather hits.

Reading: Plants to grow in winter

Broad Beans

Slow growing but delicious, broad beans will grow through the winter months if planted in mid to late fall and staked in areas with lots of snow. Harvest in early spring when the pods fatten.

Garlic

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One of the easiest crops to grow, garlic generally goes into the ground in mid to late fall and gets harvested in midsummer. Plant with lots of compost, and add mulch for protection from weeds and weather.

Related: How to Grow and Harvest Garlic

Cabbage

With so many cabbage varieties to choose from, you can harvest this pungent garden vegetable from summer right on through to spring. Sow overwintering varieties in July and August (even later in warmer areas) and protect against winter pests with a floating row cover if necessary in your area. If you notice growth slowing down, add some finished compost around the plants and water well.

Carrots

To harvest carrots in winter, plant in late July or early August and permit them to grow until they reach a large enough size for eating. Hold in the garden over the fall and winter months, harvesting slowly enough so you can make them last. Carrots won’t generally get much bigger after the temperatures drop, but they will hold well in the soil for many months. A fresh carrot harvested in December is one of the best Christmas treats.

Kale

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Kale is one of the easiest plants to grow and cold weather only sweetens its flavor. For a winter harvest, plant a generous amount in slightly alkaline soil in early to mid August. Kale will usually survive freezing temperatures, but you can protect the leaves from heavy snowfall if you want to prevent breakage.

Related: Kale – The Workhorse of the Winter Garden

Onions

Onions are another crop that will overwinter well—providing you choose overwintering varieties. Lengthening days will kickstart their growth in late winter, making them ready for a late spring harvest. Transplant seedlings into your garden by late August and protect with straw mulch or floating row covers if temperatures dive below – 10 F (- 23 C).

Peas

Plant peas outdoors until mid-August for a fall harvest. With some protection, peas will also overwinter and begin growing again in spring in warmer areas. One favorite is the parsley pea, grown for its green tendrils to add to salads. Grow this pea variety for harvesting before the frost hits, or provide protection to extend its harvest into winter.

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