20 Winter Vegetables to Grow in Your Garden

Sep 26th 2024

Winter doesn't have to put a stop to your gardening ambitions. To achieve a high-yield garden throughout the colder months, you can extend your growing season as much as possible. Cold-hardy winter crops are ideal for a winter garden. Some vegetables need extra protection during winter, while others can tolerate frost once established. However, it is essential to stabilize soil moisture levels before planting for healthy growth.

So, what types of vegetables are frost-tolerant, making them best for your winter garden? Keep reading to explore the 20 top winter vegetables you can grow in your garden and enjoy a bountiful harvest even in freezing weather.

20 Hardy Vegetables to Plant in Cold Weather

Winter vegetables become sweeter and more delicious when grown in cold temperatures. When frost meets these winter-friendly veggies, they naturally respond to cold and produce more sugars, which makes them extra sweet. However, the key to a thriving winter vegetable garden is planting early. Even though most of these veggies can handle freezing temperatures, they still should be started early to adapt before the peak winter arrives.

Gardeners in zones 4 to 6 may establish winter vegetables in early fall. In growing zones 7 through 10, you can seed or transplant until early November, giving crops plenty of time to adjust to the weather.

Here is a list of 20 winter hardy crops to plant this fall.

1. Lettuce

The first frost-tolerant vegetable on our list is lettuce, a delicious leafy vegetable. With a layer of mulch and row cover, lettuce can endure winter snows and winds. For the best results, you can grow lettuce under a high tunnel or cold frame, which allows you to harvest fresh leaves throughout winter.

Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11

Size: 6-12 inches tall and wide
Growing Conditions: Full to partial sun, well-drained soil

2. Arugula

This peppery member of the brassica family is a low-maintenance, fast-growing green. Arugula can tolerate temperatures as low as 10°F but thrives best under a row cover, which offers extra protection from strong winds.

Hardiness Zone: 1 to 11
Size: 3-6 inches
Growing Conditions: Full to partial sun, well-drained soil

3. Collard Greens

Collard greens are a staple in southern gardens but are often overlooked by northern gardeners. For best results, you can plant collard greens in mid-fall so they reach a height of at least 12 inches before the coldest nights arrive. Once established, collard greens can tolerate temperatures as low as 10°F.

Hardiness Zone: 6 to 9
Size: 1 ft. tall, 18 in. wide
Growing Conditions: Full sun, moist, well-drained soil

4. Winter Cress

Also known as upland cress, winter cress grows naturally in boggy areas across the U.S. and excels in mild winter conditions. You can grow it similarly to spinach and pick the youngest leaves for the best flavor.

Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9
Size: 8-24 inches in height
Growing Conditions: Full sun, moist soil

5. Beets

Beets are among the most winter-hardy root crops due to their robust, insulated roots. You can plant the seeds in the fall, about 10 weeks before the first heavy freeze, and harvest when the beets reach 4-6 inches in diameter.

Hardiness Zones: 3 to 11
Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil

6. Mustard Greens

The leaves of this impressive winter crop are a fantastic addition to salads and sauces. While most mustard green varieties can survive light frosts down in the 20s, they cannot handle hard freezes.

Hardiness Zone: 8 to 11
Size: 20 inches tall x 24 inches wide
Growing Conditions: Full sun, rich, well-drained soil

7. Cabbage

Young cabbage plants are sensitive to temperatures below 32°F. However, once established, mature cabbages can withstand freezing temperatures down to 15°F. They do well under frost-protection row covers, greenhouses, or low tunnels and can even be seen emerging from under a snow blanket.

Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 1-3 feet tall and wide
Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil

8. Parsnips

Parsnips are exceptionally frost-tolerant and can remain in the ground throughout the winter. Be sure to cover them with a thick layer of mulch. You can harvest parsnips before new growth begins in the spring.

Hardiness Zones: 2 to 9
Size: 30-70 inches tall, 6-12 inches wide
Growing Conditions: Full sun, deep and well-drained soil

9. Carrots

Carrots are the most popular, sweet, and low-maintenance winter garden choices. Ensure they reach maturity before the first frost, as growth will slow afterward. Carrots can remain in the ground until you're ready to harvest them. However, using a cold frame, greenhouse, or other protective measures is recommended in regions with frigid temperatures.

Hardiness Zones: 3 to 11
Size: 1-2 feet tall, 3-5 inches wide
Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil

10. Radishes

Radishes are an excellent choice for a late fall garden due to their rapid growth—some varieties are ready to harvest in just a month. For a successful crop, you can sow radish seeds at least a month before the first frost.

Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11
Size: Up to 12 inches tall, up to 9 inches wide
Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil

11. Turnips

A light frost can enhance the sweetness of turnip roots, though it may cause minor damage to the leaves. Mulching is highly effective for insulating turnip roots during cold weather.

Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 12-14 inches tall, 3-6 inches wide; rows spaced 12 inches apart
Growing Conditions: Full to partial sun, loamy soil

12. Bok Choy

This popular Asian green is frost-tolerant and becomes extra delicious in late fall and early winter. You can sow Bok choy in late summer through early fall and continue harvesting selectively until hard frosts arrive. In zones eight and warmer, Bok choy can be overwintered, allowing you to harvest small heads as needed.

Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 6-24 inches tall, 6-8 inches wide
Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil

13. Cauliflower

Cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower are hardy and well-suited for late fall or winter gardens. In cooler regions, aim to plant cauliflower around ten weeks before the first frost. In milder climates, you can grow and harvest cauliflower throughout the winter.

Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 6-7 inches in diameter
Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil

14. Kale

Kale is one of the best cool-weather crops and a winter staple due to its strong frost tolerance. You can sow kale seeds directly into the garden about two months before the first frost. A cold frame, greenhouse, or high tunnel will help ensure success in colder zones.

Hardiness Zones: 7 to 9
Size: 3 feet tall
Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil

15. Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts grow best in temperatures below 65°F and can tolerate weather as cold as 20°F. Due to their long growing season, you can plant them about four months before the first frost.

Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 24 to 26 inches tall x 12 inches wide
Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil

16. Broccoli

Establishing the broccoli seedlings in early fall ensures mature heads and successful overwintering. Late-maturing varieties can often be harvested through late fall and may survive mild winters with minimal frost. However, broccoli prefers temperatures around 40-50°F and typically struggles with hard freezes. It grows best under row covers or high tunnels.

Hardiness Zones: 3 to 11
Size: 18 to 36 inches tall x 18 inches wide
Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil

17. Spinach

Spinach grows in cool weather and can be sown in spring for an early summer harvest and again in early fall. Plant it at least six weeks before the soil temperature drops below 40°F. You can use cold frames or a greenhouse to keep spinach growing throughout the winter.

Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 8-12 inches in height
Growing Conditions: Full to partial sun, well-drained soil

18. Swiss Chard

Swiss chard is another versatile green. In colder climates, you can extend the harvest by providing some protection from harsh weather. You can directly sow its seeds from March to September. Learn how to grow Swiss chard in this complete growing guide.

Hardiness Zones: 3 to 11
Size: 8-24 inches tall, 9-18 inches wide
Growing Conditions: Full to partial sun, well-drained soil

19. Onions, Garlic and Alliums

The allium family, including scallions, onions, garlic, and leeks, adapts well to cool weather gardens. Fall-planted onions overwinter in the garden and are usually harvested in spring and summer, while spring-planted onions are ready for fall and winter harvest. Be sure to mulch fall-planted onions to protect them from the cold.

Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Size: 6-12 inches tall and wide
Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil

20. Radicchio

Radicchio, often referred to as a 'bitter' green, transforms into a delightful, sweet addition to winter dishes after a frost, especially when paired with balsamic and cheese. Unlike red cabbage, radicchio brings a more intricate flavor to your recipes. This nutritious green can survive the winter without protection in regions as cold as Zone 6 and withstand cold temperatures.

Hardiness Zones: 4 to 10
Size: Up to 12 inches tall and wide
Growing Conditions: Full to partial sun, rich, loamy, well-drained soil

The Bottom Line

There you have it: a list of 20 hardy winter vegetables to keep your garden going all year. Now, it's time to grab your garden tools and plant your favorite crops. Whether you start from seed or transplant from a local garden center, there's no need to pause your gardening plans during the winter months. Many cold-hardy vegetable varieties will suit your winter gardening needs, giving you bountiful produce.

For successful results, water your winter garden with drip irrigation. Cooler weather means we don't have to use a lot of water. The best water-wise option to irrigate winter vegetable crops is to use a drip irrigation system. Explore our wide collection of ready-to-install and affordable drip irrigation kits and choose the one that fits your garden and personal needs.