Growing your own food is a powerful step toward self-sufficiency, but many people assume that gardening stops once winter arrives. That couldn’t be further from the truth. As a homesteader, you know that with the right crops and a little planning, you can harvest fresh vegetables and greens straight through the coldest months. By extending your growing season, you’ll rely less on grocery stores and provide your family with fresh, nutrient-dense food year-round. Here are some of the best crops you can grow through the winter, along with tips on how to keep them thriving even when temperatures drop.
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Why Grow Crops in Winter?
Winter gardening offers a range of benefits that go beyond simply extending your growing season. While many gardeners pack up their tools when the cold weather hits, those who continue to plant through the winter can enjoy unique advantages that make the effort worthwhile:
Boost for Mental and Physical Health: Gardening during the winter months can be a great way to stay active and connected with nature. Tending to a garden, even in the colder months, provides physical exercise and mental well-being, offering a sense of accomplishment when everything else around you is dormant.
Fresh, Nutritious Produce: When grocery store shelves are stocked with out-of-season, imported produce, your winter garden can provide fresh, homegrown vegetables that are far more nutritious and flavorful. Many winter crops, like kale and carrots, actually get sweeter and more tender after exposure to frost.
Reduced Pest Pressure: Cold temperatures naturally reduce the populations of many common garden pests, such as aphids and cabbage worms. This means less time spent on pest control and healthier crops without the need for pesticides.
Maximizes Garden Space: By growing crops year-round, you’re making the most of your available garden space. Instead of leaving your beds fallow, you can keep them productive and get more from the same plot of land.
Improved Soil Health: Certain winter crops, especially those in the legume family, help improve soil health by fixing nitrogen. Growing cover crops during the winter can also protect the soil from erosion and improve its fertility for the next planting season.
Greater Self-Sufficiency: Growing your own food through the winter reduces reliance on grocery stores, allowing you to enjoy a more self-sufficient lifestyle. This is especially important during times when food prices are high or supply chains are disrupted.
Less Weeding and Maintenance: Weeds grow slower in colder temperatures, so you’ll spend less time weeding and maintaining your garden. Winter gardening can be a more low-maintenance way to continue growing.
Sustainable Food Production: Growing crops in winter means you’re producing food in a more sustainable way, using fewer resources like irrigation and synthetic fertilizers. Cool-season crops often require less water, and with reduced pest pressure, there’s less need for chemical interventions.
Seasonal Variety: Winter gardening introduces a new range of vegetables and greens that thrive in the cold, offering diversity to your diet. Seasonal eating is often more aligned with nature’s rhythms and can inspire creative cooking using the freshest ingredients.
Now, let’s dive into the best crops to grow through the winter.
1. Kale
Kale is one of the hardiest crops for winter growing. It can survive temperatures as low as 10°F (-12°C) without protection, and with row covers or a cold frame, it can handle even colder weather. Kale’s flavor improves with a frost, so it’s a perfect winter crop. To ensure a good winter harvest, start your seeds in late summer or early fall—about 6-8 weeks before your first frost. You can either start it indoors and transplant the young plants outside or direct sow it in your garden.
Tips for Winter Kale: Protect it from hard freezes with mulch or cover it with a frost cloth. Regularly harvest outer leaves to encourage new growth throughout the season.
2. Spinach
Spinach thrives in cold weather and is known to survive even snow. It can withstand temperatures down to 20°F (-6°C) with minimal protection, making it an ideal winter green. Start your spinach about 4-6 weeks before the first frost, and opt for a cold-hardy variety like ‘Bloomsdale.’ Direct sowing works well with spinach, as it germinates best in cool soil.
Tips for Winter Spinach: If you’re expecting extended periods of cold, use a cold frame or row cover to help keep your spinach productive. Harvest young leaves regularly for the sweetest flavor.
3. Carrots
Carrots are another crop that performs well in winter. Once established, they can tolerate frost and temperatures as low as 15°F (-9°C). Start your carrot seeds in mid to late summer, about 10-12 weeks before the first expected frost, and opt for shorter varieties like ‘Nantes’ for winter growing. Direct sowing is essential for carrots, as they don’t transplant well.
Tips for Winter Carrots: Mulch heavily around the base to keep the ground from freezing and allow you to continue harvesting throughout the season. Carrots get sweeter as the cold weather triggers the plant to store more sugars in the roots.
4. Leeks
Leeks are a slow-growing crop that can survive temperatures as low as 20°F (-6°C) without much protection. Start them in late spring or early summer and transplant them into the garden 8-10 weeks later. Leeks prefer to be started indoors and then transplanted once they’ve developed.
Tips for Winter Leeks: Mound soil or mulch around the base of the plants as they grow to blanch the stems, which enhances their flavor and helps insulate them from frost. You can also cover them with a frost blanket for extra protection in extremely cold climates.
5. Garlic
Garlic is planted in the fall for harvest the following summer, but its hardiness makes it an essential part of the winter garden. Garlic can survive temperatures well below freezing, often as cold as -30°F (-34°C), though it requires mulch to help insulate the bulbs during extreme cold spells. Plant garlic cloves in mid to late fall, about 2-4 weeks before the first frost.
Tips for Winter Garlic: Apply a thick layer of straw or mulch after planting to protect the cloves from the cold. The garlic will establish roots before winter sets in and resume growing as soon as spring arrives.
6. Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are one of the toughest crops you can grow through winter. These little cabbage-like veggies actually taste better after being hit by a frost. They can withstand temperatures down to 20°F (-6°C) and will produce a steady supply of sprouts even when the weather turns cold. Start them indoors in midsummer, about 16 weeks before the first frost, and transplant them to the garden 8-10 weeks later.
Tips for Winter Brussels Sprouts: Be sure to stake tall plants to keep them stable through winter winds. Harvest the sprouts from the bottom up, and leave the tops on to allow the upper sprouts to mature.
7. Mâche (Corn Salad)
Mâche is an underappreciated winter green that’s incredibly cold-hardy. It can survive temperatures down to 5°F (-15°C) and requires very little care. Start mâche by direct sowing in early fall, about 6-8 weeks before the first frost, and it will germinate even in cooler temperatures.
Tips for Winter Mâche: Unlike other greens, mâche requires little to no protection during winter. However, using a cold frame can extend your harvest into the early spring.
8. Winter Lettuce
Certain varieties of lettuce, like ‘Winter Density’ or ‘Rouge d’Hiver,’ are more cold-tolerant than their summer counterparts. These varieties can withstand light frosts and temperatures down to 25°F (-4°C). Start your lettuce in late summer or early fall, about 6-8 weeks before the first frost, and opt for direct sowing.
Tips for Winter Lettuce: Use a cold frame or hoop house to protect the delicate leaves from heavy frost. Regularly harvest outer leaves to encourage continuous growth throughout the winter.
9. Parsnips
Parsnips are another root vegetable that shines in the winter. They become sweeter after a few frosts and can survive temperatures as low as 20°F (-6°C). Start parsnips in midsummer, about 16 weeks before the first frost, by direct sowing them in the garden. They take time to mature, but the wait is worth it.
Tips for Winter Parsnips: Apply a thick layer of mulch to prevent the ground from freezing, and you’ll be able to harvest parsnips all winter long.
10. Claytonia (Miner’s Lettuce)
This lesser-known green is a true winter star, able to grow in temperatures down to 10°F (-12°C). Claytonia thrives in cool conditions, so direct sow the seeds in early fall, about 4-6 weeks before the first frost. It requires little care and grows slowly through winter, providing tender, mild-tasting greens.
Tips for Winter Claytonia: While claytonia can survive without protection, using a cold frame will keep it growing through the harshest winter weather.
11. Swiss Chard
Swiss chard is a versatile green that can survive mild winter climates or tolerate light frosts down to around 20°F (-6°C). While it won’t grow much during the coldest parts of winter, it will hold in the ground and continue to produce leaves when temperatures rise again. Start Swiss chard about 8-10 weeks before the first frost by direct sowing or starting indoors and transplanting outdoors in early fall.
Tips for Winter Swiss Chard: Mulch heavily to protect the base of the plants, and cover them with a row cover during particularly cold spells to keep them going all winter.
12. Collard Greens
Collards are a staple in the winter garden, as they can survive temperatures as low as 5°F (-15°C) with some protection. In fact, like kale, collard greens become sweeter after a frost. Start collard seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the first frost, or direct sow them outdoors in late summer. Collards are a great option for direct sowing since they are less sensitive to transplant shock.
Tips for Winter Collards: Use mulch to protect the plants’ roots from freezing. Collards will continue to grow slowly throughout the winter, and you can harvest the leaves as needed.
13. Mustard Greens
Mustard greens are known for their peppery flavor, and they’re also incredibly cold-hardy, tolerating temperatures as low as 20°F (-6°C). They grow quickly, so you can start sowing them about 4-6 weeks before your first frost, or succession plant every few weeks for continuous harvests. Mustard greens are typically direct sown and will germinate in cool soil.
Tips for Winter Mustard Greens: Mustard greens can handle light frosts but will benefit from row covers or cold frames for consistent production throughout the colder months. Harvest leaves regularly to prevent bolting.
14. Beets
Beets are a reliable winter root vegetable that can survive temperatures down to 20°F (-6°C) with some protection. The tops (greens) are also edible and can be harvested as well. Start your beets in late summer or early fall, about 8-10 weeks before the first frost. Beets do best when direct sown, and thinning the seedlings ensures larger, healthier roots.
Tips for Winter Beets: Apply mulch after the first frost to insulate the soil, keeping the ground from freezing and allowing you to harvest beets throughout the winter. If the temperatures drop below 20°F, consider using a row cover to protect them.
15. Turnips
Turnips are cold-hardy and fast-growing, making them an excellent crop for winter gardens. Both the roots and the greens are edible, and turnips can tolerate temperatures down to 15°F (-9°C). Direct sow them in late summer or early fall, about 6-8 weeks before the first frost, and thin them to ensure large, healthy roots.
Tips for Winter Turnips: Mulch heavily to protect the roots from freezing temperatures. You can harvest turnips well into the winter, especially if the ground is covered with mulch or a frost cloth.
16. Radishes
Radishes grow quickly and are a great winter crop if you want a fast harvest before the really cold weather sets in. Many varieties can tolerate frost and survive temperatures down to 20°F (-6°C). Plant radishes about 4-6 weeks before the first frost for best results. Direct sowing is ideal for radishes, as they grow quickly in cool soil.
Tips for Winter Radishes: Keep the soil evenly moist, and consider using a cold frame or row cover to protect against hard frosts if you want to extend the harvest into the colder months.
17. Cabbage
Cabbage is a classic winter crop that can tolerate frost and temperatures down to 20°F (-6°C). With a little protection, it can survive even colder conditions. Cabbage is slow-growing, so it should be started indoors in midsummer and transplanted outdoors 6-8 weeks before the first frost.
Tips for Winter Cabbage: Use row covers to protect against hard freezes and pests. Harvest the heads as needed, and mulch around the base to help retain soil warmth and moisture.
18. Broccoli
Broccoli is another cold-hardy crop that does well in winter gardens. It can survive temperatures down to 26°F (-3°C) without much protection and even colder with row covers. Start broccoli indoors in midsummer and transplant it 8-10 weeks before your first frost date.
Tips for Winter Broccoli: Mulch heavily around the plants to help insulate the roots. Harvest the central heads first, then allow side shoots to continue producing smaller heads throughout the winter.
19. Cauliflower
Cauliflower, like broccoli, prefers cooler weather and can tolerate light frosts down to 30°F (-1°C). However, it needs some protection from extended cold snaps. Start your cauliflower indoors in midsummer, about 10 weeks before the first frost, and transplant it outside in late summer or early fall.
Tips for Winter Cauliflower: Use frost cloths or row covers to protect cauliflower from cold weather. Blanch the heads by tying the outer leaves around them once they start to form, protecting them from the cold and preventing discoloration.
20. Pak Choi (Bok Choy)
Pak choi, or bok choy, is a fast-growing, cold-tolerant Asian green that can survive light frosts and temperatures down to 20°F (-6°C). It’s perfect for fall planting, as it matures quickly and provides fresh greens throughout the colder months. Start it about 4-6 weeks before your first frost date, and you can either direct sow or start indoors and transplant.
Tips for Winter Pak Choi: If the temperature drops too low, cover your pak choi with a frost cloth or grow it under a cold frame to keep it producing throughout the winter.
21. Mizuna
Mizuna is a cold-hardy Asian green that thrives in cool weather. It can withstand temperatures down to 15°F (-9°C) and continues growing slowly through the winter. Mizuna is best direct sown in the garden about 6-8 weeks before the first frost, but you can also start it indoors and transplant it.
Tips for Winter Mizuna: Protect with a cold frame or row cover for continuous winter production, and regularly harvest the outer leaves for fresh salads or stir-fries.
22. Scallions (Green Onions)
Scallions, or green onions, are a hardy crop that can tolerate cold weather, withstanding temperatures as low as 10°F (-12°C). These onions don’t form large bulbs, so they are easier to grow in the winter. Start them from seed in late summer or early fall, about 8-10 weeks before the first frost. Direct sowing works well, but you can also start them indoors and transplant them.
Tips for Winter Scallions: Mulch heavily to protect them from the cold, and if temperatures dip below 10°F, consider using a row cover to help the plants continue producing. You can harvest scallions as needed throughout the winter.
23. Sweet Peas (Snow Peas and Snap Peas)
Sweet peas, especially varieties like snow peas and snap peas, are excellent crops for winter gardening. They thrive in cooler temperatures and can handle light frosts down to around 20°F (-6°C), although prolonged hard frosts may require some protection. Sweet peas prefer cooler weather, making them perfect for fall planting and winter harvesting in milder climates. You can start them in late summer or early fall, around 8-10 weeks before the first frost. They do best when direct sown, as they don’t handle transplanting well.
Tips for Winter Sweet Peas:
- Support: Use a trellis or other form of support, as sweet peas are climbing plants.
- Frost Protection: If you live in an area that gets harsher winters, row covers or cold frames can help extend the growing season. Alternatively, grow them in a greenhouse for winter harvests.
- Harvest Timing: You can harvest the pods when they’re young and tender. For snow peas, pick when flat and tender; for snap peas, allow them to plump up before harvesting.
Sweet peas will keep growing slowly throughout the colder months, and with proper care, you can continue harvesting them through early winter or even into spring. Keep an eye on the weather, and give them extra protection during particularly cold spells to keep your harvests going!
Winter Gardening Tips
- Mulch heavily around your crops to insulate the soil and keep it from freezing, allowing you to harvest root vegetables all winter long.
- Use cold frames or row covers to create a microclimate that protects crops from frost and wind, extending your growing season even further.
- Stagger plantings of cold-hardy crops to ensure a continuous harvest.
- Water carefully during winter; plants need less water, but frozen soil can make it hard for roots to absorb moisture.
By planting these winter-hardy crops and using season extension techniques, you’ll keep your garden productive through the cold months. Not only will this help you become more self-sufficient, but it will also provide your family with fresh, nutritious food all year round.
