15 Essential vegetables to grow during Fall & Winter

With the chilly months upon us, it is time to start planting our vegetables. August is the prime time to start sowing in order to have a productive winter/spring harvest. You can always check on your Hardiness Zone to make the most out of it.

Below are 15 amazing vegetables to start growing around this time of the year.

1. Arugula is part of the brassica family, which makes it ideal for the colder months. Arugula becomes semi-dormant during the colder winter months and will start to grow again during late winter/early spring.

2. Beets are actually cool temperature vegetables that thrive during the winter months. Growing beets can be easy and they can be planted in a container or directly on the ground.

3. Lettuce includes multiple varieties like Bibb, Black Seed Simpson, and Romaine, that do very well in the cold. If you are expecting some freezing cold temperatures you can always use a row cover cloth.

4. Cabbage, also part of the brassica family, is a vegetable that is known for surviving harsh conditions. It is recommended to start your cabbage indoors and eventually transplant it outdoors.

5. Broccoli is a vegetable that can survive high 20’s fahrenheit weather. You can always cover up broccoli if the temperature drops dramatically during the icy months.

6. Turnips were originally cultivated in Northern Europe where the weather is naturally colder, making them the perfect winter vegetable. Freezing temperatures actually make turnips taste sweeter.

7. Carrots are another vegetable that can actually taste sweeter if grown during the winter months. In order to keep the carrots from freezing they naturally produce more sugars.

8. Squash varieties like Butternut are good to grow during winter. Keep in mind 32 degrees fahrenheit is the coldest temperature they can handle so make sure to plant these accordingly to your area.

9. Radish is a vegetable that grows very quickly and is fairly easy to grow. When these are harvested during winter, their taste is less “spicy” and rather mild.

10. Bok Choy is a vegetable you can plant during the late summer months that will happily survive winter. Bok Choy loves the winter months as insects and pests are not around.

11. Onions are good to grow during winter as they do not require too much protection up to 20 degree weather and some snow. However, it is recommended to get a cloth covering if there are multiple 20 degree weather days in a row.

12. Celery is a semi-hardy vegetable which can survive a light frost down to about 28 degrees fahrenheit. Celery can require up to 140 days to harvest so make sure to plan it accordingly.

13. Parsnip is an annual plant that can be left in the ground for the entire winter if needed. It can be covered with a layer of mulch in order to protect it.

14. Mustard Greens get their best flavor and texture during the winter months. They can survive temperatures as low as 20 degrees fahrenheit.

15. Peas, particularly green peas, can tolerate light frosts. These are a good vegetable to grow in warmer winter regions.

Have you started planning your Fall/Winter garden? If so, what are you planning on planting so far?

You can find all of these and more in our Fall/Winter collection HERE.

Happy Gardening!