Think your garden is finished when frost arrives? Not necessarily.
Some vegetables handle cold weather surprisingly well, and several of my favourites can survive temperatures as low as -18°C (0°F) when they’re protected in a greenhouse or cold frame.
The trick is getting them established before winter really sets in. Once the days get shorter and temperatures drop, growth slows significantly, but that doesn’t mean your harvest has to stop.
Here are 10 of my favourite cold-hardy vegetables to grow for fall and winter harvests.
My Favourite Cold-Hardy Vegetables
If you want to keep harvesting as the temperatures drop, these are some of my favourite vegetables to grow.
Arugula
Spinach
Mâche
Claytonia
Mizuna
Lettuce
Kale
Swiss Chard
Egyptian Walking Onion
Leeks
One important thing to know: cold-hardy doesn’t mean these vegetables will actively grow at -18°C. As temperatures drop and daylight decreases, growth slows dramatically. The goal is to get your plants established before winter, then use their cold tolerance to extend your harvest.
Watch below or scroll down to keep reading.
Time Stamps:
- 0:58 Arugula
- 1:36 Spinach
- 2:26 Mache
- 3:25 Mizuna
- 4:48 Claytonia
- 5:42 Lettuce
- 8:04 Kale
- 9:20 Swiss Chard
- 10:36 Perennial Onion
- 11:37 Leek
- 11:56 Cilantro
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10 Cold Hardy Vegetables for Winter
1. Arugula
Arugula is an all-time favorite to grow in winter. It thrives both in my greenhouse and cold frames. Arugula and kale are probably my top 2 favorite veggies to grow in winter.
2. Spinach
Spinach was one of the first veggies I tried growing. Although it can be challenging to grow when the weather warms up, it’s actually quite easy to grow when it’s cold.
3. Mache
Mache is one of the most cold hardy vegetables you can grow. In fact, I’ve done a whole video on why I love mache for a winter garden.
4. Claytonia
This is a strange looking vegetable, but it’s a favorite because of the delicate white flowers that grow as the plant grows. The flowers are edible and can spruce up your early spring dishes.
5. Mizuna
I hadn’t heard of mizuna before I started growing my own food. But thankfully I’m open to experimentation. It’s become one of my favorite milder leafy greens to add to my winter garden.
6. Lettuce
Not all lettuce varieties are good for the winter garden. While most lettuce loves cooler temperatures, some are particularly suited to handle winter temperatures. 2 of my favorites are Tango and Salad Bowl.
7. Kale
Kale is much more sweet when grown in winter. Although I grow it year round, I only enjoy eating it fresh off the plant in the fall and winter after the temperature drops.
8. Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard is a year-round favorite leafy green. It does well in summer and in winter, and although some older leaves may suffer on exceptionally frigid days, the plant is all-around a great addition to the garden.
9. Egyptian Walking Onion
This perennial onion is one of the first to pop up in my uncovered garden in spring. The young greens are great to use as a substitute for green onions.
10. Leeks
Shifting gears away from the leafy greens, leeks are a wonderful addition to your cold weather garden. With a bit of protection from the freezing temperatures, they can add a fresh onion taste to your winter dishes.
Not sure what you can still plant?
Knowing a vegetable can handle cold weather is only half the equation. You also need enough time to get it established before growth slows down.
Embrace uses your location and the crop you’re growing to show you whether you’re in the ideal planting window, getting late, or already past it.
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