To many gardeners’ winter is a time to pack it all in. Cover the beds up for the year and wait till the last frost before planting again. The days are shorter, temperatures cooler and it’s just not the most conducive time for growing.
Still, there are some great plants that can be grown through the winter. Some plants can be seeded in the winter and harvested in the spring. This is a great way to get the jump on the earliest harvests next year.
We are going to look at 10 vegetables that you should plant in the winter. Things you can eat now and later.
Garlic
It might be impossible to grow enough garlic. The average America eats about 2lbs of garlic per year. So that’s nearly 10lbs for a family of four!
All that said, garlic gloves can be planted directly in the ground. Each will overwinter and in spring they will give birth to a new head of garlic. This is one of the great overwinter gardening hacks.
If you are using store bought garlic just make sure it is fresh and soak the individual cloves, skin on, in a solution of water and baking soda overnight. This will prevent fungal growth in the ground.
Carrot
Planting carrot seeds in the winter is another way to prepare for the spring season. The carrots will not be ready as soon as spring comes along but they will be well on their way. You may need to mound dirt around the young carrots as they grow, if temperatures get very low.
Cold winters make sweet carrots.
Onions
Onions can be planted in winter, too. These small onion seeds are great to plant early on and come springtime they will be large bulbs. Your harvest will come quickly. You can also store the onions with your garlic in a cellar or cool dry place.
Parsnips
Parsnips are an underrated vegetable. However, they can be seeded just like carrots. They will get sweet in the cold, too. Grow them along with your carrots because they are very similar.
Parsnips and carrots can be stored for a very long time in containers between layers of sand. This is an old root cellar method, but it works great!
Kale
Kale is a plant that can be planted and allowed to grow all through the winter. The rest of the vegetables on this list will share this characteristic. The kale you grow in winter can carry on through the winter or you can plant a new crop in the fall.
It will survive incredibly low temperatures during the winter. While it will not grow fast, like on the long warm days of the summer, you will still be able to enjoy it.
Brussel Sprouts
I have seen towers of Brussel sprouts covered in snow and still producing. These are another winter warrior plant. They do well in the cold weather. Grow them all through the winter.
If you don’t like eating them, I dare you to halve them, sauté some bacon, toss the Brussels in the bacon and bacon fat and sauté them till soft. You can add some diced brie or blue cheese at the end. Delicious.
Spinach
You can add spinach to almost everything. Spinach grows really fast, and it can withstand some freezing when it is mature. This makes it a great candidate for your winter garden. You can even seed spinach in the winter months and have success.
Cabbage
The hearty heads of cabbage can withstand frigid temperatures. Cabbage has long been a staple of kitchens in the winter. They can grow through the winter and be harvested in spring or eaten during the winter months.
Late season cabbages can take around 100 -120 days to reach maturity. So, keep that in mind when planting.
Collards
Collards hold up much like kale. This is a vegetable that I like to carry into the winter season rather than try and seed during the colder months. Keep your fall harvest going and let it run deep into the winter. The cold also imparts a sweetness onto the collards.
Leeks
Leeks are an unsung hero of the winter garden. They are very hearty and will last well into winter and even through to spring. They are slow growing in the winter but can be harvested throughout the year.
On a cold winter’s day something like creamy potato and leek soup can warm the soul!
Final Thoughts on Winter Vegetables
Don’t throw in the towel on growing food when the cold rolls in. You can even grow indoors nowadays with hydroponics. We have all kinds of options.
The hearty winter garden is a treat. It’s one that you should not miss out on. Not to mention by overwintering things like carrots and garlic you know your spring growing season is going to start on the right foot.
