As temperatures gradually drop, crops like melons and tomatoes start to bid your garden farewell. While these summer stars can’t thrive in the colder months, some produce are strong enough to withstand the chilly weather. Many veggies grow well during winter; some even taste better when planted in the cold! Here are five winter crops to plant this season.
Green Onions
Generally, bulbing onions thrive wonderfully in the cold season. However, green onions are even easier to grow in your garden during winter. Green onions are so resilient they can survive subfreezing temperatures.
Green onions grow relatively fast; you can plant them and expect a harvest in just 60 days. Another reason they are great winter crops is that they don’t take up so much space- your small garden can accommodate them.
Leeks
Leeks are a prominent figure in many winter recipes, making them great winter plants. They are cold-hardy plants, and even their seeds grow in cold weather. They can withstand temperatures as low as 20°F.
Interestingly, leeks even taste sweeter after one or two light frosts. You could add natural mulches around the plants to further protect their roots from the harsh cold. So, winter isn’t just about enjoying leeks; it’s also about planting them.
Turnips
Turnips are one of the lesser-known winter crops. Many people know that they are harvested in autumn and kept in root cellars for the winter, but only a few know that they can also be kept in the ground during the winter months.
These winter crops can survive even when the weather drops to 25°F. During winter, turnips grow sweeter and have bigger roots instead of leaves. You could also sow turnips in succession throughout winter and into spring for an almost continuous harvest.
Carrots
Carrots are excellent fall and winter crops, so they may not thrive so well in the summer months. Frost doesn’t mean damage to carrots– it only makes the roots sweeter.
However, while carrots grow well in cold weather, there is a limit to the temperature at which they can survive. Your carrots may get damaged when the temperature goes below 20°F, so it’s best to gather them before then.
Brassicas
Brassica vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and others grow well during winter. You can harvest these vegetables from your garden well into winter.
Aside from their ability to withstand the cold weather, brassicas are easy to grow in winter because of pest factors. Pests that disturb brassicas, like cabbage loopers, aren’t so active in winter.