Gardening Ideas Fruit, Vegetable, & Herb Gardens Vegetables 15 Best Vegetables To Plant In Winter Keep the harvests coming with these hardy crops for the winter garden. By Kim Toscano Kim Toscano Kim Toscano has provided gardening expertise for over 20 years through her writing, videos, and garden designs. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on November 21, 2023 Close Photo: Getty Images For gardeners in the South, winter is a great time to grow cool-season vegetables. Whether you live in a frost-free area or experience winter freezes, there is an abundance of vegetables to plant in winter that keep your garden productive despite the cold. When it comes to winter harvests, there are two groups of plants to consider: those planted in the late summer and fall that can be harvested through the winter season, and those that can be planted during the winter months. Of course, there is considerable overlap between the two groups. Winter temperatures vary considerably across the South. Coastal locations tend to be warmer while gardeners in the mountains may experience snow. Even in the upper regions of the South, most of these crops can still be grown, though some may require row covers or frost blankets to protect them from frosts. Fall and winter temperatures also impact planting times. Consult your local Extension educator or garden center regarding the best crops and ideal planting times for your area. Note that while some of the crops on this list tolerate light shade, full sun conditions are preferable for winter production.Gardeners find the greatest success when growing winter vegetables in raised beds or mounded rows. Soil does not dry as quickly in winter as it does in summer. Gardening in raised beds enhances drainage which prevents roots from rotting in cold, wet soil. Wherever you garden, remember to adjust your watering practices for slower growth and reduced evaporation. 12 Best Cool Season Annuals For Winter Gardens 01 of 15 Kale Getty Images Botanical Name: Brassica oleraceaSun Exposure: Full to Part SunSoil Type: Moist, Well-draining, RichSoil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.0 to 7.5) A staple of the winter garden, kale tolerates light freezes and cold temperatures actually enhance the flavor. Plant kale August through September and enjoy harvests well into winter. In mild winters, plants often produce new leaves through spring. Kale can also be planted as early as February for early spring harvest. 02 of 15 Radish Getty Images Botanical Name: Raphanus sativusSun Exposure: Full to Part SunSoil Type: Medium, Well-drainingSoil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.5-7.0) Radishes are fast to mature, with crops ready for harvest in as few as 20 to 30 days after sowing. Many gardeners like to sow rows of radishes at two-week intervals for continual harvest. Radishes are tastiest when harvested young, before they develop a woody texture. They can be planted September through October for fall and winter harvest, and again starting in mid-January. 03 of 15 Spinach Getty Images Botanical Name: Spinacia oleraceaSun Exposure: Full to Part SunSoil Type: Moist, Well-draining, RichSoil pH: Neutral to Slightly Alkaline (6.5-8.0) Spinach leaves make tasty additions to salads or can be cooked in a variety of dishes. Harvest young tender leaves as they develop. Plants will continue to produce new growth during much of the winter for continual harvest. Spinach is often sown in succession like radishes to spread out the harvest. Sow seeds September through October, and again starting in January, depending on location. 04 of 15 Carrots Getty Images Botanical Name: Daucus carota subsp. sativusSun Exposure: Full SunSoil Type: Moist, Well-draining, Average FertilitySoil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.0-7.5) Carrots are easy to grow if you have the right soil—a loose loamy or sandy substrate is ideal. In areas with mild winters, fall planted carrots can be left in place in the garden until you are ready to use them, just harvest what you need and let nature “store” the rest underground. Plant a spring crop January to February, depending on location, and make sure to harvest these before the heat of summer arrives, which causes carrots to taste bitter. 05 of 15 Green Onions Getty Images Botanical Name: Allium speciesSun Exposure: Full SunSoil Type: Medium, Well-draining, RichSoil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.0 to 7.0) Also called scallions, green onions are grown for their tender stems and flavorful foliage rather than bulbs. There are two types of onions that can be grown as green onions: bulb onions (Allium cepa) and bunching onions (Allium fistulosum). Bulb onions are typically grown for their large yellow, red, or white bulbs, however they can be harvested in an immature stage as green onions. Bunching onions are perennial plants in hardiness zones 6-9 and can be harvested year-round in regions with mild winters. Establish plants September through March. 06 of 15 Collards Getty Images Botanical Name: Brassica oleraceaSun Exposure: Full SunSoil Type: Moist, Well-draining, RichSoil pH: Slightly Acidic (6.0 to 6.5) Grown for their nutrient-packed leaves, collards are among the most popular garden vegetables of the South. Fall-sown crops can be harvested throughout the winter in many areas. Gardeners in regions experiencing freezes can cover plants with a row cover or frost blanket during cold snaps to prolong harvest. Look for cold hardy varieties for fall planting, and bolt-resistant varieties for spring planting, which begins as early as February. 07 of 15 Asparagus Getty Images Botanical Name: Asparagus officinalisSun Exposure: Full SunSoil Type: Moist, Well-draining, RichSoil pH: Slightly Acidic to Slightly Alkaline (6.0-8.0) Asparagus is a perennial plant that is best established during the dormant season, from November through March. Plants can survive many years and should be planted in a location where they will not be disturbed, such as the edge of a vegetable garden or among ornamental plantings. Asparagus is sold as a bare-root crown which sends up new shoots each season. Tender young shoots are harvested as they emerge in spring and early summer. Wait to harvest until the second year after planting to allow plants time to establish. 08 of 15 Lettuce Getty Images Botanical Name: Lactuca sativaSun Exposure: Full SunSoil Type: Moist, Well-draining, RichSoil pH: Slightly Acidic (6.0 to 6.5) When it comes to growing winter salads, skip the head lettuces and focus on loose-leaf and bibb varieties, which can be harvested continuously. Remove the larger, outside leaves first, allowing the small inner leaves more time to grow. In addition to leaf lettuces, Romaine lettuce is a good selection for spring planting, as it has good heat tolerance. 09 of 15 Mustard Greens Getty Images Botanical Name: Brassica junceaSun Exposure: Full to Part SunSoil Type: Moist, Well-draining, RichSoil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (5.5-7.0) Though not as cold hardy as their close relatives collards and kale, mustard greens grow faster, providing the first greens of the season. Some varieties, like 'Red Giant', are quite colorful and make a lovely edible ornamental in containers and planting beds. Spring crops can be sown as early as January, depending on location. Look for bolt-resistant varieties like 'Florida Broadleaf'. 10 of 15 Garlic Getty Images Botanical Name: Allium sativumSun Exposure: Full SunSoil Type: Medium to Moist, Well-draining, RichSoil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.0 to 7.0) Most of us have only ever tasted the silverskin garlic found at grocery stores, but there are a wide range of flavors waiting to be discovered when you grow your own garlic. Some have a spicy bite, others a mellow sweetness. Garlic is planted after the weather has cooled, from October through December, and harvested the following summer. If you live in a freeze-prone area, plant cloves 4-6 weeks before the ground freezes. 11 of 15 Potato Getty Images Botanical Name: Solanum tuberosumSun Exposure: Full SunSoil Type: Moist, Well-draining, RichSoil pH: Slightly Acidic (6.0-6.5) Potatoes are planted in late winter for summer harvest. Potato plants are started from seed potatoes. These are not seeds in the common sense of the word, but rather small sections of the potato tuber. Depending on where you live, seed potatoes are set as early as mid-January once the soil can be worked. Potatoes will rot in soggy soils. Plant in raised beds or mounded rows to enhance drainage. 12 of 15 Peas Getty Images Botanical Name: Pisum sativumSun Exposure: Full SunSoil Type: Moist, Well-draining, Average FertilitySoil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.0-7.5) Peas are cold hardy plants that stop growing when temperatures reach 85˚ F. This leaves a small window for production. Sow pea seeds as soon as the soil thaws, or in January in areas that do not experience freezes. Peas come in tall, vining types that produce pods continuously as plants grow, and short bush type plants that set all the pods at one time. Vining types are typically preferred for the home garden. They will require a small trellis or fence to climb. 13 of 15 Bulb Onions Getty Images Botanical Name: Allium speciesSun Exposure: Full SunSoil Type: Medium, Well-draining, RichSoil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.0 to 7.0) Like the green onions described above, bulb onions have a wide planting window, from September through March. Bulb onions take a long time to mature. They can be started from seed or sets and are not harvested until the tops of the plants begin to die back in summer. The benefit of growing bulb onions is that they can be stored for several months after allowing them to cure. 14 of 15 Arugula Getty Images Botanical Name: Eruca vesicariaSun Exposure: Full to Part SunSoil Type: Moist, Well-draining, RichSoil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.0 to 7.0) Grow gourmet greens in the winter garden! Fall-sown arugula plants tolerate frost and can be harvested well into winter. Seed germinates at soil temperatures as low as 40°F and can be sown as soon as the soil can be worked in late winter. Plants mature quickly and are ready to harvest in just 5 to 6 weeks. Harvest leaves when they are still young, before they develop a bitter flavor. 15 of 15 Turnips Getty Images Botanical Name: Brassica rapaSun Exposure: Full SunSoil Type: Moist, Well-draining, RichSoil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.0-7.5) Turnips taste sweetest after they experience cold weather, so fall-planted turnips are ideal. Plants can also be started after the new year for spring harvest. Both the root and tops of turnips are edible. Use the leaves as you would mustard or collard greens. Like carrots, turnips can be stored in the ground until ready for use. Protect them with a layer of mulch to extend harvests into December and dig the remaining crop before a hard freeze. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit