Has the high price of food got you thinking about growing your own vegetables? Can’t wait to get started? You don’t have to wait! It’s not too late in many parts of the US. There are numerous different vegetable plants that can be grown in the cooler months.
Check with your local extension agent to see what dates you can plant or you can determine the normal dates of the first and last hard freeze. Take the date of the first hard freeze and calculate back 30, 60 and 90 days. Almost all seed packages will give the number of days to harvest.
Here in Virginia, we are seeing our first frost in the last week or two but they are nighttime lows and the temperature has been in the 60s and 70s during the day. These can be ideal temperatures for growing cool season vegetables, many of which can improve in flavor with a light frost.
Some of these vegetables can be planted in the fall for winter harvest and some in the winter for early spring harvests.
Root Crops – There are a variety of different root crops that you can grow in a small garden. I have been experimenting with them in the last year and have found that I enjoy the different flavors. Most root vegetables are mild and are cooked similar to potatoes.
- Carrots
- Bunching Onions
- Beets
- Radishes
- Turnips
- Rutabaga
- Parsnips
- Globe Onions
- Leeks
- Garlic
LEAF VEGETABLES
– I have to admit that it has only been in the last year that I have gained any appreciation for ‘greens’ but properly prepared they are delicious. Since moving to the country in southern Virginia, I have been properly educated on the preparation and cooking of them the old southern way. I am not going to separate them out but they are quick growing and best suited to the spring, fall and early winter harvest. - Kale
- Collards
- Swiss Chard
- Turnip Greens
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Arugula
- Mustard Greens
- Corn Salad
CABBAGE FAMILY
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Brussel Sprouts
- Kohlrabi
- Cauliflower
PEAS – Peas thrive in cooler weather and can be planted in the fall or early spring. Snow peas and sugar snap peas are eaten whole and are a great addition to salads.
- Snow Peas
- Sugar Snap Peas
- English Peas
SQUASH – Winter squash is actually grown in the spring and fall and generally has long storage times that allow it to keep through the winter months. High in vitamins, there are a wealth of winter squash recipes that will tempt even those who may be a bit skeptical.
- Acorn Squash
- Spaghetti Squash
- Butternut Squash
Most of these vegetables can be grown from seeds. Seeds can be obtained from national seed companies such as Gurneys or Burpees and often plants can be obtained locally from a nursery or green house. Check around, it may not be too late to get some winter vegetables started.
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Tags: gardening, Homesteading
Thanks for an informative article!
I have just recently tried this myself, planting in NW Oregon on 10/2, after our first frost. The greens germinated anyway in our warmer that usual October. It’s an experiment to see what will actually grow here over the winter.
Right now I have: Mache’ or Miner’s Lettuce, Vit or Corn Salad, Sylvetta Arugula, Swiss Chard, Carrots, and Scarlet Runner beans – all of which just came up recently. All are supposed to be winter hardy. We’ll see.
Leftovers still growing in the summer garden, even after several frosts, are edible pod peas, the potatoes, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and kales, as well as asparagus. And even tho I picked all the green tomatoes and brought them in, the oxheart orange cherry tomato is still producing fruit outside, and it’s ripening, much to my amazement.
In the ground I still have parsnips, rutabagas, and turnips. And a lot of herbs and celery.
I tried patty pan/flying saucer squash this year and found that it hardens/cures and is keeping well, along with my spaghetti squashes and butternut.
For my winter seeds I went to a local (Oregon) seed company, Territorial, which has plant seeds for plants that should grow well in my area. No heat-loving seeds need apply here in my maritime cool rainy climate
I found a good recipe place at supercook.com for new squash recipes – just type in what you have on hand and it spits out recipes – pretty cool!
Thanks for an informative article. Maybe I’ll have to give kohlrabi a try – I knot it will grow here. Thanks!
Hi … I just popped in via Stumble and I must say that you’ve already given me two good ideas for articles. In Virginia your climate is generally less harsh than here in Michigan. Next year I will be trying to cloche garden through the winter so as to at least have healthy salads and herbs to rely on.
[...] on December 3, 2008Filed Under Homesteading, Recipes | Several weeks ago, I wrote an article on Winter Vegetables and collard greens were included. Collards are a new experience for me both in cooking and [...]
check out the multi-variety seed collections at ediblegardens.com
Great place to find open-pollinated heirloom varieties you need for long-term seed-saving and gardening.
Awesome article! I was wondering on which vegetables I can grow during the cold winter months and this article helps! Thank you!
-Lanny B