If you’re confused about which vegetable to grow in fall, then read this article and choose the Best Winter Vegetables for your Garden!
Winters are the best time of the year to grow fresh produce, and this post brings you the Best Winter Vegetables that you can easily grow in your garden!
Best Winter Vegetables for Your Garden
1. Spinach
USDA Zones: 2-11
Spinach is one of the best winter vegetables to grow in your fall garden. It is also known as a superfood because of the presence of various nutrients. You can grow Red kitten and Kolibri varieties to harvest in winter.
Tip: Spinach does well in moist soil; thus, water it deeply and regularly.
2. Parsnip
USDA Zones: 2-9
Parsnip has a sweet and nutty flavor that can enhance the taste of any winter cuisine! Its appearance resembles a carrot, except for the white color. It is rich in Folate, Vitamin C, and Fiber.
Tip: You can grow parsnip in 12-15 inches deep pots.
3. Broccoli
USDA Zones: 3-10
Broccoli thrives best in cool-climate as it helps the plant form a healthy flower head that has a sweeter taste. Try Calabrese broccoli as a cool-season crop for the best yield.
Tip: Broccoli thrives best in full sun. Also, use well-drained, moist, fertile, and slightly acidic soil (pH 6.0-6.8).
4. Savoy Cabbage
USDA Zones: 2-11
Also known as the cabbage of wrinkled leaves, it offers a mild flavor that is ideal for winter cuisines such as stews and soups. Plant it in mid-to-late summer and harvest this low-calorie veggie in the fall.
Tip: When leaves begin to emerge, fertilize the plant with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
5. Carrot
USDA Zones: 4-8
Carrots are the pride of winter, although you can grow purple, black, and red cultivars as well. They can be used in both desserts and savory dishes. To harvest fresh carrots in the fall, start to sow its seed three weeks before the last frost date.
Tip: Grow them in well-drained and loamy soil. Use a general-purpose fertilizer for a good harvest.
6. Lettuce
USDA Zones: 4-9
Lettuce is a winter crop since some cold-hardy varieties cannot resist warm temperatures due to low water content. Varieties like Icebergs, Romaine, and Red snail are the best winter vegetables. It grows well within a temperature range of 45-65 F (7-18 C).
Tip: Maintain a gap of 12-18 inches while growing seeds of lettuce in the soil.
7. Cauliflower
USDA Zones: 2-11
This mild-flavored vegetable comes from the Brassicas family and requires cold weather and moist soil to thrive. It needs an average of 50-80 days to grow. Plant it in the ground around 10 weeks before the first frost for best winter harvest.
Jerome F1 and Chester F1 are the best varieties to grow in winter.
Tip: Mulch the plant thoroughly with organic materials to maintain the moisture of the soil.
8. Peas
USDA Zones: 3-11
‘Pisum sativum’ is rich in carbs, fibers, and vitamins that taste best in winter cuisines. Sow the seeds in spring, four weeks before the last spring frost date in your area. If you are looking forward to growing one of the Best Winter Vegetables, this is it!
Tip: Peas require phosphorous and potassium for better growth. Hence you can add some bone meal in the soil.
9. Radish
USDA Zones: 2-11
Radish is a cool-season root vegetable available for harvesting in four weeks from the time it is sown. You can grow radishes in spring and fall, though the hot temperature of summer can cause them to bolt.
Tip: Mulch the soil with wood ash, and avoid high nitrogen fertilizer.
10. Leek
USDA Zones: 5-9
Leeks are nutritious, frost-resistant, easy-to-grow, and one of the best winter vegetables that belong to the Allium family. They taste like onion and produce a leaf sheath instead of bulbs; you can eat them in salads or stews.
Tip: Sow leek seeds in the late summer to get the harvest in late winter and spring.
11. Fennel
USDA Zones: 4-9
Fennel is a cool-weather crop and it tends to bolt in warm temperature, which also causes it to turn bitter. Its celery-like stalks taste just great in salads and you can also roast it with other veggies to enjoy its slightly sweet taste in winters!
Tip: Select a container that’s at least 12-14 inches deep with drainage holes at the bottom
12. Kale
USDA Zones: 7-10
The cool weather keeps the plant healthy and also helps it maintain its sweet and earthly flavor. The best-tasting variety is the curly kale, which pairs well with various salads and winter cuisines.
Tip: If you are growing kale with other herbs, go for a 22-24-inch pot.
13. Kohlrabi
USDA Zones: 3-10
The word translates to cabbage turnip in German, this veggie tastes simply delicious in winters and gets its best flavor in the season. Barbeque its small bulbs with your favorite recipe, or toss them in any roasted preparation.
Tip: Well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5 is ideal.
14. Turnip
USDA Zones: 5-6
This hardy, cool-weather veggie adds a sweet flavor to dishes. They are also quick growing and can be harvested between 30 to 60 days, depending on the variety grown. For best taste and flavor, roast them fresh or add them to salads.
15. Brussels Sprouts
USDA Zones: 3-10
Brussels sprouts grow best in cool weather under 65°F and can even handle temperatures down to 20°F. Since they take a long time to mature, plant them about four months before the first frost. Pick a sunny spot and make sure to water them regularly in the summer to help them cope with the heat.