17 Winter Garden Vegetables That Are Easy To Grow (With Pictures)

Introduction

There are some vegetables that can grow in winter. They can survive the cold and frost. They can even make your garden look beautiful. You can grow them in pots or in the ground. You can eat them fresh or cook them in different ways.

In this blog post, you will learn about 17 winter garden vegetables that are easy to grow. I will also give you some tips on how to grow them and how to use them in your meals.

What are winter vegetables?

Winter vegetables are vegetables that can grow in cold weather. They have special parts that protect them from freezing. Some of them have thick leaves that keep them warm. Some of them have roots that store food and water underground. Some of them have flowers that bloom in winter.

Winter vegetables usually grow slower than summer vegetables. They need less water and fertilizer than summer vegetables. They also need less sunlight and space than summer vegetables. But they still need some care and attention to grow well.

Why should you grow winter vegetables?

Enjoy fresh and healthy food all year round.

Winter vegetables are rich in nutrients and antioxidants that boost your immune system and fight diseases. They also taste better when they are fresh from your garden.

Save money and reduce waste

Winter vegetables are cheaper and easier to grow than summer vegetables. You do not need to buy seeds or plants every year. You can use the same ones for several years. You also do not need to buy expensive or harmful chemicals to protect your plants from pests and diseases. You can use natural methods instead. You can also reduce food waste by harvesting only what you need and storing the rest properly.

Beautify your garden and attract wildlife.

Winter vegetables can add color and texture to your garden in winter. They can make it look alive and vibrant even when everything else is brown and dull. They can also attract birds, bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects that pollinate your plants and eat harmful bugs.

How to prepare your garden for winter vegetables?

Before you plant your winter vegetables, you need to prepare your garden for them. Here are some steps you should follow:

Choose a sunny spot for your garden

Winter vegetables need at least six hours of sunlight per day to grow well. Choose a spot that gets enough sun in winter and is not shaded by trees or buildings.

Improve your soil quality

Winter vegetables need rich and well-drained soil to grow well. Add organic matter such as compost, manure, or leaves to your soil to improve its texture and fertility. Avoid using chemical fertilizers that can harm your plants or the environment.

Protect your plants from frost and wind

Winter vegetables can tolerate some cold, but they still need some protection from extreme weather conditions. Cover your plants with mulch, straw, or leaves to keep them warm and moist.

Related: 5+ Best Plant Covers for Frost in Winter

17 winter garden vegetables that are easy to grow

Kale

Kale likes cold weather, so you can grow it in your garden even when it is winter. Here are some steps to grow kale during the winter:

1. Choose a sunny spot in your garden that has good soil. You can add some compost or fertilizer to make the soil richer.
2. Plant the kale seeds about half an inch deep and one inch apart in rows. Cover them with soil and water them well.
3. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. You can use mulch to protect the soil from freezing and drying out.
4. Watch for pests like aphids or cabbage worms that might eat your kale leaves. You can use natural remedies like soap spray or garlic spray to get rid of them.
5. Harvest your kale when the leaves are big enough to eat. You can pick the outer leaves and leave the inner ones to grow more. Enjoy your fresh kale all winter long!

Spinach

Spinach likes to grow in cool weather, but not too cold. If you want to grow spinach during the winter, you need to protect it from frost and snow. Here are some steps you can follow to grow spinach in the winter:

1. Choose a sunny spot in your garden or in a container. Spinach needs at least six hours of sunlight every day.
2. Prepare the soil by adding compost or fertilizer. Spinach likes rich and moist soil that drains well.
3. Plant the spinach seeds about half an inch deep and two inches apart. You can plant them in rows or in clusters.
4. Water the spinach regularly, but not too much. The soil should be damp, but not soggy.
5. Cover the spinach with a row cover or a plastic tunnel when the temperature drops below freezing. This will keep the spinach warm and prevent frost damage.
6. Harvest the spinach leaves when they are big enough to eat.

Lettuce

Lettuce grows best in cool weather, so it is usually planted in the spring or fall. But you can also grow lettuce in the winter if you have a sunny window or a greenhouse. Here are some steps to grow lettuce during the winter.

1. Choose a container that has holes at the bottom for drainage. You can use a pot, a tray, or a plastic bottle with the top cut off.
2. Fill the container with potting soil. You can buy potting soil at a garden store or make your own by mixing compost and sand.
3. Sprinkle lettuce seeds on top of the soil. You don’t need to bury them too deep, just press them lightly with your finger.
4. Water the seeds gently with a spray bottle or a watering can. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
5. Place the container in a sunny spot, such as a windowsill or a greenhouse. Lettuce needs at least six hours of sunlight per day to grow well.

Carrots

Carrots are yummy and healthy. You can grow them in your garden even when it is cold outside. Here are some steps to grow carrots during the winter.

1. Choose a sunny spot in your garden. Carrots need a lot of light to grow well.
2. Dig the soil and make it loose and soft. Carrots need deep and loose soil to grow long and straight.
3. Plant the carrot seeds in rows. Make sure there is some space between each seed. Cover them with a thin layer of soil.
4. Water the seeds gently every day. Keep the soil moist but not too wet.
5. Cover the carrot rows with straw or leaves. This will keep the soil warm and protect the carrots from frost.
6. Check the carrots every week. You can pull out a carrot to see how big it is. When they are orange and about the size of your finger, they are ready to eat.

Radishes

Radishes like cold weather, so you can grow them in the winter. Here are some steps to grow radishes during the winter.

1. Find a sunny spot in your garden or use a big pot with holes at the bottom. Fill it with soil that is loose and rich.
2. Make small holes in the soil about one inch deep and two inches apart. Drop one or two radish seeds in each hole and cover them with soil.
3. Water the soil gently every day or when it feels dry. Don’t water too much or the seeds will rot.
4. Watch for green leaves to come out of the soil in a few days. This means your radishes are growing.
5. After four to six weeks, you can pull out your radishes and enjoy them. You can tell they are ready when you see a round shape on the soil surface.

Beets

You can grow beets in your garden even when it is cold outside. The lowest temperature they can survive is about -4°C (25°F). If it gets colder than that, you need to protect your beets with mulch or a cover.

You need to follow some steps to make sure they grow well. Here are the steps:

1. Choose a spot in your garden that gets some sun and has good soil. You can add compost or fertilizer to make the soil richer.
2. Dig some holes in the soil about 10 centimeters deep and 10 centimeters apart. You can use a ruler to measure the distance.
3. Put one beet seed in each hole and cover it with soil. Water the soil gently so it is moist but not wet.
4. Wait for the seeds to sprout. This may take a few weeks. You can check the soil every day and water it if it is dry.
5. When you see green leaves coming out of the soil, you can thin the plants. This means you remove some of the plants that are too close together so they have more space to grow. You can eat the leaves you remove in salads.
6. Keep watering and weeding your beet plants until they are ready to harvest. You can tell they are ready when you see the red part of the beet sticking out of the soil. You can pull them out gently and wash them before eating them.

Turnips

Some people think turnips only grow in the spring and summer, but you can also grow them in the winter. The lowest temperature they can survive is about -4°C (25°F). Here is how you do it:

• Find a spot in your garden that gets some sun and has good soil. You can make the soil better by adding compost or manure.
• Plant the turnip seeds in the soil. You can do this in late fall or early winter before it gets too cold. You should plant them about half an inch deep and four inches apart.
• Water the turnip seeds regularly and keep the soil moist but not soggy. You also need to weed the area and remove any rocks or sticks that might hurt the turnips.
• Wait for the turnips to grow. This can take two to three months, depending on the weather. You can check if they are ready by gently pulling one out of the ground and looking at it. It should be about three inches wide and have a smooth skin.

Parsnips

You can grow parsnips in your garden even when it is cold and snowy outside. The lowest temperature they can tolerate is about -4°C or 25°F. Here are some steps to grow parsnips during the winter.

1. Choose a spot in your garden that gets a lot of sunlight and has loose soil. Parsnips do not like hard or rocky soil.
2. Plant the parsnip seeds in late summer or early fall, before the first frost. Make sure to water them well and keep the soil moist.
3. Cover the parsnip plants with a thick layer of straw or leaves when the temperature drops below freezing. This will protect them from the cold and keep them warm.
4. Harvest the parsnips anytime from late fall to early spring. You can leave them in the ground until you are ready to eat them. They will become sweeter and more flavorful after a frost.

Brussels sprouts

Brussels sprouts like cold weather, so you can grow them during the winter. Here are some steps to grow Brussels sprouts in your garden:

1. Choose a spot that gets a lot of sun and has good soil. You can add compost or fertilizer to make the soil richer.
2. Plant the seeds or seedlings in the ground about 18 inches apart. You can do this in late summer or early fall.
3. Water the plants regularly and weed around them. You can also add mulch to keep the soil moist and warm.
4. Watch for pests and diseases that might harm your plants. You can use natural remedies or pesticides to protect them.
5. Harvest the sprouts when they are firm and green. You can start from the bottom of the stem and work your way up. You can store them in the fridge for up to a week or freeze them for longer.

Cabbage

Cabbage grows best in cool weather. You can grow cabbage in the winter if you follow these steps:

1. Plant the cabbage seeds in pots indoors in late summer or early fall. Keep them in a sunny place and water them often.
2. When the cabbage plants have four or five leaves, move them outside to a garden bed. Make sure the soil is rich and moist. Add some compost or fertilizer to help the plants grow.
3. Cover the cabbage plants with a row cover or a cloche. This will protect them from frost and pests. You can also mulch the soil with straw or leaves to keep it warm.
4. Harvest the cabbage when the heads are firm and big enough to eat. You can store them in a cool place for several weeks.

Broccoli

Broccoli likes to grow when it is cold, but not too cold. If you want to grow broccoli in the winter, you need to do some things.

1. First, you need to plant the seeds in a pot indoors. You can do this in late summer or early fall. The seeds will sprout in a few weeks.
2. Find a place where the sun can shine on your broccoli plants. The sun will help them grow and stay warm. You also need to protect them from the wind and the snow. You can use a plastic cover or a wooden box to do that.
3. Water your broccoli plants often, but not too much. If the soil is dry, you can give them some water. But if the soil is wet, you should not water them. Too much water can make them rot or freeze.
4. Check your broccoli plants for bugs or diseases. Sometimes, bugs like to eat broccoli leaves or stems. You can use soap and water to spray them away. Sometimes, broccoli plants can get sick and turn yellow or brown. You can use compost or fertilizer to make them healthy again.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower grows best in cool weather. You can grow cauliflower in the winter if you follow these steps:

• Choose a variety of cauliflower that can survive the cold. Some examples are Snow Crown, Purple Cape and Early Snowball.
• Plant the cauliflower seeds in a sunny spot in your garden. You can also start them indoors and transplant them outside later.
• Water the cauliflower plants regularly and keep the soil moist but not soggy.
• Cover the cauliflower heads with leaves or paper when they start to form. This will protect them from frost and keep them white and tender.
• Harvest the cauliflower when the heads are firm and about 6 to 8 inches across. Cut them off with a sharp knife and enjoy!

Leeks

Leeks can grow in cold weather, but they need some care. Here are some steps to grow leeks during the winter.

1. Choose a sunny spot in your garden. Leeks like to have a lot of light.
2. Dig a trench about 15 cm deep and 30 cm wide. This is where you will plant the leeks.
3. Fill the trench with compost or manure. This will make the soil rich and help the leeks grow.
4. Plant the leek seeds about 15 cm apart in the trench. Make sure the white part is covered with soil and the green part is sticking out.
5. Water the leeks well after planting. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
6. Add more soil around the leeks every few weeks. This will make the white part longer and sweeter.
7. Protect the leeks from frost by covering them with straw or fleece when it gets very cold.
8. Harvest the leeks when they are big enough to eat. You can cut them at the base or pull them out gently.

Onions

Some onion varieties, such as ‘Egyptian Walking Onion’ or ‘Japanese Bunching Onion,’ can be grown in winter gardens.

1. Find a big pot that has holes at the bottom. Fill the pot with soil. Soil is the brown stuff that plants grow in.
2. Buy some onion sets from a store. Onion sets are small onions that are ready to grow bigger. Choose onion sets that are healthy and firm. Do not choose onion sets that are soft or rotten.
3. Make some holes in the soil with your finger. The holes should be about 2 inches deep and 4 inches apart. Put one onion set in each hole. Cover the onion sets with soil.
4. Put the pot in a sunny place inside your house. A sunny place is where you can see the sun shining through the window. Water the pot every day or when the soil feels dry. Do not water too much or too little.
5. Watch your onions grow. After a few weeks, you will see green shoots coming out of the soil. These are the onion leaves. You can cut some of the leaves and use them for cooking. Do not cut all of the leaves or the onion will not grow bigger.
6. When the weather gets warmer, you can move the pot outside. Find a sunny place in your garden or balcony. Keep watering your onions until they are ready to harvest. You can harvest your onions when the leaves turn brown and fall over.

Garlic

You can grow garlic in your garden, even when it is cold outside. Here is how to do it:

• First, you need to get some garlic cloves. These are the small parts that you can break off from a big garlic bulb. You can buy them at the store or use some from your kitchen.
• Next, you need to find a spot in your garden that gets some sun and has good soil. You can dig the soil a little bit to make it loose and mix in some compost or fertilizer. This will help the garlic grow better.
• Then, you need to plant the garlic cloves in the soil. You can do this by making a small hole with your finger and putting one clove in each hole. The pointy end of the clove should be facing up and the flat end should be facing down. You can cover the cloves with some soil and leave about 4 inches of space between them.
• After that, you need to water the garlic well and put some mulch on top of the soil. Mulch is something like straw, leaves, or wood chips that helps keep the soil moist and warm. You can also add some more mulch if it gets very cold or snowy outside.

Swiss chard

You can grow Swiss chard in your garden even when it is cold outside. Here are some steps to grow Swiss chard during the winter.

1. Choose a spot in your garden that gets a lot of sun. Swiss chard likes to be warm and bright.
2. Dig the soil and mix it with some compost. Plant the Swiss chard seeds about half an inch deep and six inches apart. Cover them with soil and water them well.
3. Put some mulch around the plants. Mulch is like a blanket for plants. It keeps them warm and moist.
4. Check on your plants every week. Water them if the soil feels dry. Pull out any weeds that grow near them.

Collard greens

You can grow collard greens in your garden even when it is cold outside. Here are some steps to grow collard greens during the winter.

1. Choose a spot in your garden that gets a lot of sun. Collard greens like to be warm and sunny.
2. Dig the soil and make it loose and soft. Add some compost or fertilizer to make the soil rich and healthy.
3. Plant the collard green seeds about half an inch deep and six inches apart. Cover them with soil and water them well.
4. Keep watering the collard greens every week and pull out any weeds that grow near them. You can also add some mulch around the plants to keep the soil moist and warm.
5. When the collard greens have grown about a foot tall, you can start picking the leaves.
6. Enjoy your collard greens all winter long. They can survive frost and snow and keep growing until spring.

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