Plant for Your Zone and Harvest All Winter

Here are some suggestions of plants that will grow in your winter garden in various zones. If you can offer frost protection, such as a hoop house or cold frame, you can grow plants suited to 1-2 zones warmer than the one in which you live. In most cases, you can also grow the veggies suited to colder zones, so give the whole list a look if you happen to live in a warm area.

Zone 3-4: Try Brussels sprouts, which will stay fresh on the stem in freezing weather as long as they have some time to mature before it gets too cold, and parsnips, which tolerate frozen ground for long periods and can be harvested as soon as it thaws.

Zone 5-6: Most brassicas will overwinter for you, such as cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, and the hardier varieties of broccoli. This group of plants has such a variety of forms and flavors that they can fill a winter garden and you’ll never get bored with the results.

Zone 7-8: The soil isn’t likely to freeze very deep in these zones, so many root and in-ground crops can be grown with a bit of mulch to protect them from the cold air. Carrots, onions, leeks, and turnips should all perform well.

Zone 9-10: Veggies that are barely frost-tender will survive all winter, though they may become damaged on the very coldest nights. Lettuce, spinach, chard, bok choi, kohlrabi, peas, beans, and many herbs will withstand the infrequent frosts with little complaint.


Kale and bush beans, November in zone 8


Turnips, leeks, parsnips, and onions, November in zone 8