
So, with the months of snow, icy temperatures and short days you have a choice: winter vegetable shopping or winter gardening! Ok, you won’t grow tomatoes and peppers, unless you have a heated greenhouse, but why should you buy your greens when you have a backyard? And why should your land lay idle till spring? There are so many veggies you can grow that are cold hardy and thrive from November to February (and beyond).
And winter is the season of colds, flu and aching bones, so growing your own vegetables is like having your “backyard pharmacy”, if you choose the right ones…
In fact, there are so many healthy vegetables, leafy, root and some fruiting ones, that really like the cold weather, that I had to pick 10 for you – because these are a must!
1: Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)

Broccoli is a winter classic, and there is no reason why you should buy it from your grocer’s. It will grow perfectly well in your back garden even if you live in Canada! In fact, it is cold hardy to USDA zone 3, and it actually needs freezing temperatures to form that big inflorescence, packed with flavor and goodness, that ends up on our tables.
And winter is the season of ailments, so you need protection from disease. Enter broccoli, rich in glucosinolates, which prevent cancer! It is also anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and rich in fiber – great for your health. This humble vegetable can help lower your cholesterol, regulate blood pressure, and promote cardiovascular health. It would be crazy not to grow it in your garden…
- Hardiness: USDA zones 3 to 10.
- Light requirements: full Sun, but it tolerates partial shade in warmer climates.
- Spacing: 18 inches apart (45 cm) and in 24 inch-spaced rows (60 cm).
2: Winter Peas (Pisumsativum)

Why should you buy frozen peas (never buy them canned!), when you can pick them fresh in your back garden? Yes, there are varieties that grow well during this harsh season. Austrian peas, as they are also called, will grow with no problems in USDA zones 7 and above, but you can have them in colder climates as well, as long as you cover them with a frost blanket, which is quite cheap (£5.00 will be enough for 30 feet!), and it will keep your crop safe and productive for a long time. On top of that, this legume will fertilize your soil, providing nitrogen, so it will be more fertile in spring.
For this reason, growing winter peas is a must in my opinion. But let’s not forget that they are also rich in vitamins C and E, zinc, and other antioxidants. They also have vitamins A and B and coumestrol, great for chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis. On top of being delicious when eaten fresh, of course!
- Hardiness: USDA zones 7 to 10, but down to zones 5 or 4 with a frost blanket.
- Light requirements: full Sun.
- Spacing: 4 to 6 inches apart (10 to 15 cm) and in rows with 18 to 24 inch spacing (45 to 60 cm). Sow them directly in your garden.
3: Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla)

Ok, you can grow spinach in winter, but I have a better option for you: Swiss chard! While it has a similar flavor, it is not related to it, but to beets, and it has the added bonus of large and sweet leaves and those juicy and mouthwatering ribs in green, yellow, orange, red or purple… It grows fast, and it will reach maturity in 45 to 50 days (though you can pick it before if you wish), and, as soon as you cut it, it will start growing back, giving you a long-lasting crop throughout the season. The only drawback is that it will only thrive in USDA zones 7 and above in this season, unless you have a polytunnel…
Swiss chard is just amazing for your health, as it is packed with sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, vitamins C and B6, flavonoids and antioxidants. And what is it good for? Cancer, diabetes, heart problems, bone and eye health, for your liver, anemia, dementia, blood circulation and… your palate, of course!
- Hardiness: USDA zones 7 to 12, but in a polytunnel you can grow it in zones 6 and 5 as well.
- Light requirements: full Sun.
- Spacing: 6 inches apart (15 cm) in 18 inch-spaced rows (45 cm).
4: Turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa)

Baldrick’s favorite (and only) root vegetable is yet another winter crop your back garden shouldn’t do without, yes, I am talking about the humble but mouth-watering turnip. While it looks like it is related to beets, it is actually a relative of cabbage, and that makes it cold hardy, and a great winter crop. Do remember that, if the roots are lovely when roasted or in stews, you shouldn’t chuck away the leaves! Treat them like spinach, or kale or, and they will add a delicious touch to your dishes in this harsh season.
Thinking about your healthy diet, turnips may look “poor” vegetables, but they are actually very rich! They are actually super nutritious, and they have bioactive compounds, like glucosinolates, may control blood sugar levels, they protect against harmful bacteria, and provide anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. And they are also good for weight loss, because they are filling but low in calories.
- Hardiness: USDA zones 6 to 11 in winter (2 to 11 in other seasons).
- Light requirements: full sun
- Spacing: sow them directly in your garden 2 to 3 inches apart (5.0 to 7.5 cm) and thin them out; keep the rows 18 inches apart (45 cm).
5: Lamb’sLettuce (Valerianella locusta)

Also called mache or corn salad, lamb’s lettuce is by far one of my favorite leafy salad veggies ever, and the good news is that it is very cold hardy and it grows really well in winter. It owes its name to its round foliage, coming in lovely rosettes, which you pick up with the tiny root (to eat as well), and it has so many special qualities… It is soft and crunchy at the same time, very fresh and uplifting, and while it is sweet, it has a very light peppery aftertaste as well. It’s like having spring on your dinner plate in the middle of the cold season! It is also a fast crop, ready in 45 to maximum 60 days, and I suggest staggering it, to have a long harvest season.
And would you believe that in such tiny leaves you have basically an edible pharmacy? Yes, because lamb’s lettuce is packed with vitamins, beta-carotene, folic acid, calcium, sodium and antioxidants. And it prevents anemia and atherosclerosis, to the effects that stimulate the activity of the liver, kidneys and intestines, also having digestive properties.
- Hardiness: USDA zones 5 to 12 (or 5 to 11 in a polytunnel).
- Light requirements: full Sun.
- Spacing: sow directly in your garden, 2 to 3 inches apart (5.0 to 7.5 cm) and in rows spaced about 6 inches (15 cm).
6: Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

Here is another winter classic, which you can only grow during the cold season. In fact, it needs low temperatures to wrap up its tasty leaves into that big head we then slice and eat. It is also colorful, red or green or white and you can pick many varieties. My absolute favorite is savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. sabauda), because it’s outstanding in stews, and its very strong flavor will add depth to any dish. Again, I suggest staggering this vegetable, so you get a longer harvest, though they still tend to mature over a fairly long period, in my experience.
Famous for its anti-cancer properties, half a cup of cabbage has one third of the vitamin C you need every day, on top of great quantities of fiber, folate, potassium, magnesium, vitamins A and K, and antioxidants. It also lowers cholesterol, it keeps your heart healthy, it fights free radicals and it reduces inflammation. In fact, it is an overlooked superfood, and it would be crazy not to grow it in your winter garden!
- Hardiness: USDA zones 2 to 11.
- Light requirements: full Sun.
- Spacing: 12 to 18 inches apart (30 to 45 cm) in rows 2 to 3 feet apart (60 to 90 cm).
7: Leek (Alliumporrum)

Can we forget a vegetable with an oniony flavor during the winter months? Of course not! Ok, onions and garlic preserve well, but leek is fresh in this season, and it has a more delicate, unique quality. What is more, it grows tall and it doesn’t take up much space for the crop you get, and now there are even giant varieties. I would suggest you stagger it as well, otherwise you risk getting a big crop all at once. It’s a slow growing veggie, and it will take you 5 to 6 months to harvest it (unless you pick some for the “baby version”).
But leeks won’t only add flavor and texture to your winter meals, they are also rich in flavonoids, especially one called kaempferol. These are antioxidants and they have anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anticancer properties.
- Hardiness: USDA zones 5 to 11.
- Light requirements: full Sun.
- Spacing: 6 to 8 inches apart (15 to 20 cm) and in rows 12 inches apart (30 cm).
8: Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)

Another classic of this season is cauliflower. It will take you three to six months to harvest its large heads, and then, I know, if you boil it, it stinks up your home, but you can easily shallow or deep fry it, oven roast it, or add it to stews, and it will always add its warm and hearty flavor to your winter meals. I suggest you stagger your crop, and you will put your back garden to good use throughout the cold months, and beyond. This brassica actually likes freezing temperatures, so you don’t need to worry about snowy days – it will just blend in with the white mantle, unless you choose the purple variety, that is.
Low in calories but rich in nutrients such as vitamin C, K and B6, folate, potassium manganese and cholate, it supports your brain’s health, it prevents diabetes, it is anti-inflammatory and it may even slow down aging, while detoxing your system and giving you a hand if you wish to lose weight.
- Hardiness: USDA zones 2 to 11 (5 to 11 during winter).
- Light requirements: full Sun.
- Spacing: 18 to 28 inches apart (40 to 70 cm), depending on the variety.
9: Rutabaga (Brassica napusNapobrassica Group)

Rutabaga is a very weird vegetable; it is actually related to cabbages, but it looks like a strange beet, because it produces big and juicy roots – but the leaves are delicious as well, so you will get two crops with one plant through winter, and while the foliage won’t preserve for long, the plump taproots will! Part of the root will emerge from the soil, and take on a purplish color, while the underground part is ivory white, adding color and a carrot-like flavor (though less sweet) to your meals. It is ideal in stews and baked, or you can make an original mash out of it. And it is super cold hardy!
Yet another healthy vegetable for your winter garden, rutabagas are rich in antioxidants and vitamins C and E, which keep you healthy by protecting your immune system and organs from free radicals. On top of this, they are really high in sodium and potassium.
- Hardiness: USDA zones 3 to 11.
- Light requirements: full Sun or light shade.
- Spacing: 14 to 18 inches apart (35 to 45 cm), sow directly in the soil, even closer, then thin them out as they grow and enjoy baby rutabagas!
10: Radicchio (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum)

Given the price of radicchio, it’s really worthwhile growing it in your back garden, and it is really cold hardy! The best qualities of this purple red leafy vegetable (not related to lettuce) are ‘Chioggia’ (round headed) and ‘Treviso’, long headed. You can eat it raw, in salads, or cooked, and it is always a delicacy. You can stagger your crop to have a long harvest, though it preserves for a long time in the refrigerator. “But it can get bitter,” you may say. True, but I have the secret to keep it sweet: if there is a dry spell, water it; that’s the reason why sometimes, when you buy it, it has that bitter taste.
Radicchio is almost a superfood, super rich in copper and vitamin K, but with good quantities of iron, zinc, phosphorus, potassium and vitamins C and B6 as well. These nutrients make it great for your heart and bone health, it is antioxidant and even antiparasitic, and it regulates your blood sugar levels.
- Hardiness: USDA 4 to 10.
- Light requirements: full Sun.
- Spacing: 8 to 12 inches apart (20 to 30 cm).
10 Vegetables to Grow in Your Garden for Your Winter Meals and Your Health
Of course, you can grow spinach, winter lettuce varieties, carrots, radishes, kale and Brussels sprouts as well in your winter garden, but these ten are a must, for your dishes and for your health, during the cold season!

Written By
Amber Noyes
Amber Noyes was born and raised in a suburban California town, San Mateo. She holds a master’s degree in horticulture from the University of California as well as a BS in Biology from the University of San Francisco. With experience working on an organic farm, water conservation research, farmers’ markets, and plant nursery, she understands what makes plants thrive and how we can better understand the connection between microclimate and plant health. When she’s not on the land, Amber loves informing people of new ideas/things related to gardening, especially organic gardening, houseplants, and growing plants in a small space.