Frost Tolerant Favorites For The Vegetable Garden

Angie Rose
by Angie Rose
Easy
Many vegetables thrive in the cold, and can continue to grow throughout the fall and winter seasons! Most people start slowing down their gardens around this time of year. If you choose to do so, you can keep growing! I live in zone 6a New England, and I grow in a raised garden bed. I also mulch the vegetables in and cover my crops with frost blankets and a homemade hoop house to extend my growing season. This protects the vegetables from wind and damaging winter weather. If you plant seeds before the ground freezes and implement some protective measures, you are good to go!
The best way to learn when gardening is with trial and error. Last year was my first time venturing into the world of year-round vegetable gardening. You can read about my experience starting a winter vegetable garden on my blog. I've decided to replant some of the crops that I had success with last year. It's important to know your growing zone when picking, planning and planting your crops. It also helps you find out a rough estimate of when your first frost date will be. As long as you know your frost dates, what grows well in your region and you have a little bit of garden protection, you can get growing!
Broccoli thrives in the cold
Here Is A List Of My Frost Tolerant Favorites
Hardy Vegetable: 26 to 31 degrees fahrenheit


Variety I'm Planting: Cherry Belle


Variety Description: Cherry red skin with white interior. Crisp texture and mild flavor.


When To Sow: 4 to 6 weeks before average last frost date


Days To Germinate: 5 to 10 days


Days To Harvest: 24 days


Ways To Enjoy: Add to sandwiches and salads


Quick Facts: Radishes make a great crop since they are in the brassica family that is very cold hardy. They are fast-maturing and very easy to grow. It is important to note that they should be planted when soil temperature is above 40 degrees fahrenheit. This vegetable germinates the best at 60 to 65 degrees fahrenheit.
Semi-Hardy Vegetable: 31 to 33 degrees fahrenheit


Variety I'm Planting: Wando


Variety Description: Sweet, dark-green plump pods on vigorous vines.


When To Sow: 4 to 6 weeks before average last frost date


Days To Germinate: 8 to 12 days


Days To Harvest: 69 days


Ways To Enjoy: Soups, salads and even pasta dishes


Quick Facts: Pea plants are great at tolerating light frost. They make a great fall crop, but did also thrive under my hoop house all winter long. Growing in cool weather optimizes flavor. As long as they are protected from the elements, they seem to do okay. They won't germinate quickly in the severe cold, but they can survive! Vegetables in the legume family benefit from adding a soil inoculant when planting. Add this to increase your harvests! Make sure to add support and keep protected with a frost blanket.
Semi-Hardy Vegetable: 29 to 33 degrees fahrenheit


Variety I'm Planting: Danvers 126 Half Long


Variety Description: Adaptable and dependable deep orange with uniform roots developed in Massachusetts


When To Sow: 4 to 6 weeks before average last frost date


Days To Germinate: 14 to 21 days


Days To Harvest: 75 days


Ways To Enjoy: Great for juicing, roasting and adding to soups


Quick Facts: Carrots actually taste sweeter as the temperatures drop! They increase their sugar content as a defense mechanism against the cold. This helps to prevent ice crystals from forming. Make sure your soil is free of debris like stones and can be easily worked. If you have dense soil, try adding compost to loosen. Before harvesting, you can add some water to the soil to make it easier to pull.
Hardy Vegetable: 26 to 31 degrees fahrenheit


Variety I'm Planting: Calabrese


Variety Description: Dark blue-green 8 inch heads


When To Sow: 4 to 6 weeks before average last frost date


Days To Germinate: 10 to 21 days


Days To Harvest: 60 to 90 days


Ways To Enjoy: Use as a pizza topping, add it in casseroles, eat it steamed


Quick Facts: Don't forget that when growing broccoli you can harvest the smaller heads along with the central head. Make sure to pick when the heads have firm buds. Broccoli grows strongest with high-nitrogen fertilizer. I've enjoyed some of my best and tastiest broccoli during the frosty months!
Hardy Vegetable: 20 to 25 degrees fahrenheit


Variety I'm Planting: Walla Walla


Variety Description: Enormous bulbs with sweet and juicy flavor. Light brown skin with white flesh.


When To Sow: 4 to 6 weeks before average last frost date


Days To Germinate: 7 to 15 days


Days To Harvest: 100 to 105 days


Ways To Enjoy: Add them to sauces, soups and chili


Quick Facts: It is very easy to overwinter onions. It's important to make sure the soil is well-drained and rich in nutrients. They grow best when soil is mixed with manure or compost. If you want to fertilize add, nitrate-based fertilizer. You can harvest young onions to eat as scallions.
Hardy Vegetable: 26 to 30 degrees fahrenheit


Variety I'm Planting: Brunswick Cabbage


Variety Description: Drum-shaped head


When To Sow: 4 to 6 weeks before average last frost date


Days To Germinate: 10 to 21 days


Days To Harvest: 85 to 95 days


Ways To Enjoy: Make homemade sauerkraut, stews and rolls


Quick Facts: A light frost can bring out the sweetness of cabbage. It is best to harvest heads when they become firm. Plant in average soil in a sunny location. Make sure you give these vegetables plenty of room to grow. Growing under a hoop house is perfect for this crop. This can protect your cabbage heads from splitting due to heavy rain.
Angie Rose
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Go
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Comments
Join the conversation
Next