Just 50 Frost Tolerant Crops for Your Fall and Winter Gardens

A  Mix of Cool Weather Vegetables: The Rusted Garden

Each garden is going to vary on frost dates, heavy freezes, and overall fall/winter growing conditions. It is good practice to try planting at different times, take notes, and use the information to perfect planting your fall and winter gardens each year.

Leafy Greens

Kale – Gets sweeter after frost.

Spinach – Cold-hardy and can overwinter in some areas.

Swiss Chard – Tolerates moderate frosts.

Collard Greens – Flavor improves with frost.

Arugula – Grows quickly and tolerates moderate frosts.

Lettuce – Tolerates moderate frosts.

Mâche (Corn Salad) – Extremely frost-tolerant.

Mustard Greens – Can handle cooler temperatures and light to moderate frosts.

Tatsoi – A cold-hardy Asian green.

Endive – Can tolerate moderate frost and adds a bitter crunch to salads.

Cabbage – Hardy and very frost-tolerant.

Bok Choy – Performs well in cool weather and can handle light frost.

Mizuna – A frost-tolerant Asian green.

Radicchio – Cool-weather crop that can handle frost.

Turnip Greens – Both the roots and greens are frost and cold-tolerant.

Root Vegetables

Carrots – Sweeter after a frost and can overwinter in the ground.

Beets – Tolerate light frost and can be mulched for extra protection.

Parsnips – Flavor improves after frost; very cold-hardy.

Turnips – Can handle frost and can be harvested into late fall or early winter.

Radishes – Grow quickly and can handle cooler temperatures.

Rutabagas – Frost-tolerant and improve in flavor after frost.

Salsify – A root crop that can handle frost well.

Celeriac – Grows well into cold weather and tolerates frost.

Daikon Radishes – Large, cold-hardy root vegetables.

Horseradish – Can withstand frost and is often harvested in the fall.

Brassicas

Broccoli – Can tolerate frost, especially when well-established.

Brussels Sprouts – Improved in flavor by frost and very frost hardy.

Cauliflower – Tolerates frost if harvested before severe freezing temperatures.

Kohlrabi – Grows well in cool weather and can take a moderate frost.

Alliums

Garlic – Planted in fall and tolerates freezing temperatures and frozen ground.

Leeks – Can withstand significant frosts and light ground freezes and can grow throughout winter.

Bunching Onions – Can handle frost and cold weather.

Shallots – Can be planted in fall and are frost-hardy.

Legumes

Peas – Cold-tolerant and leaves can handle light frosts. Pods can be damage by frost.

Fava Beans – Cold-hardy and able to tolerate light frosty conditions.

Herbs

Thyme – Very frost-tolerant and can survive cold winters.

Sage – Hardy and can withstand cold weather.

Oregano – Can tolerate frost and returns in spring.

Parsley – Cold-hardy and can survive light frosts.

Chives – Perennial herb that can tolerate frost.

Dill – Can handle light frosts, though may struggle in a hard freeze.

Cilantro – Prefers cooler weather and can handle light frosts.

Fennel – Bulb fennel can survive light frost, though it needs protection in harsher climates.

Other Frost-Tolerant Crops

Potatoes – The plants may be damaged by frost, but the tubers will continue to grow in the ground.

Jerusalem Artichokes – Frost improves their flavor.

Winter Squash (Harvest before a hard frost) – Some varieties can handle light frosts on the vine.

Rhubarb – Frost-tolerant perennial.

Asparagus – The plant dies back in frost, the plant roots are frost/freeze hardy and will come back.

Strawberries – Hardy varieties can tolerate frost, especially with mulch.

Bonus Tip:

Mulching as a Season Extender: Even for frost-tolerant crops, using mulch can provide extra protection during harsh frost or freezing conditions, especially in colder climates. Keeping the ground from freezing is often what keeps cool crops from dying off, depending on the plant variety.

These crops not only manage in the frost and light ground freezes, in many cases, a frost actually improves their flavor after being exposed to it. They are perfect for fall or early winter planting and can help extend your growing season well into the colder months.

This list was assisted with an AI search. The information was thoroughly reviewed and edited for accuracy.