15 Frost Tolerant Vegetable Plants

The best frost hardy vegetables to grow in your garden

Cold winter temperatures and mild frosts are ideal growing conditions for many cool season vegetables.

If you’d like to grow some cold hardy vegetables in your garden during the winter months, you’re sure to find some great options on this list.

Some of these vegetables can even withstand thick frosts and freezing temperatures.

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15 FROST TOLERANT VEGETABLE PLANTS

1. Broccoli

Broccoli is part of the Brassica family of vegetables, which are frost tolerant and cold hardy.

They grow best in cool weather and can survive temperatures down to 26° to 31° F (-3° to -5° C). [1]

In these freezing temperatures the leaves may suffer from frost burn, but the broccoli head will be still edible.

Broccoli can be planted 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost of the season so it has plenty of time to grow before the weather warms up.

After harvesting the main broccoli head, you can leave the foliage in place and the plant may produce several small offshoots.

2. Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are also part of the Brassica vegetable family and they can tolerate thick frosts.

The sprouts grow on tall stems and the edible buds look like mini cabbages.

The best quality Brussels sprouts are produced when there is plenty of sun during the day and light frosts at night.

3. Cabbage

Cabbages grow best in areas with cool winter temperatures between 45° to 75°F (7°C to 24°C) and they’ll withstand mild frosts.

The frost will sweeten the cabbage, so a few light frosts are beneficial for the plants.

In cool climates you can grow two crops of cabbages during the year.

Plant one crop in early spring to harvest in summer, and then plant a second crop at the end of summer to harvest in winter.

4. Cauliflower

Cauliflowers are sensitive to temperature fluctuations and grow best when the temperature is below 75° F (24° C). [2]

They need at least six hours of sunlight each day and cool temperatures, especially when the heads are forming.

Cauliflower plants will withstand light frosts, but not thick, heavy frosts.

5. Kale

Kale plants grow best in cool weather and they’re frost tolerant.

It takes about two months for kale to mature and it’s best to plant kale so that it’s ready to harvest when the weather is still cool.

Cold temperatures help kale to convert starches into sugars, so you get a much sweeter tasting crop.

RELATED: How To Grow Kale Indoors

6. Spinach

Spinach is a cold hardy leafy vegetable that will tolerate light frosts.

The seeds can be planted directly in the garden six weeks before the last frost of the season.

Spinach will be ready to harvest in six to eight weeks when the plants have at least six leaves. [3]

7. Carrots

Carrots are another popular frost hardy vegetable that can be grown year round.

Leafy carrot tops are cold hardy down to 18 °F (-8 °C) but carrot roots can tolerate even colder winter temperatures.

Carrot seeds do well when planted directly in the garden in late summer and harvested during the winter months.

8. Peas

Peas are easy to grow, frost hardy vegetables that look great growing on a trellis.

Pea seeds can be planted in the garden four to six weeks before the last frost of the season and they’ll be ready to harvest in about two months’ time.

9. Onions

Onions can withstand cold temperatures, mild frosts and even snow.

The seedlings are most susceptible to cold temperatures, while older plants are hardier.

A thick layer of mulch will help to protect the plants during cold weather.

10. Leeks

Leeks are cold hardy vegetables that become sweeter and tastier after a frost.

They’re part of the same family as onions, shallots and chives and they’re an easy vegetable to grow.

Leeks can be planted in the garden in fall and harvested right throughout winter.

11. Garlic

Garlic takes seven to eight months to mature and needs at least six weeks of cold temperatures for optimal growth.

The best time to plant garlic bulbs is in fall and the bulbs will be ready to harvest in late spring or summer.

12. Turnips

Turnips are cold hardy and frost tolerant root vegetables that benefit from mild frosts.

The frost helps turnips to develop natural sugars which tones down their spicy flavor.

Turnips can be harvested two months after planting when they’re 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7 cm) in diameter.

13. Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi is another vegetable that will withstand mild frosts.

Although it looks like a root vegetable, the bulb is actually the swollen stem of the plant.

Kohlrabi can be purple or green and the taste is similar to a mild turnip.

14. Radish

Radishes are fast growing vegetables that can survive thick frosts.

In very cold weather the leaves can suffer from frost burn but the roots will still be ok to harvest. [4]

Radish seeds can be planted every couple of weeks during cool weather for a successive crop.

15. Rhubarb

Rhubarb grows best in cool weather and will tolerate mild frosts.

If the temperature falls below 24 °F (-4 °C) the leaves may be killed but the roots will survive and grow again in the spring. [5]

It’s a good idea to cover rhubarb plants with a bucket or something similar if very cold night time temperatures are predicted.

So there are 15 frost tolerant vegetable plants that you can grow in your garden over the cold winter months.

Some other frost resistant vegetables that you can also grow over winter are beets, arugula (rocket) and collard greens.

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Have you had success growing cold hardy, frost tolerant vegetables in your garden? Let me know in the comments below.

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Frost hardy vegetables to plant in your garden