10 Best Vegetables to Plant in Winter, According to Gardening Experts

1Kale Organic Kale in the plots backyard wera Rodsawang//Getty Images

Kale belongs in every winter garden because it tastes even sweeter after a light freeze, especially varieties such as Red Russian, which don’t mind cold snaps. You can plant kale in the fall, and it will overwinter in mild climates, putting out new shoots in spring. Or you can plant the seeds in late winter for a spring harvest.

2Radishes Radish Trudie Davidson//Getty Images

Radishes are a supremely satisfying crop to grow from seed because some varieties mature in less than 30 days. Start sowing in late winter every two weeks for a long harvest window.

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3Spinach Rows of spinach in the home garden Crispin la valiente//Getty Images

Spinach is one of those veggies you can never have enough of because it’s delicious both fresh and cooked. Start sowing in late winter. Use garden snips to harvest the leaves from the outside of the plant; it will keep producing for months until warm summer temperatures cause it to bolt (go to seed).

4Carrots Close up of organic carrot in a field Yasser Chalid//Getty Images

Fall-planted carrots taste sweeter after a frost or two, but you also can plant a winter crop in late January or February when soil temperatures are in the 50s and warmer. They’ll be ready before the heat of late spring; early summer causes them to taste bitter. ‘Mokum’ is a good variety that holds its sweetness even in hot weather.

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5Arugula arugula Edith Polverini//Getty Images

The spicy bite of fresh arugula makes every salad brighter. These greens mature quickly, so if you plant in late winter, you’ll have fresh arugula in about 50 days. Like spinach, if you use snips to harvest, the plant will keep producing until hot weather arrives.

6Scallions Green onions growing in raised garden bed with wooden frame Svetlana Repnitskaya//Getty Images

Scallions, or green onions, are bunching onions (they don’t form a bulb) that taste so much better when you grow them yourself. You can plant the seeds or purchase “sets” (seedlings) in winter for planting by late spring. Scallions planted from sets mature more quickly than those planted from seed.

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7Collards Collard Green vegetable plant in a farmers garden (Brassica oleracea) Douglas Sacha//Getty Images

If you’ve never planted collards, you’re missing out! These greens are incredibly versatile and will keep producing all winter long if given adequate moisture. They’re amazing in soups, stews, and stir fries, and are incredibly easy to grow. Plant in late winter for spring harvests; they’ll also withstand a fair amount of heat into summer. ‘Georgia Southern’ is an especially hardy and prolific variety.

8Potatoes Close-Up Of Young Potato Plants In The Garden. Low Perspective. Tina Terras & Michael Walter//Getty Images

Even if you don’t have a ton of garden space, potatoes are a fun crop to grow because they thrive in containers and grow bags. Make sure to purchase “seed potatoes”; the potatoes you get at the store are treated with chemicals, so they won’t sprout. Plant in mid to late winter, depending on where you live.

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9Peas Garden peas growing in a home garden (shelling peas, English peas) - 'Bolero' Pisum sativum. Sharon Talson//Getty Images

Peas are one of the best crops to grow in winter to early spring because those things at the grocery store never taste as incredible as a fresh, snappy pea right off the vine. Most peas need support to grow, so set up a trellis and plant your seeds in late winter, or as soon as the soil thaws where you live.

10Lettuce High angle close up of rows of different varieties of green and red lettuce. Mint Images//Getty Images

Even if you have no garden beds or raised beds, you can grow lettuce! Because it has such shallow roots, you can grow it in window boxes or small pots. Opt for a mesclun loose-leaf seed mixture for baby salad greens in as little as 30 days.

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11Bonus: Herbs Fresh Organic Dill Nicholas Kostin//Getty Images

Even if you grow nothing else, fresh herbs are a great investment because they’re much cheaper than buying those pricey plastic containers at the grocery store. Plus, they’re super-easy to grow. Opt for cool-weather lovers such as cilantro, dill, and parsley for planting in late winter. These herbs don’t like the heat, so enjoy them now, then switch to growing heat lovers such as basil and rosemary in summer.

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