Kale is a versatile cool-season crop if I ever saw one.
Juiced, raw, baked, sautéd, or in a dip—there are so many ways to enjoy your harvest.
But there’s such a thing as too much kale.
In this post, I’ll share with you ten alternative winter crops so you don’t have to eat the same leafy green day in and day out!
10 Delicious Crops for Your Winter Garden
Planting and harvest times vary a lot based on the location. That said, some crops are more likely to thrive and produce despite the cold weather.
Here are my favorite picks:
1. Lettuce
- Zone: 2a–11b
- Ideal for: Salads and wraps
Most folks plant lettuce in the early spring and harvest it in the early summer. However, you could sow some varieties, like “Winter Density,” every 3–4 weeks in the early fall for a continual harvest.
When it’s time for harvesting, you definitely could pick up the whole head. But I prefer to take the outer leaves only and let the plant continue growing.
Either way, you’ll want to aim for the mornings. That’s when the lettuce is all nice and plump!
2. Spinach
- Zone: 2–11
- Ideal for: Salads, casseroles, and dips
Multiple sowing works for spinach just as well as it does for lettuce. For instance, you could sow once in late August and harvest in October.
A couple of weeks later, you can go for a second sow. This one should grow through the winter.
3. Cabbage
- Zone: 2–11
- Ideal for: Braising and sautéing
I usually have ready-to-go cabbages in my garden between fall and winter. But to be fair, I prefer the crinkly Savoy types, which are quite hardy.
Just keep in mind that cold might not deter the caterpillars. Unless you’re okay with having holes in your cabbage, you’ll want to set a frame with fine netting around the rows.
4. Brussels Sprouts
- Zone: 2–10
- Ideal for: Soups and crunchy slaw
If you want fast-growing plants, brussels sprouts aren’t the right pick. They’re the perfect choice if you want a crop that will only get sweeter with the frost, though.
These slow-growing biennials are usually planted in the summer, about four months before the first fall frost date. Depending on how intense the winters are in your area, you can harvest in the early or late winter.
5. Bok Choy
- Zone: 2–11 (winter-hardy for undercover planting in zones 4–7)
- Ideal for: Stir-fry recipes and steamed dishes
Bok choy can be harvested throughout the winter.
Most varieties take 50–70 days to mature, but you can pick them up after around 30 days if you don’t mind eating small, tender leaves.
Bonus point: You can regrow bok choy from scrap stalks!
6. Snow Peas
- Zone: 2a–11b
- Ideal for: Soups and healthy snacks
Generally speaking, you’d sow peas outdoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost date.
However, if you live somewhere with a mild climate, you could get away with sowing in the fall or even the winter. This way, you can enjoy a winter harvest.
The Mammoth Melting variety, in particular, makes a great winter crop for gardens in zones 9–11.
7. Broccoli
- Zone: 2–11
- Ideal for: Steaming and sautéing
If you plant broccoli in the late winter, you get a summer crop. The opposite is true as well.
Broccoli planted in the late (or even mid) summer is usually ready for harvest in the late winter. Some folks use plastic tunnels for protection from the freezing weather, though.
Pro Tip: Lettuce and onions are great companion plants for broccoli.
8. Carrots
- Zone: 3–10
- Ideal for: Cakes, soups, purees, and salads
Keep your carrots under a nice layer of mulch, and it’ll reward you with an early winter harvest with the sweetest flavor ever.
Personally, I start mulching the bed around November. Both straw and shredded leaves can do the trick and prevent the soil from freezing.
This way, when I need to pick a few carrots, I pull back the mulch and dig out some roots.
If you’re not sure that the crop is mature, you can always pull a test carrot.
9. Onions
- Zone: 4–9
- Ideal for: Everything from stir-fry recipes to stews
I love growing onions in my garden for one main reason: They’re such a forgiving garden-to-table crop!
You can harvest onions at many stages along the life cycle.
Granted, most people plant them in the spring. But you can easily grow a batch in the fall for a winter harvest if you get mild winters.
10. Garlic
- Zone: 4–9
- Ideal for: Pasta, potatoes, chicken, bread… you name it!
The first time I planted garlic in my garden, I treated it as a summer crop. I soon changed my ways, though.
Don’t get me wrong; I had great results, and the roots took nicely.
I just realized that garlic can still thrive if planted in the fall. Now, I plant once in the spring for a summer harvest and once in the fall for a winter harvest.
This approach might not work for areas with colder climates, though.
Final Thoughts
No matter which winter crop you choose, it’s always a wise choice to have some row covers in your shed. The last thing you want is to leave your plants exposed to sudden freezes!
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.