Foods that Grow Well in Winter

Cold winter months are not the time to worry about what to do with your garden plots and leave them empty throughout the season. There are many delicious edibles to grow outdoor or indoor to make sure that you have a sufficient supply of vegetables and fruits during the freezing temperature.   

Plants to Grow Indoors

Most cold tolerant winter plants can cope well with the weather, however there are varieties that need extra protection from the cold. These plants can be kept in pots, boxes or polybags indoors like the conservatories or in an unheated greenhouse to keep your garden thriving during the season. However, some plants may need more light than the winter sun can offer so consider buying some grow lights as an option. Here are some of the vegetables that only need small room to grow and only require a minimum amount of light to give you prolific harvest.   

Carrots and Radishes

These kinds of veggies grow well in boxes, pans and pots when planted in a compost mixture of well-draining soil. They do not need greater depth compared to other root crops. Make sure to provide 4-5 hours of sunlight or its grow light equivalent each day to allow roots to develop. Seeds can be sown from late winter until mid-autumn, and can be harvested after 21 to 25 days.   

Beans and Peas

Seeds of beans and peas can also be sown in pots. Provide something tall for them to climb and wind tendrils. If bush beans are available, it is the best choice to grow, for it doesn’t need support and it is easy to harvest.   

Mushrooms

Growing mushrooms during the winter and even all year round is very easy. You can buy ready-made kits. However, if you are already an experienced grower, you can prepare your own bags or special compost bed and put mushroom spawn in it. Water the medium and kept in a cool, dark place. The ideal temperature for mushrooms is 10-15 degrees Celsius to fully develop and have ideal harvest.    

Potatoes

Yummy potatoes can also be grown indoors in sacks or large pots. Fill pots with good mixture of compost and plant the tubers. Provide potatoes 5-6 hours of sunlight a day or its equivalent in grow light to have successful yield.   

Plants to Grow Outdoors

Growing plants outdoors during winter is a bit challenging and difficult but it’s possible. Choose the most hardy, cold-tolerant and resilient crops that could survive over freezing temperature. Here are some examples:   

Onions

It is considered the most resilient type of vegetables because most varieties can withstand freezing up to -18 degree Celsius.   

Lettuce

A cool season crop loves to grow and only need a little extra care to thrive during cold months.    

Chervil and Oregano

These herbs prefer cooler weather and can easily withstand winter frost. Chervil can be used as garnish for variety of salads while oregano can be used as additives in some foods.    

Salad Greens

Some of these leafy vegetables are endives, golden purslane, land cress, Swiss chard and mizuna greens. When the temperature in your place hovers much below freezing, it is best to cover the garden with frost blankets for more than a few hours to avoid damage.