These top 10 greens to grow in the garden will ensure you’ve got lots for smoothies, salads and side dishes!

Cool-weather leafy vegetables are perfect to add to your early spring and fall planting list. This list of leafy greens is not only full of nutrients, but will be a great addition to your garden. 

Whether you are looking to grow your own salad garden or find easy vegetables for the cooler season, I have crops that will thrive in lower temperatures.

From seed packets to fast germination, and even the option for harvesting microgreens. 

Top 10 Greens to Grow This Year

There are plenty of leaf vegetables that can stand up to cool weather. Some of the plants are onions, arugula, collards, Chinese cabbage, and more.

Choose from a range of varieties covering different flavors, textures, and colors. 

Nutrient Packed Greens 

Many of the items on the list are rich in nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin K, magnesium, beta-carotene, calcium, and antioxidants.

Healthy, tasty, and food you want to incorporate into your menu planning. 

Arugula

Commonly used in salads, arugula comes in a wide variety, most of which are cool-weather tolerant and some of which can overwinter. 

Clip one leaf at a time for an extended harvest or in bunches. Enjoy crisp leaves with a peppery taste.

Tips

• Harvest individual arugula leaves for a continuous crop
• Thrives in containers or garden beds
• Perfect for salads and garnishes

Beet greens

Beets are known for being edible from top to bottom. The greens make great additions to salads, ranging in color from green to burgundy. 

Plant several successions to extend the harvest even as cool weather sets in. Beet greens are also great to be added to stir fries for added nutrition and minerals. 

Here’s how to grow beets from seed. Another great way to preserve beets is to make this easy pickled beet recipe.

Benefits of Growing 

• This is a dual-crop recipe that lets you use roots and greens in dishes. 
• Succession plant for ongoing harvests through the season, and can withstand light frosts. 
• Great for salads, sautéing, and soups. 

Cabbage

Cabbages are hardy vegetables that can stand up to cool temperatures. Choose from a wide variety, including reds and greens. In areas where winters are mild, cabbage can be grown year-round. 

Savoy varieties particularly love cold weather, improving in taste and color as temperatures dip.

Learn how to grow cabbage from seeds or grow cabbage from transplants.

• This belongs to the Brassica family along with broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts. A hearty plant that thrives in cool-season conditions. 
• Use in salads, slaws, or even roast in the oven. 

Chard

Chard is one of the best leaf vegetables for cool weather because it thrives in tepid temperatures. Both the stalk and leaves are edible. Colorful varieties tend to be milder in taste. Clip leaf by leaf or in bunches.

Here’s how to freeze chard leaves or any other type of leafy green.

• Mild in flavor compared to other greens you might try. 
• Many find that mixing into smoothies is a great way to get the nutrients without eating them plain. 

Green onions

Primarily grown for their tops, green onions make for a great fall harvest. Snip greens to eat fresh. In areas with cool winters but no freezing, onions can stay in the ground for an early spring harvest. 

• Very quick-growing; you can cut, use, and wait for more to grow. 
• Perfect for adding to sauces, topping dishes, baked potatoes, etc. 
• Green onions can have a spicier flavor than, say, chives. 

Kale

Kale is one of the top leaf vegetables to grow for an abundance of fall greens. Getting better in taste as cool weather arrives, kale comes in many varieties both for eating and for garnish. Clip individual leaves for eating. 

See how easy it is to make dehydrated kale chips for snacking!

• Sweeter flavor once the frost hits. 
• Surprisingly, kale contains iron, protein, zinc, and more.
• Great for salads, mixing into pasta bakes, soups, etc. 

Lettuce

Many varieties of leaf lettuce can be grown to harvest in fall. Choose from baby leaf varieties to full heads ranging from green to red in color. Leaves are crisp and run the gamut of flavor from mild to rich. 

• Fast-growing and better than the store-bought stuff. 
• You can grow different varieties, colors, etc. 
• Tons of different salad greens you can pick and choose from to make your own salad garden. 

Mustard Greens

Mustard greens come in a variety of tastes, textures and colors. Most varieties offer bold flavor, making them great additions to salads or sautés. Harvest these leaf vegetables when fully mature at over a foot tall, or as baby greens.

• This has a milder flavor, especially if you harvest a young plant vs. an older maturity, which alters the flavor a bit. 
• Often great sautéed with beans, meats, etc. 

Spinach

Spinach is one of those adaptable leaf vegetables, thriving in a range of soils. It grows best in cool weather when soil temperatures are low. Plant several successions of spinach for an extended harvest. Cut before bolting to ensure the best taste.

Here’s how to save spinach seeds from heirloom plants for the following year.

• Thrives in cool soil for the best germination. 
• Used in making salads, mixing with other greens like romaine, or used for being mixed into a pasta bake, soup, etc. 

Turnip greens

Turnips are another one of those vegetables that is edible from top to bottom. Grow salad varieties for tender bulbs and crisp greens. Turnips can be started in early spring while temperatures are still cool. 

• This is a fast-growing plant that is great for cooler weather. 
• Typically, you boil or sauté the greens with garlic for a tasty side dish. 

Mix and match different cool weather greens for a variety of tastes and culinary uses. Many leaf vegetables can be grown in the same containers or directly in the garden. Plant USDA zone-specific varieties for the best results. 

These Top 10 Greens to Grow are full of nutrients, plus they are easy to grow!

Here’s how to grow Brussel Sprouts in your vegetable garden!

Brussels sprouts may be small, but they are a delicious vegetable that is very rewarding to grow in your garden. They are members of the cabbage family and are a cool-weather crop.

If you want to have success growing brussels sprout plants, read this post for tips and guidance on how to get started! 

They like cool weather and take a long time, usually around 90 days, in which to fully mature, according to the University of Illinois Extension on Vegetable Gardening.

They are a late-summer harvest, since it takes time to grow these sprouts.

Plant In Fertile Soil

Brussels sprouts need full sun, rich, well-drained soil, and lots of humidity to grow well. Make sure your soil moisture isn’t overly wet, or it can cause rot and attract aphids. 

 Starting Brussels sprouts from seed is possible, but you should start them indoors rather than in the garden bed to ensure the best start for your plants.

How to Start with Seedlings and Young Plants 

Start the Brussels sprout seeds indoors four to five weeks before you want to plant them outside. Fill the seed trays with potting soil and plant the Brussels sprout seeds in the trays, one or two seeds per tray.

Plant the seeds ½ to ¼ inch deep. Keep the seed trays moist. Place the seed trays under grow lights or near a brightly lit window.

Choose a location for the Brussels sprouts in your garden. The area should be in full sun with well-drained soil. Work 6 to 8 inches of compost into the soil to a depth of 10 inches.

When To Transplant Brussel Sprout Plants

Transplant the Brussels sprouts to the garden about 90 to 100 days before the first frost date in your area, usually early to mid-summer. Dig holes for the transplants as deep as the root balls. Space the holes 24 to 36 inches apart. Place the transplants into the holes and fill the holes with soil.

Water the Brussels sprouts with 1 to 1 ½ inches of water every week if there is no rainfall. Remember, they require a long growing season, so keep your plants hydrated.

Fertilize the Brussels sprouts when they are 12 inches tall. You could use 13-13-13 fertilizer, adding 1 tbsp. of fertilizer per plant. We always use organic fertilizer and lots of compost. Water the plants well after applying the fertilizer.

Make sure the bottom of the stalk is covered well in organic matter or soil of your choice. You want to ensure that the plants can withstand outdoor weather ailments. You can grow the Brussel Sprouts in pots or in the soil outdoors. 

Just make sure to tackle weeds as they grow, so they won’t hurt the growth of your brussels sprouts. 

When To Harvest Sprouts 

Brussels sprouts can be harvested in 90 to 110 days, depending on the variety. Late summer is typically when your sprouts are ready to harvest.

The tiny cabbage-like sprouts grow along the plant’s stalk. The lower 6-8 leaves can be cut off two weeks before harvest. 

This will force the plants to produce more profusely. To harvest, simply cut off the lower sprouts with a sharp knife when they are about 1 to 2 inches in diameter, compact, and bright green.

If you planted in April for a winter harvest, the sprouts will have more flavor after exposure to frost.

Brussels sprouts are low in calories and high in dietary fiber. They contain Vitamins A, B6, C, E, and K. They also contain good amounts of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and manganese.

For success, it doesn’t hurt to do a soil test to ensure the soil pH matches what they need for growing.

How to Cook Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts can be steamed, braised, or boiled. Before cooking, cut an “X” in the bottom of the stem. This way, they will cook evenly. 

Ways to Cook

• Steaming
• Braising
• Boiling
• Roasting
• And More

Cook Brussels sprouts for seven to ten minutes. Do not over-cook. Overcooking will diminish the flavor and nutrient content. It also reduces the delicious crunch. They can be added to soups or stews during the last ten minutes of cooking.

Try my pickled brussels sprouts for another tasty way to cook up and enjoy throughout the year. 

Tips for Storing

Store Brussels sprouts by first blanching for three minutes, then placing them in an ice bath for three minutes. They can then be put into freezer bags or storage containers and frozen.

Frozen Brussels sprouts can be stored for up to a year. Brussels sprouts can also be canned.

If you have cooked sprouts with leftovers, you can store them in a sealed plastic bag or container in the refrigerator for a few days and enjoy them. 

Sprouts offer a delicious flavor and are great like broccoli, kale, and other hearty greens. Great to add to your diet.

Growing Brussels sprouts can provide you with a great gardening and dining experience. Add a few sprouts to you garden and, with a little care, you can have a plentiful crop.

This easy-to-grow food crop has become a gardening favorite. Consider adding them to your crop rotations when you grow a garden. 

Learn How to Store Onions to make sure your latest crop or grocery store purchase lasts as long as possible!

The cooler days of late Fall are perfect for digging up the root crops you grew in this years garden. Potatoes, onions, carrots and other root crops are all ready to be harvested.

After they are harvested, potatoes and carrots can go right into storage, provided they are dry. Onions need to be cured first and here’s where you can find out all about how to grow great onions. Here’s how to store onions so you can use them all winter long.

Then, use them in soups, stews, in salads, on sandwiches or however you like them.

How to Store Onions

Harvesting Fresh Onions

We usually grow at least two long rows on red and yellow onions. This gives us enough usually to last well into late winter, maybe even a bit later. I wait to harvest our onions until the tops have fallen over and then have started to yellow.

If you like you can knock over the stems a week or two before you are ready to harvest. This will help them begin to dry so they can be pulled and cured.

I had already pulled the row of red onions when I took this picture. You can see how the tops have fallen over on the onions still in the ground.

You can also see Chickweed in the foreground. This stuff really got out of hand for a year throughout the whole garden. We spent a lot of hours pulling Chickweed to try to get rid of it.

Look at those huge onions! Graham will love having these to eat over the winter. We should end up with a couple sacks full ready to be stored away.

I grow all our onions from sets instead of from seed. Onions grown from seed take a much longer time to grow to maturity; here’s what we do to grow onions here in the Cariboo.

How to Cure Onions

There are a few ways to cure onions so they will last over the winter. You can braid them so they hang together. Lay them out on newspaper or spread them out on drying racks, place them in a basket or mesh bag, or even wrap them in pantyhose.

You can tie 10 or so together with rope and hang them in an area where they are out of the sun and weather. If you can find a spot where the breeze can get at them, all the better.

However you choose to cure them, put them in a cool, dry place. Leave them alone for a couple of weeks, even three. Check on them during that time, rotating them is a good idea.

Try and brush the garden dirt off of the bulbs. Don’t worry if there is still a bit left on there; as the onions dry, the dirt will fall off. You can give them a final brushing or wipe them off with a dry cloth before putting them into storage.

Do you wash onions after harvest?

Washing the onions after harvesting is up to you. Washing them off with a hose is a fast and easy way to get the onions clean. If you do wash them, dry them in the open air. By curing, your onions will dry over time, whether you washed them off or not. Curing allows the vegetable to dry naturally.

 

Large red onions curing on newspaper. I leave room between them so they cure faster. The onions will pull whatever moisture they can from the green leaves. As the leaves start to dry, they turn yellow.

Small onions and bigger onions set to cure on newspapers. After a couple of weeks, the tops will have dried and the onions should be cured and ready to be stored.

How to Store Onions

At that point, I will cut off the tops. I like to put my onions into mesh bags and I save any from the grocery store (the bags that oranges come in). Don’t store your onions with your other winter stored vegetables, because they will pick up the odor of the onions.

If it looks like the onions have started sprouting, this means they may already be close to going bad. The shelf-life of sprouted onions can be cut short due to mold or other natural rotting.

I keep my onions and garlic in one room downstairs and all the other veggies (potatoes, carrots, etc.) go into the cold room.

FAQ’S On Storing Onions Long Term

• Do not store onions in plastic bag, even if they have air holes. Onions need ventilation and in my mind at least, plastic doesn’t allow for enough air flow.
• A wire open basket works  great for onion storage, although I would caution against filling them full. Remember, air flow!
• Crates are great as well, especially if they are stacking. You can store a lot of onions in 4 crates stacked on top of each other. As long as sides are bottoms have slats for air flow, you’re good.
• However you decide to store your onions, remember to don’t overfill the containers. Too many layers will reduce the air flow. You always want as much air as possible and proper ventilation.

 

Squash is another vegetable that should be stored separately, it likes a warmer temperature than most cold rooms provide. In general, we eat our garden potatoes, carrots and garlic until at least March.

Grocery store prices skyrocket in the winter time, especially for fruits and vegetables, so start looking into building a cold room or root cellar of your own. It will save you money and the food you grow is healthier for you.

 

FAQs

Do onions last longer in the fridge or on the counter at room temperature?

I recommend storing your onions somewhere cool and dry, which could mean a counter. If you keep onions in the refrigerator, there’s a high possibility they’ll absorb moisture and become soft or soggy.

Choose somewhere like a basement, garage, or pantry for best results when it comes to long-term storage. You’ll want to keep them out of direct sunlight but ensure there’s a bit of air circulation.

The answer is a bit different when it comes to other kinds of onions. Sweet onions, scallions, green onions, leeks, and chives should be kept in the fridge. Wrap them in a damp paper towel to prevent drying out and be sure to remove any slimy bits.

 

How long do onions stay good?

Whole onions, properly stored, can last up to three months before they spoil. They should last at least a month; after that point, check them for any odd coloration, textures, or odors to guarantee their freshness. If you notice the flavor is off at all, it’s best to stop using those onions.

Should I wash onions before storing?

No, I don’t recommend washing them if you’re looking to store whole onions. The excess moisture can speed up spoilage, even if you feel like you’ve dried them properly.

Can you store cut onions?

Cut onions can be stored, but they won’t have as long a storage life as whole onions. Wrap a cut onion tightly in plastic wrap and placed in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks. Cut onions can also be chopped up and kept in the freezer for as long as 6 months in a freezer bag.

 

How to Store Onions

More Gardening and Preserving posts:

• How to store potatoes to use all winter long
• Easy Pickled Onions canning recipe so you can preserve your harvest.
• How I shop for groceries all winter long – without going to the store!
• Why you really need to plan your vegetable and berry garden!
• Looking for the perfect recipe to help you go through your storage onions? Make these Marinated Roasted Onions from Kevin is Cooking!

 

 

 

Originally published Oct, 2023; latest update Feb 2026

Planning a vegetable garden?  A productive and thriving garden doesn’t happen by accident. It takes planning and thoughtful prepping.

Winter and early spring are the perfect times of year to finalize plans for the gardens. Planning a vegetable garden is an important part of ensuring there is enough food in the cold room for the winter.

This planning is just one of the things I love about Winter. There’s very little work to be done outside, and no one minds if we get up late and linger over coffee. Once the last frost hits, you can get started on your seedlings, ready to transplant.

I would love to share tips with you about choosing the right location, selecting plant varieties that fit your location and growing season, and practical steps for success. Read on!

Garden catalogs have started to arrive, although I get a lot less than I used to. That’s because I focus on growing heirloom varieties, so I can save my own seeds. This is a way to skip the seed packet purchase and grow from your own seeds.

Needless to say, seed businesses that use GMO seeds don’t get much business from my house. Food gardening has gotten a lot cheaper for me, since I can gather the seeds myself.

The harvest time is the same, and you will have hearty and fruitful plants to enjoy in the warmer months and late summer. 

I don’t have to pay those shipping costs, which always add up. When I do make a mail order, I try to find friends who want seeds as well, so we can go in on an order together and save some money. Whether you decide to grow cucumbers, tomatoes, leafy vegetables, and more!

Planning A Vegetable Garden

Perhaps the easiest way for me to show you how to plan your food garden is to show you what I am doing for my own vegetable and berry gardens.

Our food Production This Year:

For starters, one change is going to be that I plant a SMALLER garden than we usually do. 

We still have lots of canned food in our Cold Room, from previous years. This is a huge bonus.

I can spend the time on other things, and we still won’t have to spend much money at the grocery store!

Even if you have a small space, you can find a good garden design to maximize your space. 

The biggest thing is to make sure you do a soil test for optimal soil.

You also need to site the garden so it gets enough sunlight, but also offers partial shade, depending on the type of plants you are opting to plant. 

From root vegetables to fresh basil, mint, oregano, and more. The sky is the limit. 

Looking for ways to use less water in your flower gardens or vegetable gardens? Take a look.

My Vegetable Garden Plan:

Grow Root Crops

Grow mostly root crops (potatoes, beets, carrots) because they are easy for us to store in our cold room. We’ll still be eating them the following March. 

They are easy to grow and don’t require a lot of maintenance during the busy Spring and Summer. Here’s how to grow and store potatoes.

Grow Lots of Peas

Plant lots of shell peas  – there’s nothing like eating garden fresh (yes frozen) peas in January. When I’m planning a vegetable garden, I always make sure to have lots of room for them.

We like to grow them along our fences so they will climb them. Here’s how to grow peas in the garden!

 I know a lot of people prefer snap peas, the ones where you eat the whole thing, pod and all. I confess although I love to eat these fresh, I am not such a fan of eating them after being stored in the freezer.

I’m picky when it comes to eating veggies – I love all kinds, but I love the flavor of them fresh or al dente for sure. I so dislike eating soggy mushy veggies.

It is so important to grow what you like eat! Seriously think about that when you are planning a vegetable garden.

Don’t bother wasting space for planting food in your veggie garden you and your family don’t really enjoy eating. It’s a waste of space that could be filled with food you love to eat.

 

  I love shell peas, but I know they take a lot of time to shell them once you get them picked. Big deal…I’ll easily handle sitting on my porch for a couple of hours with a big bowl full.

Sounds like a self imposed late afternoon rest to me. Just don’t come along and grab a handful after I’ve picked them, cuz I tend to get pissy about that. Shell ’em yourself, I always say.

I blanch and freeze peas and then we enjoy them all winter long.

Grow Some Carrots

If your family loves carrots, plant a couple wide rows and you will easily have enough to last through the winter.

Here’s how to grow and store carrots. You really can still be eating garden carrots in March or even April of the following year!

Grow Lots of Salad Greens

As for the leafy greens, I’ll just be planting one half row of lettuce (which will give us lots) and half a row each of swiss chard and spinach.

I like to plant these just as soon as the soil can be worked, so that we get an early crop. Leafy greens are cool-season crops, so we can plant those in mid-April, if we are lucky enough with the snow melting.

We’ll let some grow to full size but we will be trimming lots of leaves for salad greens.

Since lettuce, spinach, kale and other leafy greens are more shade tolerant than other veggies, they can be planted on the north side of the garden, out of full sun.

 

Grow Some Beans

I’ll plant at least one wide row of green beans. We need to keep the Remay cloth handy for covering on cool nights here, as beans don’t like how low the temperature can dip.

We want to can up lots of pint jars full of green beans as we are starting to run low of those in our cold room. Here’s how to pressure can green beans.

Grow a Few Broccoli and Cauliflower Plants

And I will plant a few broccoli and a few cauliflower, maybe six of each. Maybe a half row of turnips, too.

 

Grow Enough Cabbage for Sauerkraut

One row of cabbage so I can make up a couple of batches of sauerkraut come the fall. We grow big cabbages here in the Cariboo!

Sauerkraut is so easy to make. Here’s how to make Sauerkraut.

Grow a Bit of Corn, Squash and Zucchini

We will probably grow some corn – maybe 3 dozen plants or so. Corn does best planted in a block, as this helps with pollination. Growing corn here is always risky, because it really is a warm season crop.

Where we live, there is almost always a threat of frost for 10 months of the year, so we only grow it if we can afford the room it takes. It’s disappointing to watch the corn grow and then see it killed by a surprise frost!

Although we can (and do) grow Zucchini in our garden bed, we just don’t risk growing winter squash. And, because of the sprawling vines, it takes up too much room in the greenhouse. So for us, we buy winter squash.

 

Want to keep track of everything you do in your garden this year, so you’ve got a perfect record to use next year?

Look at this Vegetable Garden Planner!

Vegetable Garden Planner Printable: Grow Your Best Garden Ever

Growing Vegetables In the Greenhouse

In the greenhouse, I’ll have several varieties of peppers, both hot and sweet. Also some cherry tomatoes; all heirloom varieties. I haven’t checked on how much tomato sauce I still have on hand, so I’ll need to do that today.

The biggest thing is making sure to remove weeds, treat insects and pests that might be eating your leafy greens, and ensure your soil has nutrients to feed to your plants.

If I need to can up more, we’ll take a road trip closer to the coast where we can pick all day for very little money.

We’ll bring a couple hundred pounds home and get the stock pot going to make homemade tomato sauce and pizza sauce.

It’s too cold at nights here to plant tomatoes outside – they have to be grown in greenhouses and mine is just not big enough for the quantity we use.

 

  With food prices rising everywhere, I encourage you to plant your own garden this year. Just start small so you don’t get overwhelmed.

When you are planning a vegetable garden, think about what your family likes to eat and plant that! Root crops are easy to grow, easy to store and get expensive to buy in the winter. Wouldn’t it be great if you had your own supply?

Serious about growing food this year? Look at our book and start planning!

Grow Enough Food for a Year

 

Gardening Posts You Want to Read!

Worried about deer? Here’s our offbeat and cheap way to keep deer out of our garden.

Take a look at our printable Vegetable Garden Planner! It has everything you need for success.

Here are our top picks for growing herbs – whether you grow them outdoors in your garden bed or indoors!

For more info about garden layout, container gardening, square foot gardening, mulching methods, trellis gardening, raised bed gardening, be sure to read more about How to Grow Enough Food for a Year – it’s all covered (and lots more!) in there.  

Start planning a vegetable garden now and you’ll be ready for planting!

   

 

    Published Oct, 2019; latest update March 2026