Top 10 Greens to Grow

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!