I recently did an article about the best heat-tolerant crops for the summer time, and it made me want to do one for cold-tolerant crops as well.
In this one, we’ll be going over cold-tolerant crops you can plant in early spring for delicious, bountiful yields. Trust me, this is going to be good!
Crops That Can Withstand Cold Temperatures
1: Spinach
Spinach is known for its hardiness and ability to withstand chilly temperatures without an issue
It’s super easy to grow and doesn’t require a ton of overhead maintenance. In the early springtime, you can basically just plant it and forget about it.
2: Kale
Like many springtime leafy greens, kale loves the cold and can even turn sweeter after undergoing some light frost. It’s super hardy and thrives in extremely low temperatures.
Just be sure to get kale into the ground early in spring and not delay planting for too long as the emerging warmth can have adverse effects on the leafy green.
3: Carrots
Carrots can be planted around early spring as the chilly conditions help it grow better and stronger. Planting it a few weeks before the last frost date allows the carrots to develop a sweeter, more pleasant flavor profile.
4: Radishes
Radish is a crop I can personally speak a lot on. If you see the amount of radishes I have planted in my backyard garden, trust me, you’ll be shocked. The vegetable is super easy and fast to grow as long as the springtime weather is cool enough.
5: Peas
Peas, especially sugar snap peas, thrive in the cool temperatures that early spring has to offer. You want to plant them as early as possible in the springtime, or else the emerging summer heat can hinder both fruit development and overall crop growth.
6: Lettuce
Lettuce has great potential to grow early in spring and can tolerate light frosts fairly easily. It’s definitely not as hardy as something like kale or spinach but it for sure won’t give you any trouble in the cold weather.
If frost does mess with your lettuce though, protect it temporarily with a frost cloth or row cover.
7: Beets
Although beets grow underground, cool soil actually helps them grow much better. You’ll find beets grown in chilly temperatures to be slightly sweeter tasting and relatively quick to develop. Plant your beets in early spring for optimal growth.
8: Broccoli
Broccoli is a hardy vegetable and it prefers cooler temperatures for the best growth. Even during extreme cold and frost, broccoli shows great resilience and continues to grow and develop heads without difficulty.
9: Onions
Although onions aren’t frequently mentioned amongst cold-hardy vegetables, it doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t.
Now, are they as hardy as spinach or kale? Definitely not. But, they grow well in cooler weather and can survive periods of frost with some protection. The ideal planting time for onions would be between early to mid spring.
Conclusion
Judging from these articles, you can definitely tell my backyard garden is full of crops all year round. Growing up, my mom actually introduced me to the idea of having vegetables for every season in the garden. That way the space is always lively and productive.
Whatever veggies you choose to go with in your garden, make sure to plant them as early in spring as possible, as late planting will cause the crops to be affected by the upcoming summer heat, which can be very damaging, especially to crops that thrive in chilly temperatures.
