These cold-weather champs are kale, spinach and collards. Other hardy vegetables include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, English peas,
Fall and winter vegetables can be started by seed from late August to mid-September, then transplanted into the garden later. Seeds should be started indoors where temperatures are cooler, then the seedlings slowly transitioned outside once temperatures cool down in early October.
Both Gala and Link suggest adding in compost and soil amendments such as bone meal, kelp or manure to boost the nutrients. Another option is planting winter cover crops, such as oats, field peas, oilseed radish or rapeseed, which add nutrients to the soil and provide protection from erosion.
Grow winter crops in a cold frame or plastic tunnel
Plant vegetables for winter harvest in a cold frame or plastic hoop tunnel or have portable hoop tunnels or cold frames read to set over plants when a frost or freeze threatens. A cold frame or a plastic hoop tunnel will protect vegetables from cold temperatures.
According to Myers, the hardiest vegetables that can withstand heavy frost of air temperatures below 28 include spinach, Walla Walla sweet onion, garlic, leeks, rhubarb, rutabaga, broccoli, kohlrabi, kale, cabbage, chicory, Brussels sprouts, corn salad, arugula, fava beans, radish, mustard, Austrian winter pea and ...
According to Foxx, kale, collard greens, and lettuce can all thrive during winter. "They are pretty similar in terms of how to grow them, too," she says. If you've never grown greens before, Foxx recommends starting with kale or collard greens.
Potatoes are a great winter-early spring crop and at this time of the year you will find seed potatoes available in local garden centers and on-line. And there's a potato planting solution for any sized garden! They can be planted in the ground in rows or in mounds, in containers, in potato bags, or in potato towers.
Tomatoes are a warm-season crop that dies back when cold temperatures threaten. This usually means no home-grown tomatoes in winter, unless you have a greenhouse. You can, however, grow tomatoes indoors, but they are usually smaller and produce less prolifically than their summer cousins.
Plant a cover crop or add mulch
Most soil should not be left uncovered. Keeping the soil covered is key to soil health.
Radish. Radishes are probably the fastest growing vegetable in your garden, being ready to pick in as little as 30 days from planting the seeds. Their peppery flavor is a hit on the vegetable tray or added to a fresh lettuce salad.
In general, a frost (31-33 degrees F.) will kill beans, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peas, pepper, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, tomatoes, and watermelon.
When winterizing your garden, instead of aerating and raking the soil where your roots veggies are, just put down a nice protective layer of mulch or leaf mold. This will help keep moisture and nutrients locked in the soil.
An ideal mix is three parts topsoil, one part sharp sand or horticultural grit and one part fine chipped bark. For squirrel and rodent control, insert a layer of fine mesh wire netting just beneath the soil surface.
“You won't achieve (indoors) what you would in sunlight.” Lettuces, leafy greens, sprouted seeds, radishes, carrots and herbs are among the easiest plants to grow indoors in winter. They tolerate cooler temperatures and limited light.
Mulch to Insulate Soil
One of the most important tasks in preparing a raised bed garden for winter is insulation. Above-ground gardens can be more vulnerable to the cold than in-ground gardens. Keep your soil covered with several inches of mulch. Spread the winter mulch after the ground is frozen.
Light freeze - 29° to 32° Fahrenheit will kill tender plants. Moderate freeze - 25° to 28° Fahrenheit is widely destructive to most vegetation. Severe or hard freeze - 25° Fahrenheit and colder causes heavy damage to most plants.