Do you want EASY vegetables to grow in winter?
Do you want a winter garden, but don’t know where to start?
Based on personal experience, scientific studies, and extensive research, I have created a list of 20 BEST Vegetables to Grow in Winter.
The goal of this article is to provide you with the Easiest Vegetables to Grow.
And scroll down to the bottom for answers to frequently answered questions.
20 BEST Vegetables to Grow in Winter
Below, you will find the 20 BEST Vegetables to Grow in Winter.
1. Spinach
Spinach is a nutritious vegetable that is grown in both cold and warm weather. It contains high amounts of vitamin B6, B9, C, and Folic Acid.
You can plant it in gardening containers and grow it inside or you can grow it in a raised garden bed or in a pot that is protected by frost and grow it throughout winter.
- When to Plant: Start in Late fall for a Garden or early January for indoor gardening
- How to Grow it: Plant 4-6 inches deep. Plant 6-8 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water Immediately after planting and then twice a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Partial-Sun
- Life Cycle: Annual Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 30 days after planting
2. Lettuce
Lettuce is another nutritious plant that is cold hardy and can flourish in warm weather. It is high in fiber and manganese.
Lettuce is the perfect plant for indoor gardening, greenhouse gardening, or in raised garden beds outside. Make sure to plant it in late fall for outdoor gardening or early January for indoor gardening.
- When to Plant: Late Fall for Outdoor Gardening or in early January for Indoor Gardening.
- How to Grow it: Plant 4-6 inches deep. Plant 6-8 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water Immediately after planting and then twice a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Partial-Sun
- Life Cycle: Annual Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 30 days after planting
3. Asian Greens
Asian greens are one of the most nutritious foods on this list. And best of all, they can be grown at any time of the year. Asian greens contain vitamins A, B, C, E, and K.
While you can grow asian greens in winter outdoors they typically will thrive in a gardening container by a window!
- Container Size: 5-gallon window box
- When to Plant: Late December or Early January depending when you want to harvest
- How to Grow it: Plant 6 inches deep. Plant 8-10 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water Immediately after planting and then twice a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Partial-Sun
- Life Cycle: Annual Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 45 days after planting
4. Onions
Onions are the perfect vegetable for fiber, folic acid, and vitamin C.
While onions typically only can be planted in the spring in your garden, they can be planted all winter long indoors in a gardening pot!
- When to Plant: Immediately after first frost of the year
- How to Grow it: Plant 6 inches deep. Plant 6 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water Immediately after planting and then once a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Full-Sun
- Life Cycle: Annual Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 90 days after planting
5. Green Onions
Green Onions are a great source of Vitamins A, C, & K. In addition, it is a good source of Folic acid and Riboflavin.
Green Onions is another cold hardy plant that can be planted immediately after the last first frost. Because you grow them in raised garden beds or gardening pots they can be harvested almost all year.
- When to Plant: Immediately after last first forst
- How to Grow it: Plant 3 inches deep. Plant 6 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water Immediately after planting and then once a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Full-Sun
- Life Cycle: Perennial Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 90 days after planting
6. Radishes
Radishes provide a great source of Vitamin C, Folate, and Potassium. It is one of the many easy vegetables to grow in raised garden beds.
Radishes are another cold hardy vegetable that can be grown in late winter. Whether your raised garden bed is in the ground on above the ground or you grow them in gardening containers radishes are perfect for them!
- When to Plant: Late Winter
- How to Grow it: Plant 6 inches deep. Plant 6 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water Immediately after planting and then once a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Partial-Sun
- Life Cycle: Annual Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 90 days after planting
7. Asparagus
Asparagus is one of my favorite perennial vegetables to grow in raised garden beds. It is a great source of vitamin A, C, E, and K. It also folate, copper, and iron.
Asparagus can be planted immediately after the last spring frost. And you can leave it in your raised garden all year knowing it will come up every year!
- When to Plant: Immediately after last spring frost
- How to Grow it: Plant 3-4 inches deep. Plant 3-6 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water Immediately after planting and then once a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Partial-Sun
- Life Cycle: Perennial Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 90 days after planting
8. Artichokes
Artichokes are another great perennial plant that has a strong source of vitamins C, K, and Folate.
This is another vegetable you want to plant after the last spring frost and will come up every year. Because it is a perennial vegetable it is a great option for all raised garden beds. You can also grow them in a gardening container, but you’ll have to leave them indoors all year.
- When to Plant: Immediately after last spring frost
- How to Grow it: Plant 4-6 inches deep. Plant 6 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water Immediately after planting and then twice a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Partial-Sun
- Life Cycle: Perennial Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 90 days after planting
9. Peppers
Peppers are my favorite vegetable. They are a great source of iron and vitamin C.
Peppers can be grown in the winter. It isn’t easy though. You will need to grow them in a greenhouse or in a warm section of your house.
- When to Plant: Eearly November or December
- How to Grow it: Plant 6-8 inches deep. Plant 12-14 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water Immediately after planting and then two to three times a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Full-Sun
- Life Cycle: Annual Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 90 days after planting
10. Tomatoes
Tomatoes were recently voted the most popular vegetable in the United States. They are rich in vitamin C, potassium, and folate. This is one of the surprisingly easy vegetables to grow in raised garden beds.
Tomatoes are another plant that can be grown in winter in a greenhouse or even some variants can be grown in a warm, well-lit area of your house.
- When to Plant: Early December
- How to Grow it: Plant 8-10 inches deep. Plant 14 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water Immediately after planting and then two to three times a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Full-Sun
- Life Cycle: Annual Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 90 days after planting
11. Chard
Swiss chard is one of the least known, but most beneficial vegetables. This vegetable is rich in vitamin c, folic acid, iron, and potassium.
Swiss Chard is a cold hardy plant that can be planted in early spring or even late winter. You can even start your chard seeds in the raised garden bed.
This vegetable is used in fish dishes, salads, and or even eaten raw.
- When to Plant: Late winter.
- How to Grow it: Plant 4-6 inches deep. Plant 6 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water immediately after planting and then two to three times a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Partial-Sun
- Life Cycle: Annual Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 60 days after planting
12. Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi is becoming an increasingly popular vegetable in the United States. It is a high source of Thiamin, Folate, Magnesium, and Phosphorous.
Kohlrabi can be planted immediately after the first frost of the year in gardening pots indoors. By planting Kohlrabi indoors you can get three plantings a year.
- When to Plant: Immediately after the first forst.
- How to Grow it: Plant 6 inches deep. Plant 6-8 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water Immediately after planting and then two to three times a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Partial-Sun
- Life Cycle: Annual Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 60 days after planting
13. Carrots
If you follow my instructions carrots are incredibly easy to grow. And they are a great source of vitamin A, K, and potassium.
Typically, you will plant carrots one month after the last spring frost. But in early winter you can start carrots and be able to harvest them in late winter or early spring.
- When to Plant: One month after the last frost.
- How to Grow it: Plant 4-6 inches deep. Plant 3-4 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water Immediately after planting and then two to three times a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Full-Sun
- Life Cycle: Annual Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 100 days after planting
14. Broccoli
Broccoli is another fantastic vegetable for gardeners. It is a great source of protein, thiamin, and vitamin E.
Broccoli is a cold hardy plant that can be planted immediately after the first frost. In a riased garden bed it can even be planted more than once.
- When to Plant: Immediately after the first frost.
- How to Grow it: Plant 6-8 inches deep. Plant 12 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water Immediately after planting and then two to three times a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Partial-Sun
- Life Cycle: Annual Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 90 days after planting
15. Beets
Beets may not be a favored plant among gardeners, but it is high in nutrients. It is an excellent source of fiber, folate, potassium, and vitamin C.
Beets are another vegetable that can be sown directly into a gardening pot after the first of the year and can be grown indoors all year.
- When to Plant: Immediately after the first frost.
- How to Grow it: Plant 6-8 inches deep. Plant 6 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water Immediately after planting and then two to three times a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Partial-Sun
- Life Cycle: Annual Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 90 days after planting
16. Kale
Kale has fastly become one of the most popular vegetables in the world. This vegetable has fiber, protein, almost every vitamin, and iron.
Kale is a cold hardy vegetable that can be grown throughout the entire year. It is the only vegetable that can truly be year all year long.
- When to Plant: Anytime
- How to Grow it: Plant 6 inches deep. Plant 6 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water Immediately after planting and then two to three times a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Partial-Sun
- Life Cycle: Annual Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 90 days after planting
17. Eggplant
Eggplants are one of the most hearty vegetables on this list. They are a rich source of fiber, potassium, and vitamin C.
Eggplants are the hardest plant to grow in the winter, but it still can be done. It is best to grow eggplants in a greenhouse in the winter.
- When to Plant: Early Winter
- How to Grow it: Plant 6-8 inches deep. Plant 12 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water Immediately after planting and then two to three times a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Full-Sun
- Life Cycle: Annual Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 90 days after planting
18. Green Beans
While there are many beans out there, green beans are the best for raised garden beds. Green beans are a high source of folate, fiber, and potassium.
Green Beans are another vegetable that can be grown indoors but thrive in a greenhouse.
- When to Plant: Early Winter
- How to Grow it: Plant 3 inches deep. Plant 3-4 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water Immediately after planting and then two to three times a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Full-Sun
- Life Cycle: Annual Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 60 days after planting
19. Sweet Peas
How delicious are sweet peas? They are also very nutritious. These vegetables are a high source of protein, riboflavin, and niacin.
Sweet Peas are the perfect outdoor winter vegetable to grow. It thrives in the winter and tastes sweeter the colder it is.
- When to Plant: Anytime during winter
- How to Grow it: Plant 3 inches deep. Plant 3-4 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water Immediately after planting and then two to three times a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Full-Sun
- Life Cycle: Annual Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 60 days after planting
20. Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a very similar plant to broccoli in regards to how you plant, care, and harvest it. It is an excellent source of fiber and multiple B vitamins.
Cauliflower is another great option for greenhouses and indoor gardening due to how quickly it can grow and be harvested.
- When to Plant: Early Winter
- How to Grow it: Plant 6-8 inches deep. Plant 12 inches apart.
- Watering Needs: Water Immediately after planting and then two to three times a week for 15 seconds.
- Where to place it: Partial-Sun
- Life Cycle: Annual Plant
- When to Harvest: Slowly pick 60 days after planting
Bonus – EASY Herbs to Grow in Winter
While this article is focused on EASY vegetables to grow in winter, there are also plenty of herbs I recommend growing in raised garden beds, greenhouses, or gardening containers.
Below, is a list of 10 EASY Herbs to Grow in Winter
Bonus – EASY Fruits to Grow in Winter
In addition to vegetables and herbs, there are also incredibly EASY fruits to grow in winter
Below, is a list of the EASIEST Fruits to Grow in Winter
Frequently Asked Questions
#1. What is Needed to Grow Vegetables in Winter
A) Purchase the Correct Raised Garden Bed or Gardening Container
All you really need to grow your vegetables in raised garden beds is a kit or any gardening container will do! Find the best raised garden beds for your specific need below:
B) The Right Soil is Essential
Soil is arguably the most important supply needed for growing vegetables in winter.
If you do not have the right soil your plants may not grow, bear fruit, and can even die.
For any type of vegetable, you plant in a raised garden bed then purchase Potting Soil.
It is that Simple!
I personally use and recommend Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix.
This is the perfect mix for beginner gardeners. It is easy to use and it helps prevent over and under-watering.
If you want an organic option then use: Fox Farm Organic Potting Soil
C) Use These 3 Tools
If you want minimal frustration with planting, caring, and harvesting your vegetables from raised garden beds then you’ll need a few tools.
You will need the following:
- Hand Shovel – This is essential for digging a hole for your plant
- Gloves – If you want minimal work and clean-up then use gloves.
- Watering Can – This is a must-have if you don’t want to create a mess while watering your plants.
#2. How do you Grow Vegetables in Raised Garden Beds or Gardening Pots?
There are 3 Steps to EASILY Growing Vegetables in Raised Garden Beds or Gardening Pots
Step 1
First, you will want to determine your last spring frost date. The best way to determine this is by using the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for your zip code.
To plant your vegetables, you will first want to take your raised garden bed or gardening pot and place it in an area that either gets direct or partial sunlight. Where you place, it depends on which vegetable you use from the above list.
You will then fill your raised garden bed or gardening pot with your garden soil. Fill it to the top of the raised garden bed or gardening pot.
Step 2
Next, you will dig a hole based on your vegetable. To see how deep and how far apart you should plant your vegetables please see the list above.
You will then cover the base of your plant. The base of your vegetable is where typically a few inches above its root ball. If you have purchased a vegetable to plant from Amazon or a local garden store the root ball will be where the plant meets the “soil mix”.
If you are interested in planting several vegetables in a raised garden bed or a gardening pot then I recommend using my pairings below:
- Beans, Peas, and Carrots
- Eggplant, Peas, and Beans
- Tomatoes, Onions, and Green Onions
- Lettuce, Kohlrabi, and Chard
- Spinach, Chard, and Onions
- Peppers, Onion, and Green Onions
Step 3
Immediately after planting your vegetable you will want to add fertilizer. Apply it per the instructions on the back of the fertilizer package.
For a fertilizer that will work on all your vegetables then I recommend Miracle-Gro All Purpose Plant Fertilizer.
You will then water your plant for about 10-15 seconds.
#3. How Do You Care for Vegetables in Raised Garden Beds or Gardening Pots?
1 EASY Step to Caring for Your Vegetables in Raised Garden Beds or Gardening Pots
If you want to care for your vegetables in the easiest way possible then there is only one thing you need to do.
Depending on the vegetable you plant you will want to water your plant one to two times a week. Spend about 10-15 seconds watering each vegetable plant.
#4. How do You Harvest Vegetables?
1 EASY Step to Harvesting Your Vegetables
If you thought caring for your vegetables in raised garden beds or gardening pots was easy then you will be amazed how easy it is to harvest your vegetables.
All you need to do is pick your vegetables when it is ready.
Honestly, it is okay to pick your harvest a little early or a little late. And if you are still unsure use my harvest time in the above section and you cannot go wrong.
All you have to do to harvest your crop is pick your vegetable from where it meets the branch it is growing on. If it is a leafy vegetable just pinch and pull. If it is a vegetable like a pepper or a tomato twist it from where the vegetable meets the branch.
Remember to harvest early and often. This will encourage new growth. This will also allow you to get a second planting in for certain vegetables.
When you are finished harvesting your plant you can pull it and compost it. Please review my composting article for more information:
Winter Composting (10 PROVEN Tips)
What to Compost: 9 Best Foods to Compost (and 10 You Shouldn’t)
