25 Vegetables to Plant in Fall for a Cold-Weather Harvest

Winter Produce — Photo: tanukiphoto / Getty Images

Add color to your garden and extend its growing season by planting cool-season vegetables. Many edible plants don't just deal with the cold, but flourish in it—more so than they would when temperatures are high. Vegetables that tolerate cold weather and even severe frosts allow you to continue growing throughout fall and winter, plus they're less likely to encounter damage from harmful pests. If you want to keep your vegetable garden going even as temperatures drop, get started by planting some of these fall vegetables recommended by gardening experts.

Alex Correia, senior horticulturist at Longwood Gardens
Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed's From Seed to Spoon app

01 of 25

Spinach

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a cool-season vegetable that should be direct sowed six to eight weeks before the average first frost date in the fall. It is typically ready to be harvested 37 to 45 days after seeding. "Spinach grows quickly and can be harvested at baby or full-size stage," says Alex Correia, senior horticulturist at Longwood Gardens.

Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 6 to 8 inches wide
Care requirements: Full to part sun; well-draining soil

02 of 25

Broccoli

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) prefers cooler temperatures and won’t do well if grown in the summer heat, says Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed's From Seed to Spoon app. What's more, the cool season vegetable is packed with nutrients and flavor. "Sow the seeds of this cool-season crop directly, or transplant the seedlings into the garden when they have four true leaves (about eight weeks from germinating)," says Spoonemore. Harvest timing varies depending on variety, but typically, broccoli reaches maturity in 55 to 75 days.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 24 inches tall x 8 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil

03 of 25

Cabbage

One of the easiest fall vegetables to cultivate, cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is a cool-season vegetable high in nutrients and very frost tolerant. How fast cabbage matures depends on its variety—some are ready to be harvested in 60 days, while others aren't ready for more than 120 days. If you're looking for a particularly hardy variety, consider Red Express Purple/Red Cabbage. It's the toughest of the cool-season crops. "It needs cold temperatures to germinate and grow, withstanding light frost and temperatures below 28 degrees," says Spoonemore.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 12 inches tall x 8 to 12 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil

04 of 25

Parsnips

Parsnips (Pastinaca sativa) are cool-season vegetables that taste best when the plants have been exposed to several weeks of cool, frosty weather. The plant can be harvested once the roots reach their full size, which happens about 100 to 120 days after sowing the seeds.

Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 8 to 24 inches tall x 9 to 18 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; fertile, well-draining

05 of 25

Radish

If you want to prioritize fast growers in your fall garden, consider planting radish (Raphanus sativus). The plant matures in about 20 to 30 days. "Grow the seed in 30 days and plant them in succession for a continuous supply," says Correia. Planting radish in the fall is ideal, as high temperatures can cause bolting, which occurs when an edible plant goes to seed too quickly.

Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil

06 of 25

Lettuce

There are a few common types of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), including iceberg, butterhead, romaine, and leaf lettuce. Once mature, harvest every one or two weeks by cutting just above the growing point, says Correia. Lettuce takes about 40 to 50 days to mature, so you can plant several successions throughout the season.

Zones: 2 to 11
Size: Varies by variety
Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil

07 of 25

Carrots

As a cool-weather crop, carrots (Daucus carota) are best sown direct when the soil is workable, says Montgomery. If possible, plant carrots in raised beds to increase the soil depth and provide good root shape. Although carrots take longer to mature (70 to 80 days) they are one of the most popular plants in the garden.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 12 to 18 inches tall x 1 to 2 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil

08 of 25

Fennel

There are two types of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare): one that is treated as an herb and one that is treated like a bulb vegetable. When grown as a bulb, fennel needs to develop during the cooler, shorter days of early fall. If planted too early, the summer weather will cause flowering and reduce the quality of the bulb. How long fennel takes to mature depends on the variety you are growing.

Zones: 4 to 9
Size: 4 to 6 feet tall x 18 to 36 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; organically rich, well-draining soil

09 of 25

Kale

If you often reach for kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica) in the supermarket, consider growing it in your garden instead. "Kale is a cool-season vegetable that's high in nutrients and very tolerant of frost," says Spoonemore. "Offering a range of colors and shapes, many varieties are grown for their beautiful ornamental leaves, which are brilliant red, pink, lavender, blue, violet, or white in the interior."

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 2 to 5 feet tall x 1 foot wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; nutrient-rich, well-draining soil

10 of 25

Collard Greens

Collard greens (Brassica oleracea var. viridis) are very cold hardy and can be harvested late into fall. "The leaves are even sweeter when grown in cooler temperatures," says Correia. After direct seeding, collar greens take about 60 to 80 days to reach maturity. The hardy vegetable can withstand frosts and even moderate freezes when it reaches maturity.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

11 of 25

Beets

Beets (Beta vulgaris var. crassa) are best grown in cooler temperatures and can even survive near-freezing conditions. "This cool-weather root crop is easy to grow and versatile, proving delicious and nutritious from its rich greens right down to its round or oblong root," says Spoonemore. The vegetable can be sown from seed in late summer or early fall and generally reaches maturity seven to eight weeks after planting.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 8 to 10 inches tall x 12 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun (can tolerate some shade); moist, well-draining soil

12 of 25

Cauliflower

A cool-season, winter-hardy vegetable, and the toughest of the cool-season crops, cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) is one of the first to be planted in the garden, says Spoonemore—and can be planted in the fall, as well. "It needs cold temperatures to germinate and grow but is sensitive to heavy frost," says Spoonemore. The vegetable reaches maturity in about 50 to 100 days.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 12 to 24 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil

13 of 25

Green Onion

Green onion (Allium cepa) is easy to grow and quick to harvest. Rather than waiting for the bulb to form, green onions are harvested while the tops are still tender and green. Optimal growing temperatures range from 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning green onions can be planted in spring, summer, and fall. "Sow seeds two per inch in the early fall garden, setting them 1/2-inch deep and then thinning to 3 to 4 inches apart," says Spoonemore.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 14 inches tall x 3 to 4 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil

14 of 25

Garlic

Fall is the best time to plant garlic (Allium sativum L.). "Plant your cloves, root side down and upright," says Correia. Though it's a cool-season vegetable, you should add mulch around garlic to protect it from freezing temperatures (but remove mulch in spring when temperatures warm up again). The slow grower takes about 250 days to mature.

Zones: Varies by variety
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 2 to 6 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; moist, loamy soil

15 of 25

Sugar Snap Peas

With a reputation for being easy to grow, sugar snap peas (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon) love cold weather. "Direct-sow 1 to 2 inches apart and 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep," says Spoonemore. "To conserve space and simplify harvesting, sow in double rows with a trellis between rows." You can harvest sugar snap peas around 60 to 70 days after sowing the seeds.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 4 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 5 inches x 24 to 26 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil

16 of 25

Brussels Sprouts

Brussel sprouts — mschowe / GETTY IMAGES

One of the hardiest fall vegetables available, Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera) can survive freezing temperatures. The vegetable typically reaches maturity at 90 to 110 days, but you'll know it's ready to be harvested when it's round, firm, tight, and a good color.

Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 12 to 36 inches tall x 18 to 24 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; loamy, well-draining soil

17 of 25

Turnips

Direct sown crops include most root vegetables, such as turnips (Brassica rapa), says Correia. The cold tolerant plant has different harvesting times based on how you plan to use it. Varieties grown for greens reach maturity about 30 to 45 days after planting, while varieties grown for roots reach maturity in 50 to 70 days.

Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 12 to 18 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; loamy, well-draining soil

18 of 25

Microgreens

Microgreens—vegetables and herbs harvested as seedlings—are easy to grow and ideal for anyone looking to try their hand at gardening, says Spoonemore. Many types of vegetables work as microgreens, such as cool season Ruby Red Swiss Chard Microgreens, which adds color, flavor, and a nutritional boost to a variety of dishes. Quick and easy to grow, microgreens can be grown in the garden seasonally, says Spoonemore.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 12 to 16 inches tall x 1 to 2 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil

19 of 25

Green Peas

Like sugar snap peas, green peas (Pisum sativum) can withstand freezing temperatures and favor mild to cooler conditions. Green peas should be direct sown when soil temperatures are at least 40 degrees. The vegetable takes about 50 to 70 days to mature and can be harvested when the pods are plump and well-filled but before the seed becomes starchy.

Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 12 to 18 inches tall x 7 to 12 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil

20 of 25

Swiss Chard

Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris) is in the same family as beets but without the swollen roots. The plant is easy to grow and can tolerate mild freezes. Swiss chard leaves are usually ready for harvest around four to six weeks after planting when the leaves are about 12 inches long.

Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 12 to 24 inches tall x 9 to 18 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; fertile, well-draining soil

21 of 25

Radicchio

Radicchio (Cichorium intybus) is a type of chicory (a cool-season vegetable) grown for its head of leaves. Many varieties of radicchio require cool temperatures to induce head formation. You can encourage the vegetable to form by leaving the plant in the ground past the first frost date to expose it to temperatures ideal for heading.

Zones: 3 to 8
Size: 2 to 4 feet tall x 18 to 24 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

22 of 25

Endive

Endive (Cichorium endivia) is a hardy annual vegetable with curled, finely cut leaves. The cool-season vegetable doesn't thrive in hot conditions and must be grown as a fall crop. Once the blanched heads develop (which takes about 85 days) cut the plants at ground level.

Zones: 3 to 8
Size: 2 to 4 feet tall x 18 to 24 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

23 of 25

Bok Choy

Bok choy (Brassica rapa chinensis) quickly matures and can be harvested before head formation starts. While some varieties of bok choy are heat-tolerant, the plant loves the cooler temperatures of fall, and extreme heat can lead to narrower leaves and less dense heads.

Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 6 to 24 inches tall x 6 to 18 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; well-draining soil

24 of 25

Leeks

Most leek varieties (Allium ampeloprasum) require a long growing season of about 120 to 150 days, but some newer cultivars require as few as 90 days to reach maturity. The easy-to-grow plant tolerates cold, so harvest can be delayed until after the first frost.

Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 18 to 36 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

25 of 25

Arugula

Like other leafy greens, arugula (Eruca sativa) can handle a cold snap, so it's a great addition to your fall garden. It's an annual plant that grows quickly and is often ready to harvest about 20 to 50 days after planting.