13 Plants You Can Winter Sow in Raised Beds

Winter sowing is a great way to get a head start on your spring garden. Raised beds can make it even easier to head into the growing season with a thriving garden. Gardening expert Melissa Strauss shares some plants you can start now for blooming beds in a few short months.

Cabbage, lettuce, and broccoli in an elevated, wooden planter.

Contents

Winter sowing is a convenient practice of planting your spring seeds in late fall or during the winter months. This is great for those seeds that require cold stratification. Cold stratification is the process of freezing and thawing. It breaks down the hard outer shell of some seeds, making them more receptive to moisture. 

Even for seeds that don’t require this cold period to germinate, winter sowing has plenty of benefits. Winter weather helps to encourage root development rather than green growth. That means that your seeds have already developed some roots by the time spring rolls around. They are able, then, to put more energy into growing large and strong. 

Additionally, winter is a good time to get things started before weeds and pests make their entrance. Your seeds will have a higher germination rate, and they will sprout as early as possible. Basically, winter sowing gets your spring garden rolling at the earliest possible moment!

Raised beds make winter sowing even more effective and convenient. It’s easy to cover them, which eliminates the need for other containers. The soil in your raised beds also warms up faster in the spring for an earlier germination time. The time savings of not having to start your seeds indoors is enough of a perk on its own. Let’s take a look at some herbs, vegetables, and flowers that you can winter sow in your raised bed garden. 

YouTube video

Calendula

Zeolights Calendula Seeds

Our Rating

Zeolights Calendula (Pot Marigold) Seeds

Spinach

Matador Spinach Seeds

Our Rating

Matador Spinach Seeds

Chives

Common Chives Seeds

Our Rating

Common Chives Seeds

Chives

Thin, tubular green stems with delicate purple-tinged blooms at the tips, forming a compact cluster.
Tall, slender green shoots produce lovely purple flowers if you allow them to.
common-name common name Chives
botanical-name botanical name Allium schoenoprasum
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 12”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-8

Chives are a must-have for the kitchen garden. These tender onions, with their delicate flavor and pungent aroma, are incredibly versatile. They’re pretty, too! Tall, slender green shoots produce lovely purple flowers if you allow them to. Bees love these blooms, so they bring pollinators to your beds. 

Because they are cold-tolerant, they are perfect for winter planting. Late in the cold season is best, about one to two months before the last frost date. Chives are a cut-and-come-again type of onion. When you harvest them, leave about an inch of the white base intact, and they will grow back. 

Broadleaf Sage 

Soft, velvety leaves in a silvery-green hue grow from woody stems.
Sage seeds need light to germinate, so just press them lightly into the surface of the soil.
common-name common name Broadleaf Sage 
botanical-name botanical name Salvia officinalis
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 18”-36”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-8

Broadleaf sage is a delicious, savory herb that is great for planting in your raised beds between December and February. It’s a must-have for the kitchen garden. You’ll see this herb pop up in tons of recipes, especially around the holidays. It pairs well with many meat dishes, and I’ve rarely seen a stuffing recipe without it.

Sage seeds need light to germinate, so just press them lightly into the surface of the soil. Plant these about six to eight weeks ahead of your last anticipated frost date. You can harvest sage continuously. Cut the leaves that you need, and the plant will continue to produce. 

Oregano ‘True Greek’

Close-up of vertical thin stems covered with small oval, green leaves with a slightly fuzzy texture.
If you prefer herbaceous flowers in your beds, ornamental oregano is divine.
common-name common name Oregano ‘True Greek’
botanical-name botanical name Origanum vulgare ‘True Greek’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 18”-24”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-8

I can never have enough oregano in my garden or in my kitchen. The aromatic leaves seem to make everything smell and taste better. It’s also incredibly easy to grow and produces attractive purple flowers that pollinators are fond of. 

Oregano is winter-hardy in most parts of the United States. It’s a tough plant, and some varieties are highly ornamental. If you prefer herbaceous flowers in your beds, ornamental oregano is divine. These also need light to germinate, so press them lightly into the soil where the light can get to them. ‘True Greek’ is a superior variety for culinary use. 

Cilantro ‘Long Standing Santo’

Close-up of Cilantro plants in a sunny garden. Cilantro plants are characterized by their delicate, fern-like foliage consisting of slender, serrated leaves that grow in clusters atop slender stems. The leaves are a vibrant green color.
This variety is nicely heat tolerant, so you can harvest it for a longer period. 
common-name common name Cilantro ‘Long Standing Santo’
botanical-name botanical name Coriandrum sativum ‘Long Standing Santo’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 12”-24”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

Cilantro is a cool-weather herb, so the farther south you live, the earlier you want to plant it. It grows best in mild temperatures and bolts easily in the heat of summer. In Zones 9-11, sow in the fall, north of there, wait until winter. Soak these overnight before planting. 

Like many herbs, cilantro needs light to germinate. So press the seeds lightly into the surface of the soil and leave them exposed. Make sure to plant these in partial shade if you’re directly sowing them, as the seedlings will wilt with too much exposure. ‘Long Standing Santo’ is nicely heat tolerant, so you can harvest it for a longer period. 

Spinach ‘Matador’

Smooth, oval green leaves with a slight gloss grow in a low, bushy rosette close to the ground.
‘Matador’ is a smooth, sweet variety with excellent texture.
common-name common name Spinach ‘Matador’
botanical-name botanical name Spinacea oleracea ‘Matador’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 6”-8”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

Tender and tasty, spinach is a favorite cool-weather leafy green, and winter is a great time to plant it. Frost makes this vegetable taste sweeter, as with many leafy greens. It takes out the bitterness. Its ideal growth temperature range is between 45 and 75°F (7 and 24°C), but it is quite happy in cooler temps as well. 

‘Matador’ is a smooth, sweet variety with excellent texture. You can begin to harvest early if you want baby greens. Plant every few weeks through the season for continuous harvesting. These are sensitive to transplanting, so this is a great way to get your spinach started. 

Carrot ‘Scarlet Nantes’

This crop showcases bright orange, tapered roots with a smooth texture, topped by feathery green leaves that fan out above the soil.
The carrots are well-formed, tender, and sweet.
common-name common name Carrot ‘Scarlet Nantes’
botanical-name botanical name Daucus carota ‘Scarlet Nantes’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 6”-7”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

Carrots are great for planting in the fall, and you can sow these later in the winter, too. Just know that they germinate at about 55°F (13°C), so winter-sown seeds will sprout in the spring. Fall planted carrots will begin to grow and cold weather will sweeten the taproots. 

Your carrots need between 45-75°F (7-24°C) temperatures to do most of their growing. ‘Scarlet Nantes’ is a beautiful, well-formed heirloom and a great producer. The carrots are tender and sweet from this reliable variety. They don’t like their roots disturbed, so these are not great for transplanting. 

YouTube video

Arugula ‘Rocky’

Tender, lobed green leaves form loose bunches on slender stems.
Wild types have a stronger flavor, often described as peppery.
common-name common name Arugula ‘Rocky’
botanical-name botanical name Diplotaxis tenuifolia ‘Rocky’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 8”-10”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 6-10

Arugula is a fast grower that prefers chilly weather, and like other greens, a frost improves the flavor. Wild types have a stronger flavor, often described as peppery. It’s delicious raw or cooked and pairs well with a wide array of cuisines. 

‘Rocky’ is a wild variety, so it’s extra flavorful. Arugula is fast to sprout and handles frosty weather like a champion. It’s also heat tolerant, so you can keep this tasty green growing all year. Surface sow these seeds so they have the light needed to germinate. Harvest early and often for tender leaves.

Lettuce ‘Marvel of Four Seasons’

Compact heads with broad, reddish-bronze outer leaves and pale green, tender inner leaves, forming a crisp, round rosette.
The leaves are green closest to the ground, but change to a gorgeous ruby-red at the ends.
common-name common name Lettuce ‘Marvel of Four Seasons’
botanical-name botanical name Lactuca sativa ‘Marvel of Four Seasons’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 8”-12”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

Lettuce is another leafy green that you can plant in fall or winter and harvest throughout the colder months. Winter-planted lettuce will sprout as soon as the soil warms to about 50°F (10°C). Since the soil in your raised beds warms faster, it means earlier germination of many of these plants. 

Succession: sow your lettuce for a continuous harvest through most of the year. ‘Marvel of Four Seasons’ is a stunning French heirloom variety. The leaves are green, closest to the ground, but change to a gorgeous ruby-red at the ends. These heavily textured leaves are sweet and crunchy. 

Cabbage ‘Red Acre’

A small plant with purple, round leaves and visible veins, surrounded by soil.
It is a beautiful, jewel-toned cabbage.
common-name common name Cabbage ‘Red Acre’
botanical-name botanical name Brassica oleracea ‘Red Acre’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 5”-7”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

Cabbage, and most brassicas, is cold a weather lover, and winter is the perfect time to plant them. If you live in a colder climate, you may want to hold off until closer to March. But December through February is a great time to get started in most climates. Not only is it frost tolerant, but it also prefers cold weather and sweetens with frost. 

I’m partial to red varieties, and ‘Red Acre’ is a beautiful, jewel-toned cabbage. It’s also compact, which makes it perfect for winter sowing in raised beds. I love to see these gems swelling in the early spring garden. 

Broccoli ‘Belstar’

The plant has a medium-sized, tight green floret head with vibrant green leaves that are slightly crinkled, providing a lush backdrop.
The primary heads are large and followed by many side-shoots.
common-name common name Broccoli ‘Belstar’
botanical-name botanical name Brassica oleracea var. italica ‘Belstar’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 20”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

Broccoli is a brassica, and it loves cold weather! By planting it in winter, you get a jump on the season. You’ll have time to let those heads grow nice and plump and harvest for an extended period. Don’t worry about frost with this vegetable. It only makes it tastier

‘Belstar’ is a fabulous variety for warmer climates where other varieties tend to bolt. Winter sowing means this one will definitely perform at its best. The primary heads are large and followed by many side-shoots. Plant broccoli anytime from fall to spring, depending on your climate. 

Beets ‘Chioggia’

Beets cut in a traversal manner, showing red, circular markings inside the flesh.
Beets are extra nutritious and a wonderful addition to any garden. 
common-name common name Beets ‘Chioggia’
botanical-name botanical name Beta vulgaris ‘Chioggia’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 18”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

In warm climates, winter is the time to plant beets. In fact, you can plant them anywhere, as long as the soil is workable. Another benefit of winter sowing in raised beds is that the soil is nearly always workable. They are cold-tolerant and prefer no disturbance to their roots.

‘Chioggia’ is an Italian heirloom that is delicious from root to tip. You can cook their green tops like other greens. The roots are sweet and tasty, raw or cooked. Beets are extra nutritious and a wonderful addition to any garden. 

Calendula ‘Zeolights’

Calendula officinalis with golden orange and yellow petals, slightly curled edges, and green foliage.
‘Zeolights’ is a fancy variety with petals that are pink on top and bronze underneath. 
common-name common name Calendula ‘Zeolights’
botanical-name botanical name Calendula officinalis ‘Zeolights’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 12”-24”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

Calendula flowers are beautiful and cheerful and have quite a few practical uses. They are a common ingredient in skincare products, and they make a nice tea, too. They are known to have anti-inflammatory effects and aid in wound healing, among other uses. They are easy to grow and prefer cool weather. 

Often called pot marigolds, the two may have some similarities in appearance, but they are not the same species. They do have one special quality in common, though: they are both edible. ‘Zeolights’ is a fancy variety with petals that are pink on top and bronze underneath. 

Snapdragons ‘Night and Day’

Contrasting deep crimson and creamy white blooms on an upright stem in the garden close-up.
It is a flamboyant variety with blood-red and snow-white blooms.
common-name common name Snapdragons ‘Night and Day’
botanical-name botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Night and Day’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 18”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-11

Snapdragons are my favorite winter planted flower. If you can get them hardened off before a frost in late fall, they are quite cold-tolerant. Here in Zone 9, mine stay green all winter and begin blooming bright and early in the new year. I find those planted in fall and winter tend to be larger, stronger plants that produce tons of flowers. 

‘Night and Day’ is a flamboyant variety with blood-red and snow-white blooms. Cool weather turns the foliage a deep burgundy, and the red portions of the petals deepen as well, to nearly black. These are a showstopper, and the flowers are edible. I love these in my cutting garden, and they perform excellently when winter sown in raised beds.

Share This Post
Close-up of a woman's hands sowing seeds in a peat seed starter tray to start seeds early for an early harvest.

Seeds

11 Benefits of Starting Seeds Early

Do you want to reap the benefits of your growing season and get a head start on your garden? In this article, gardening expert Matt Dursum shows you the benefits of starting seeds early.

Close-up, top view of white reusable plastic milk jugs used as pots for winter seed sowing.

Seeds

7 Benefits of Winter Sowing in January

Winter sowing is all the rage! But what is it? It’s a low-cost seed-starting process that you can do in the thick of winter. Seasoned gardener Jerad Bryant shares these seven benefits of winter sowing in January.

A shot of a developing sprout during the cold season that showcases lazy winter sow

Seeds

How to Winter Sow The Lazy Way

Winter sowing typically involves mini-greenhouses made of milk jugs, but did you know you can sow seeds directly in the ground during winter? Winter sow the lazy way and you’ll avoid having to source pots, potting soil, and grow lights. Learn how to plant seeds during the cool months alongside seasoned grower Jerad Bryant.

Carrots, zucchini, and beets placed on a wooden table.

Seeds

Best Beginner Vegetables: 11 Easy Crops to Grow from Seed

If you’re used to buying seedlings from a nursery, sowing vegetables from seed can be intimidating! However, watching veggies transform from tiny seeds to harvestable crops is rewarding. Join vegetable farmer Briana Yablonski to learn easy crops perfect for beginners.

Small lettuce seedlings growing in soil-filled compartments of a clear plastic container, with plant markers labeled for identification.

Seeds

9 Pros and Cons of Winter Sowing

Considering winter sowing to simplify seed-starting this season? Now is the time to get going. The easy and rewarding method is full of advantages and yields sturdy seedlings. Garden expert Katherine Rowe explores the merits and potential variables of winter sowing.