13 Vegetables You Can Winter Sow

If you haven't done your winter sowing, there is still time. January and February are great months for getting those cold-weather crops started. Here are some of the veggies you can start while you're waiting for the spring planting season.

Close-up of winter sow vegetables in a plastic bottle filled with moist soil, showcasing kale seedlings with rounded, slightly wavy green leaves.

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Winter sowing is an easy way to start your cool-weather vegetables. It’s economical and low maintenance and ensures that your seeds sprout as soon as the soil is right for their growth. It also produces stronger, more resilient plants and saves time and resources.

This type of planting is great for any seeds that require cold stratification. It allows Mother Nature to do what she does best: make things grow. Many seeds require periods of cold and thawing to break down their hard outer shell. You can accomplish this indoors, but allowing it to happen naturally is much less complicated. 

By repurposing common household items, you can get your cool-weather crops started outdoors. All you need are some milk jugs or other similar clear containers and high-quality potting soil. Here are some tasty vegetables that you can winter sow now for early germination and healthy, vigorous plants in early spring. 

Purple Vienna Kohlrabi

Purple Vienna Kohlrabi Seeds

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Purple Vienna Kohlrabi Seeds

Snowball Y Cauliflower

Snowball Y Cauliflower Seeds

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Snowball Y Cauliflower Seeds

Copenhagen Market Cabbage

Copenhagen Market Cabbage Seeds

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Copenhagen Market Cabbage Seeds

Kohlrabi ‘Purple Vienna’

A bulbous, purple root vegetable with stout purple stems and broad, green lobed leaves extending outward.
Jewel-toned bulbs offer sweet or spicy flavors when cooked.
botanical-name botanical name Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes ‘Purple Vienna’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 10”-12”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

Kohlrabi is a brassica in the same family as broccoli and cauliflower. It has a similar flavor to other veggies in this group, a bit of sweetness with a touch of peppery spice, like radishes. You can bring out the sweetness or spice of this vegetable when cooking by adding seasonings in either flavor profile. 

‘Purple Vienna’ is a beautiful cultivar with jewel-colored bulbs. They look like root vegetables but grow on top of the ground. You can eat these raw or cooked. They are also great for pickling. Kohlrabi is a great source of vitamin C!

This vegetable is ideal for winter sowing because it thrives in cool weather and gets even sweeter with light frosts.

Cauliflower ‘Snowball Y’

A tight, white flower head nestled among large, bright green, deeply veined leaves.
Harvest delicious, health-packed heads with curled protective leaves.
botanical-name botanical name Brassica oleracea var. botrytis ‘Snowball Y’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 24”-30”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

Rice it, dice it, steam it, or stir-fry it. Cauliflower has made a comeback. Cauliflower is another brassica that prefers cool temperatures and takes well to winter sowing. It’s frost-tolerant and has plenty of health benefits. 

‘Snowball Y’ is a compact variety that matures quickly, so it’s perfect for gardeners with a short growing season. It has attractive, edible leaves that curl around the heads, which gives them added protection. It holds up well in the garden for an extended harvest season, too!

Cabbage ‘Copenhagen Market’

A compact, round head of overlapping, broad green leaves with smooth edges.
This compact heirloom variety matures quickly in small gardens.
botanical-name botanical name Brassica oleracea ‘Copenhagen Market’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 12”-16”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

As the perfect vegetables for winter sowing, brassicas keep the garden going during the cooler months, and cabbage is a beauty to behold. I love watching the round and weighty heads develop almost as much as I love their crunchy texture in coleslaw! Cabbage is great year-round but sweetest during the cooler months. 

‘Copenhagen Market’ is an heirloom variety that dates back to 1909. It’s fast to mature, so it’s great for those with a short growing season. Compact enough for small gardens and raised beds, this one is easy to grow and has great flavor. 

Beets ‘Detroit Dark Red’

Freshly picked, deep red, rounded root vegetables with vibrant green leaves and reddish stems lying on grass.
They grow fast and make food sweet.
botanical-name botanical name Beta vulgaris ‘Detroit Dark Red’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 12”-18”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

Beets are a quick and tasty cool-season crop, and they are great for winter sowing. Their earthy flavor and nutrient density make them a great addition to the diet. You can eat them raw or cooked, and their greens are edible as well. They are similar to spinach or chard and full of iron. 

‘Detroit Dark Red’ is an heirloom variety, setting the standard since 1892. They grow large without becoming woody and have plenty of delicious sweetness. Always directly sow beet seeds in the soil. Their roots don’t like disturbances. 

Spinach ‘Bloomsdale’

Thick, crinkled green leaves sprouting from short, sturdy stems close to the soil.
These flavorful greens are frost-tolerant and taste great.
botanical-name botanical name Spinacea oleracea ‘Bloomsdale’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 6”-8”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

Spinach is an all-star winter vegetable that performs excellent when winter sown, and gets better with frost. It’s fast to mature, and you can start harvesting the baby greens about a month after they sprout. Direct sowing in winter is ideal, as the roots don’t like disturbance. 

Bloomsdale‘ is a delicious heirloom from the early 1800s. It’s stuck around for so long because it’s dependable and has great flavor. Succession sow for a continuous harvest until the weather warms up. 

Onions ‘Cabernet’

A gardener’s hand holds a freshly harvested bunch of reddish-purple bulbs with slender, green tubular leaves.
Enjoy these spicy bulbs that store well throughout the year.
botanical-name botanical name Allium cepa ‘Cabernet’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 2”-3” rounds
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

If you want to grow strong, plump, gorgeous onions this year, winter sowing is ideal. This only applies if you’re planting seeds and not sets. You should wait to plant sets until at least March.

I’m a big fan of red onions. There simply is no substitute for their sweet and spicy flavor. Not to mention, they look beautiful in a hanging basket in the kitchen. ‘Cabernet‘ are gloriously deep, wine red. They have a great storage life, to boot!

Bok Choy ‘Toy Choy’

Numerous compact plants with crisp white stems and smooth, spoon-shaped green leaves growing densely in a bed.
Crunchy stalks and tender leaves make this green irresistible.
botanical-name botanical name Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis ‘Toy Choy’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 5”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

Speaking of stir-fry, bok choy is a wonderful addition to this and many other flavorful Asian dishes. Also called Chinese cabbage, bok choy has a mild cabbage flavor with crunchy stalks and tender leaves. It’s fast-growing and looks pretty in the garden.

Toy Choy‘ is a dwarf variety. It’s great for growing in containers and matures in just 30-35 days after germinating. You’ll want to directly sow this one because it matures quickly. Germination occurs in about five to ten days, so you’ll have delicious bok choy in just over a month with this variety. 

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Scallions ‘Tokyo Long White’

A freshly harvested bunch of slender white stems transitioning to tubular green leaves, lying on a wooden surface.
This kitchen staple grows back for continuous harvests.
botanical-name botanical name Allium fistulosum ‘Tokyo Long White’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 16”-18”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 6-9

Scallions are a year-round favorite that works well when you winter sow it. You can grow this as a perennial in Zones 6-9 and harvest it through most of the year. As a garnish or central ingredient, the mild, sweet onion is a kitchen staple. 

‘Tokyo Long White’ is extra flavorful and robust. The blue-green tops look wonderful sprinkled on a soup or stew, and the whites are juicy and tender. When you harvest, leave an inch of white above the ground; they will grow back for continuous harvesting. 

Swiss Chard ‘Celebration’

A garden bed filled with vibrant plants showcasing colorful stems in shades of yellow, red, and pink with large, glossy green leaves.
Vibrant greens brighten up both the garden and the plate.
botanical-name botanical name Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris ‘Celebration’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height Up to 20”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

Swiss chard is a leafy green with tender stems and leaves. As a relative of beets, it comes in a variety of shades, including red, yellow, and white. All parts of the plant are edible and have a mild flavor. Unlike beets, it does not produce a large root. 

Celebration‘ is a multi-colored variety. It looks stunning in the garden and on the plate. Brilliant shades of orange, red, and yellow make this variety stand out in the kitchen. You can harvest the tender baby greens in as few as 20 days after germination. 

Lettuce ‘Parris Island Cos’

A top view of a rosette of large, slightly wrinkled green leaves radiating symmetrically.
This is a crunchy, healthy addition to any dish or garden.
botanical-name botanical name Lactuca sativa ‘Parris Island Cos’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 10”-12”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

Lettuce, interestingly, is a member of the Asteraceae or Aster family. If you allow it to bolt, it will produce tall stalks of flowers. No one really wants that, though, so it’s usually a cold-weather crop. It’s also a great vegetable for winter sowing. The tender leaves sweeten with frost. 

Lettuce isn’t the most nutrient-dense vegetable, but it’s full of healthy fiber. Romaine types, like ‘Parris Island Cos,’ an heirloom from Clemson University, contain more nutrients than their iceberg cousins. You can harvest baby greens in as little as 21 days, but the mature heads are crunchy and wonderful!

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Brussels Sprouts ‘Long Island Improved’

Two tall plants with thick stems, large spreading leaves with dry tips, and small, green, tightly packed sprouts along the stalks.
These tiny heads thrive in cool weather and frost.
botanical-name botanical name Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera ‘Long Island Improved’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 20”-24”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

Another fun cruciferous vegetable, Brussels sprouts, has gotten a bad rap in years past. Fortunately, some creative and talented chefs have breathed new life into these little brassicas. You’ll find them on many menus at fine dining establishments. The small, cabbage-like heads prefer cool weather and are frost-tolerant. 

‘Long Island Improved’ is an heirloom variety that dates back to the late 1800s. Tall plants look like tiny palm trees, creating texture and interest in your beds. They are ideal for winter sowing. 

Kale ‘Dazzling Blue’

Plants in a sunny garden bed with upright, slender purple stems and elongated, slightly wavy bluish-green leaves.
These nutrient-packed greens thrive in cool temperatures and frost.
botanical-name botanical name Brassica oleracea ‘Dazzling Blue’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 24”-48”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

Kale is one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables you can grow. High in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as calcium, potassium, and folate, it packs a major punch. It might look like a lettuce relative, but it’s actually a brassica and a great cool-weather grower. 

‘Dazzling Blue’ will shine in your winter garden. Cold weather brings out more of the blue and purple hues. The magenta veining glows throughout the leathery, heavily textured leaves. This variety is highly cold-tolerant and simply beautiful. 

Arugula ‘Rocket’

Narrow, deeply lobed green leaves growing from thin, tender stems close to the ground.
Tart and spicy greens create a flavorful addition to meals.
botanical-name botanical name Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa ‘Rocket’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 12”-24”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

If you love the peppery, zesty flavor of arugula, you’ll be glad to hear that not only can you winter sow this tender green, but you can begin to harvest it in as few as 20 days. It’s frost-tolerant and has beautiful lobed leaves that add an interesting flair to salads. It also makes a great pizza topping. 

Rocket‘ is an heirloom variety with a classic spicy flavor. It has a tartness as well, adding complexity to the flavor profile. It also produces lovely, white, edible flowers with pretty purple veins. 

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