7 Best Seasonal Crops for Cold Frames and Greenhouses That Thrive in Winter

Cold weather doesn’t have to mean the end of your growing season. With the right setup and crop selection, you can continue harvesting fresh produce throughout fall and winter using cold frames and greenhouses.

These protective structures create microclimates that shield plants from harsh conditions while capturing solar energy—extending your growing season by weeks or even months. In this guide, you’ll discover the seven best seasonal crops that thrive in protected environments, allowing you to enjoy homegrown produce even when snow blankets the ground outside.

09/12/2025 12:25 pm GMT

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What Are Cold Frames and Greenhouses: Understanding Your Growing Environment

How Cold Frames Differ From Greenhouses

Cold frames are low-profile, transparent-topped boxes that sit directly on the ground, primarily using solar heat to warm soil and plants. Greenhouses, in contrast, are free-standing structures with walls and roofs you can walk inside, often equipped with heating systems for temperature control. Cold frames offer affordable, portable protection for seedlings and cold-hardy vegetables, while greenhouses provide larger growing spaces and more consistent temperatures for a wider variety of crops.

Benefits of Protected Cultivation in Colder Seasons

Protected cultivation extends your growing season by several months, allowing harvests long after the first frost. These structures shield plants from harsh winds, freezing temperatures, and damaging precipitation while trapping solar heat. You’ll enjoy fewer pest problems during colder months and maintain more consistent soil moisture. The controlled environment also allows for precise planning, resulting in higher-quality produce and the satisfaction of harvesting fresh vegetables when grocery store options are limited and expensive.

Leafy Greens: The Cold-Season Champions for Protected Spaces

Leafy greens are ideal candidates for cold frame and greenhouse cultivation, thriving in cooler temperatures while providing nutritional harvests throughout winter months. Their quick growth and cold tolerance make them perfect for protected growing spaces.

Spinach: The Frost-Tolerant Superfood

Spinach actually develops sweeter leaves after light frosts, making it perfect for cold frames and unheated greenhouses. Plant seeds every 2-3 weeks from late summer through early winter for continuous harvests. Varieties like ‘Tyee’ and ‘Winter Bloomsdale’ offer exceptional cold tolerance down to 20°F while providing vitamin-rich greens all season.

Kale and Swiss Chard: Nutrient-Dense Winter Wonders

Kale varieties like ‘Winterbor’ and ‘Redbor’ remain productive down to 15°F in protected spaces. Swiss chard, with its colorful stems and succulent leaves, tolerates temperatures to 25°F and rebounds quickly after cold snaps. Both crops offer exceptional nutritional value and will produce for months with minimal maintenance in your greenhouse or cold frame.

Root Vegetables: Underground Treasures for Cold Frame Growing

Root vegetables thrive in the protected environment of cold frames, where soil temperatures remain moderate even as air temperatures drop. These underground treasures continue developing throughout the colder months, often becoming sweeter after exposure to light frosts.

Radishes: Quick-Growing Cold Frame Favorites

Radishes are perfect for cold frame cultivation, maturing in just 21-30 days. Plant winter varieties like ‘Cherry Belle’ or ‘Easter Egg’ in succession every two weeks for continuous harvests. Their compact growth habit maximizes limited cold frame space, and their crisp texture remains intact even during the coldest months.

Carrots: Sweet Winter Harvests in Protected Soil

Cold-grown carrots develop higher sugar content, resulting in exceptionally sweet flavor. Choose shorter varieties like ‘Napoli’ or ‘Mokum’ that mature quickly in confined spaces. Mulch them lightly with straw inside your cold frame to prevent freezing while allowing easy harvest throughout winter. The cold frame’s consistent soil temperature prevents splitting and encourages steady growth.

Cool-Weather Herbs: Flavorful Additions to Your Protected Garden

Adding herbs to your cold frame or greenhouse not only enhances your cooking options but also maximizes your growing space with these compact yet productive plants. Cool-season herbs thrive in the protected environment while adding both fragrance and flavor to your winter harvests.

Cilantro and Parsley: Cold-Tolerant Kitchen Essentials

Cilantro actually prefers cooler temperatures, making it perfect for protected winter growing. You’ll find it bolts less quickly than during summer months, providing steady harvests for weeks. Flat-leaf parsley thrives in temperatures as low as 20°F, offering vitamin-rich leaves that maintain their flavor intensity even in cold conditions. Both herbs require minimal space yet deliver maximum flavor impact.

Mint and Chives: Year-Round Herbal Stars

Mint varieties remain surprisingly productive in cold frames, with their spreading habit contained perfectly in this controlled environment. You’ll appreciate how chives bounce back quickly after cutting, providing fresh green onion flavor throughout winter. Both herbs maintain their aromatic qualities in cooler temperatures and can be harvested repeatedly, making them excellent value crops for your protected garden space.

Asian Greens: Fast-Growing Crops for Winter Harvests

Asian greens are perfect candidates for protected winter cultivation due to their quick growth cycles and impressive cold tolerance. These nutritious vegetables add variety to your winter harvest and require minimal space to produce abundant yields.

Bok Choy and Tatsoi: Quick Producers for Cold Frames

Bok choy matures in just 45-60 days, thriving in temperatures as low as 32°F. Its compact growth habit makes it ideal for cold frames, where you can harvest whole heads or pick outer leaves continuously. Tatsoi forms beautiful rosettes of spoon-shaped leaves that can withstand temperatures down to 15°F, making it exceptionally reliable for winter harvests.

Mizuna and Mustard Greens: Spicy Winter Additions

Mizuna’s feathery leaves add peppery flavor to winter salads and mature quickly in 30-40 days. These resilient greens regrow after cutting, providing multiple harvests from a single planting. Mustard greens bring bold flavor to your winter table and thrive in cold frames, developing sweeter notes after light frosts while retaining their signature spicy kick.

Spring Vegetables: Early Starters in Protected Environments

Peas: Perfect for Late Winter Greenhouse Planting

Plant peas in your greenhouse or cold frame as early as February when soil temperatures reach 40°F. Snow peas and snap varieties thrive in these protected environments, climbing efficiently on trellises to maximize vertical space. Harvest these nitrogen-fixing crops 60-70 days after planting for the sweetest flavor before summer heat arrives.

Lettuce: Continuous Cool-Season Harvests

Lettuce performs exceptionally well in protected settings, germinating at temperatures as low as 40°F. Choose heat-resistant varieties like ‘Buttercrunch’ or ‘Red Sails’ for spring cultivation and plant every two weeks for continuous harvests. Harvest outer leaves regularly to extend your lettuce production through late spring while leaving the growing center intact.

Extending Harvests: Crops That Bridge Seasons in Protected Spaces

Beets: Versatile Root-to-Leaf Crops for Transition Seasons

Beets thrive in the cool conditions of protected environments, making them perfect for fall planting and early spring harvests. You can direct-sow beet seeds when soil temperatures reach 50°F, with varieties like ‘Bull’s Blood’ and ‘Detroit Dark Red’ maturing in just 55-60 days. Both the nutritious roots and vitamin-rich greens remain harvestable throughout winter in cold frames, providing two vegetables from a single crop.

Scallions: Year-Round Alliums for Cold Frames

Scallions are among the most rewarding cold frame crops, growing productively in temperatures as low as 35°F. You can plant these resilient alliums in succession every 3-4 weeks for continuous harvests, with varieties like ‘Evergreen Hardy White’ thriving even through light frosts. Their space efficiency is remarkable—you can grow up to 16 scallions in a single square foot, making them perfect for maximizing limited protected growing areas.

Best Practices for Successful Cold Frame and Greenhouse Growing

Your growing season doesn’t need to end when temperatures drop. With a simple cold frame or greenhouse you can enjoy fresh harvests throughout winter and early spring. These seven crops—leafy greens spinach and kale hardy root vegetables like radishes and carrots cold-tolerant herbs Asian greens spring vegetables and versatile options like beets and scallions—offer exceptional performance in protected environments.

By selecting these cold-hardy varieties and providing minimal protection you’ll enjoy nutritious homegrown produce when grocery store options are limited and expensive. The satisfaction of harvesting fresh vegetables during winter months makes the small investment in a cold frame or greenhouse truly worthwhile. Start with just a few of these recommended crops and you’ll soon be expanding your year-round growing adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a cold frame and a greenhouse?

A cold frame is a low-profile, transparent-topped box that sits directly on the ground and primarily uses solar heat to warm soil and plants. A greenhouse is a larger, free-standing structure that often includes heating systems for better temperature control. Both create favorable microclimates for plants, but greenhouses offer more space and typically maintain more consistent temperatures.

Can I really grow vegetables during winter?

Yes! With cold frames or greenhouses, you can grow many crops throughout winter. These structures protect plants from harsh conditions while harnessing solar energy. Leafy greens, root vegetables, herbs, and certain Asian greens thrive in these protected environments. Many crops like spinach and kale actually become sweeter after light frosts, making winter growing rewarding and productive.

Which leafy greens grow best in cold weather?

Spinach, kale, and Swiss chard are excellent cold-weather leafy greens. Spinach becomes sweeter after light frosts and can be planted for continuous harvests. Various kale varieties remain productive in low temperatures. Swiss chard, with its colorful stems, shows impressive resilience in cold conditions. All three are nutrient-dense and require minimal maintenance during winter.

Do root vegetables grow well in cold frames?

Yes, root vegetables thrive in cold frames where soil temperatures remain moderate. Radishes mature quickly (21-30 days) and can provide continuous harvests. Carrots grown in cold conditions develop exceptional sweetness, with shorter varieties being ideal. Proper mulching prevents soil freezing and ensures steady growth. Beets are also excellent, with both roots and greens harvestable throughout winter.

Which herbs can I grow during winter?

Cold-tolerant herbs like cilantro and parsley thrive in protected winter environments. Cilantro actually prefers cooler temperatures, while parsley maintains its flavor even in cold conditions. Mint and chives are also excellent year-round options. Mint remains productive throughout winter, and chives quickly regenerate after cutting. These herbs maximize growing space and enhance culinary options during winter months.

How cold-tolerant are Asian greens?

Asian greens are remarkably cold-tolerant. Bok choy matures in 45-60 days and thrives in temperatures as low as 32°F. Tatsoi is even hardier, withstanding temperatures down to 15°F. Mizuna and mustard greens grow rapidly and provide multiple harvests, with mizuna adding peppery flavor to winter salads and mustard greens developing sweeter notes after light frosts.

When can I start growing spring vegetables in protected environments?

You can start spring vegetables like peas and lettuce much earlier in protected environments. Peas can be planted as early as February in greenhouses or cold frames, thriving in temperatures of 40°F and maturing in 60-70 days. Cold-tolerant lettuce varieties like ‘Buttercrunch’ and ‘Red Sails’ germinate at low temperatures and provide continuous harvests through late spring.

How often can scallions be harvested in cold frames?

Scallions can be harvested continuously when grown in cold frames. They grow well in temperatures as low as 35°F and quickly regenerate after cutting. For year-round productivity, plant them in succession at 3-4 week intervals. Cut about 1 inch above soil level to allow regrowth, and you can harvest from the same plants multiple times throughout winter.