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Winter vegetables and frost hardy plants

What you can harvest in winter, what copes with frost and what to sow or plant in late summer and autumn for it. Every value with a source.

Download as PDFHow cold does it get? Hardiness zoneAll harvest times: harvest calendar

Harvest in winter

Worked out with the average for Germany: last frost 19 April, first autumn frost 27 October. On each plant page you can use a German postcode. Data: Deutscher Wetterdienst, daily minimum temperatures 1991–2020, our own calculation. Licence CC BY 4.0. Postcode coordinates: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).

PlantHarvest (German average)Copes with, per sourceSource
Brussels sprouts1 September – Marchoften down to −10 °CSächsische Gartenakademie (LfULG) · Bavarian Garden Academy (LWG)
Kale21 October – Marchoften down to −10 °CSächsische Gartenakademie (LfULG) · Bavarian Garden Academy (LWG)
Black salsify1 October – April–Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen
Parsnip15 September – Marchdown to 5 °F (−15 °C)Bayerische Gartenakademie (LWG) · PNW Extension
Leek1 September – Februarydown to 5 °F (−15 °C)Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft (LfL) · Bayerische Landesanstalt für Weinbau und Gartenbau (LWG), Urban Gardening · PNW Extension
Lamb’s lettuce (corn salad)1 November – into springdown to 0 °F (−17.8 °C)LWG Bayerische Gartenakademie · PNW Extension
Horseradish1 October – JanuaryUSDA zone 4a: down to −34.4 °CBundesverband Deutscher Gartenfreunde (BDG) · NC State Extension
Jerusalem artichoke1 November – AprilUSDA zone 3a: down to −40 °CGartenakademie Rheinland-Pfalz (DLR) · NC State Extension

Sow and plant for winter

These go into the bed in late summer or autumn. Dates are the German average; the planting calendar works them out for a German postcode.

PlantWhatWhen (German average)Source
Endiveplant15 June – 31 AugustLWG Bayerische Gartenakademie
Chinese cabbagesow1 July – 15 AugustSächsische Gartenakademie (LfULG)
Pak choisow1 July – 31 AugustBayerische Landesanstalt für Weinbau und Gartenbau (LWG)
Radicchiosow1–10 JulyLWG Bayerische Gartenakademie
Chinese cabbageplant15 July – 10 AugustLWG Bayerische Gartenakademie
Radicchioplant15 July – 31 AugustGartenakademie Rheinland-Pfalz
Lamb’s lettuce (corn salad)sow1 August – 15 SeptemberLWG Bayerische Gartenakademie
Spinachsow1 August – 15 SeptemberLWG Bayerische Gartenakademie
Chervilsow25 August – 1 SeptemberJohnny's Selected Seeds
Garlicplant1 September – 31 OctoberDLR Gartenakademie RLP
Rhubarbplant1–30 SeptemberBayerische Gartenakademie (LWG)

Frost hardy or frost tender?

Frost hardy · 42

Copes with light frost · 17

Frost tender · 18

Frost hardy means the plant survives frost in the bed. How much exactly, our sources only say for some plants (above and on the hardiness zone page). Frost tender plants only go outside after the last frost.

Questions and answers

Which vegetables can cope with frost?

According to our sources, for example strawberries, garlic, radishes, onions, cabbage, peas, sugar snap and snow peas and broccoli. There are 42 plants in total, all in the list on this page.

Which vegetables are frost tender?

For example tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, bush beans, basil, aubergines, Cape gooseberries and chilli peppers. They only go outside after the last frost.

What can I harvest in winter?

On the German average, for example Brussels sprouts, kale, black salsify, parsnips, leeks, lamb’s lettuce, horseradish and Jerusalem artichokes.

How much frost can Kale take?

Often down to −10 °C, according to Bavarian Garden Academy (LWG). The source gives it as a guide.

What can I still sow or plant for winter?

On the German average, for example Garlic: plant 1 September – 31 October, Chinese cabbage: sow 1 July – 15 August, Chinese cabbage: plant 15 July – 10 August, Pak choi: sow 1 July – 31 August and Endive: plant 15 June – 31 August. The planting calendar works it out for a German postcode.

Sources

Show 69 sources
  1. University of Maryland Extension: Growing Tomatoes in a Home Garden
  2. University of Maryland Extension: Growing Peppers in a Home Garden
  3. NMSU Guide H-240: Growing Chile Peppers in New Mexico Gardens
  4. RHS: How to grow aubergines
  5. RHS Plant Finder: Physalis peruviana (F), Cape gooseberry
  6. Colorado State University Extension, GardenNotes #720: Vegetable Planting Guide
  7. RHS: How to grow courgettes
  8. RHS: How to grow pumpkins
  9. University of Maryland Extension: Growing Beans in a Home Garden
  10. RHS: How to grow runner beans
  11. University of Maryland Extension: Growing Green Peas in a Home Garden
  12. RHS: How to grow cabbages
  13. Illinois Extension: Cool-Season Vegetables (Infosheet, 2024)
  14. University of Guam CNAS: Bok Choy (FPP-07, 2018)
  15. RHS: How to grow radishes
  16. University of Maryland Extension: Growing Potatoes in a Home Garden
  17. RHS: How to grow sweet potatoes
  18. Purdue Extension HO-66-W: The Fall Vegetable Garden, Table 2
  19. RHS Grow your own: Celeriac
  20. USU Extension: Black Salsify in the Garden
  21. UMD Extension: Vegetables for Spring and Fall Planting
  22. RHS Grow your own: Salad leaves
  23. Oregon State University Extension: Plant cold-hardy vegetables now for a spring harvest
  24. Cornell Home Gardening: Growing Guide Fennel
  25. RHS Find a plant: Anethum graveolens
  26. RHS Find a plant: Coriandrum sativum
  27. RHS Find a plant: Anthriscus cerefolium
  28. Illinois Extension, Herb Gardening: Chives
  29. RHS Grow your own: Basil
  30. RHS Find a plant: Satureja hortensis
  31. RHS Grow your own: Thyme
  32. University of Maryland Extension: Oregano
  33. University of Maryland Extension: Sage
  34. Illinois Extension, Herb Gardening: Mint
  35. RHS Grow your own: Lemon balm
  36. Bayerische Gartenakademie (LWG), Merkblatt 2166: Kräuter zum Frischverzehr aus dem eigenen Garten
  37. Utah State University Extension: English Lavender in the Garden
  38. RHS Find a plant: Borago officinalis
  39. RHS Find a plant: Calendula officinalis
  40. Illinois Extension, Flowers: Marigold (Tagetes sp.)
  41. Illinois Extension, Flowers: Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
  42. RHS Find a plant: Helianthus annuus
  43. RHS Plants: Lobularia maritima
  44. RHS Plant Finder: Fragaria × ananassa (F), garden strawberry
  45. RHS: How to grow rhubarb
  46. University of Maryland Extension: Growing Asparagus in a Home Garden
  47. USU Extension: How to Grow Horseradish in Your Garden
  48. University of Saskatchewan Gardening: Jerusalem artichokes
  49. Sächsische Gartenakademie (LfULG): Anbau von Rosenkohl im Haus- und Kleingarten (2016, Archivkopie)
  50. Sächsische Gartenakademie (LfULG): Anbau von Grünkohl im Haus- und Kleingarten (2016, Archivkopie)
  51. Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen: Schwarzwurzeln – warum werden sie auch Winterspargel genannt? (Archivkopie 17.02.2026)
  52. Bayerische Gartenakademie (LWG): Pastinake (Infoschrift 2157)
  53. Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft (LfL): Lauch – Spargel des armen Mannes? (Merkblatt, 2005)
  54. Bayerische Landesanstalt für Weinbau und Gartenbau (LWG), Urban Gardening: Wintergemüse und Kräuter auch im Januar ernten?
  55. LWG Bayerische Gartenakademie: Infoschrift 2102 Gemüsearten zur Nachkultur
  56. Bundesverband Deutscher Gartenfreunde (BDG): Gartenschatz Meerrettich (2023)
  57. Gartenakademie Rheinland-Pfalz (DLR): Topinambur
  58. Bayerische Gartenakademie (LWG): Gartentipp „Eigenes Gemüse im Spätherbst und Winter“ (10. November 2025)
  59. PNW Extension (Oregon State University, Washington State University, University of Idaho): Winter Vegetable Production on Small Farms and Gardens West of the Cascades, PNW 548 (2022), Table 2
  60. NC State Extension, North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Armoracia rusticana
  61. NC State Extension, North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Helianthus tuberosus
  62. Sächsische Gartenakademie (LfULG): Anbau von Chinakohl im Haus- und Kleingarten – Eine ausgewiesene Nachfrucht (2016, Archivkopie)
  63. Bayerische Landesanstalt für Weinbau und Gartenbau (LWG): Pak Choi – Asiatische Gemüse-Power (Flyer)
  64. Gartenakademie Rheinland-Pfalz: Salat (fast) rund ums Jahr aus dem eigenen Garten
  65. Johnny's Selected Seeds: Chervil – Key Growing Information
  66. DLR Gartenakademie RLP: Aussaat- bzw. Pflanzzeiten von Gemüse
  67. Bayerische Gartenakademie (LWG): Merkblatt 2176 „Rhabarber“ (November 2019)
  68. Deutscher Wetterdienst, Climate Data Center: Tageswerte (Klima) der Stationen, historisch
  69. Deutscher Wetterdienst: Vorgaben für die Gestaltung des DWD-Quellenvermerks

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