What vegetables are easy to grow in a cool climate and preserve for the long winter?
Growing vegetables in a cool climate can be rewarding and provide fresh produce throughout the season. Here are ten vegetables that are easy to grow in cooler conditions and can also be preserved for long winter months.
The Truth is that many vegetables can be grown here, even with a 100-day growing season. Just look at the Seeds list here to see the various vegetables I have grown here. I grow things that will store well for use during the long winter months. I rely heavily on Winter squash, my freezer and pickling.
Gardening Shortcut Links
Carrots: Carrots are a cool-season crop that can be easily grown in colder climates. They can be stored for months in a cool, dark place or canned, pickled, or frozen for more extended storage.
Beets: Beets are another cool-season vegetable that can thrive in cooler climates. They can be stored in a root cellar, canned, pickled, or frozen to preserve them throughout the winter.
Potatoes: Potatoes grow well in cooler conditions and can be stored in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated place for several months. Alternatively, you can dehydrate or freeze them for longer storage.
Cabbage: Cabbage is a hardy, cool-season vegetable that can be stored whole in a cool, humid place for several months. You can also ferment it to make sauerkraut, which can be preserved for even longer.
Kale: Kale is a frost-tolerant vegetable that can be harvested throughout the cool season. To preserve kale, blanch and freeze it or dehydrate it for long-term storage.
Rutabaga: Rutabagas are root vegetables that can be grown in cool climates and stored for several months in a cool, dark place. You can also pickle, dehydrate, or freeze them for longer storage.
Peas: Peas are a cool-season crop that can be easily grown in colder climates. To preserve peas, you can blanch and freeze them or dry them for longer storage.
Swiss chard: Swiss chard is a cold-hardy vegetable that can be harvested throughout the cool season. To preserve Swiss chard, blanch and freeze it or dehydrate it for long-term storage.
Bush beans: Bush beans are a cool-season crop that can be grown in cooler climates. To preserve bush beans, you can blanch and freeze them or can them to enjoy throughout the winter months.
Winter squash: Winter squash, such as butternut, acorn, or spaghetti squash, can be grown in cooler climates and stored for several months in a cool, dark place. To preserve winter squash, you can also freeze or can it for long-term storage.
Seeds and planting
Links and Resources
Recommended Products
(These are some of what I use)
These nursery bags
These Grow bags
Pages
mybackyard.ca Seeds Page
Get a Head Start on Spring: The Benefits of Starting Your Seeds Indoors
Saving Vegetable Seeds: A Comprehensive Guide to Gardening Success
myBackyard.ca Planting Guide
Pollock Tomatoes (North hardy Tomato variety)
Tomatoes (Useful information on starting tomatoes from seed)
Blog Posts
When to start planting seeds
Germination testing your seeds
Looking for sources for seeds?
Heirloom seeds
Chitting your way to more potatoes
So it's before the first frost; what can I plant?
Individual seed and plant information is available in the "Gardening Shortcut Links" above under "North Hardy Plants to grow". I have successfully grown all of these, and most I grow year to year.
Disclaimer
myBackyard is for recreational purposes only. Plants, mushrooms and berries cannot be 100% identified through this website alone. It is up to the reader to properly identify plants, fungi and trees. Some wild plants, berries and mushrooms are poisonous or can have serious adverse health effects. Even those listed as edible may cause adverse reactions in individuals.
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