Small Veggie Garden
Explore the vibrant plants included in your Winter subscription — perfect for cold-weather recipes.
Learn how each variety thrives in the cold and how to place them in your garden for a productive growing season.
The Plants
Purple Magic Broccoli
Plant to Harvest:
50–70 days
Space Needed:
16-24 inches
Tip:
Cover with low tunnels or frost cloth to protect from frost; keep harvesting side shoots.
Cauliflower
Plant to Harvest:
75–90 days
Space Needed:
16-24 inches
Tip:
Prefers steady cool weather. Use floating row covers to guard against hard freezes.
Butter Lettuce
Plant to harvest:
45–55 days
Space Needed:
12-16 inches
Tip:
Grow in raised beds and cover with plastic during frosts. Grows best between 40–60°F (5–15°C).
Tuscan Kale
Plant to harvest:
60–75 days
Space Needed:
16-24 inches
Tip:
Improves flavor after light frosts. Great for winter growing with minimal protection.
Roma Tomato
Plant to harvest:
70–85 days
Space Needed:
16-24 inches
Tip:
Not frost-tolerant. Only viable in winter with a heated greenhouse or tall tunnel.
Endive
Plant to harvest:
50–90 days
Space it needs:
12-16 inches
Tip:
Tolerates cold well. Use straw or mulch to prevent soil from freezing.
Charleston Wakefield Cabbage
Plant to harvest:
65–75 days
Space it needs:
16-24 inches
Tip:
Start in early fall. Use row tunnels to ensure heads form before hard frosts.
Bell Pepper
Plant to harvest:
70–90 days
Space it needs:
16-24 inches
Tip:
Needs warmth. Only suitable in winter inside heated tunnels or greenhouses.
Baby Broccoli
Plant to harvest:
55–65 days
Space it needs:
16-24 inches
Tip:
Prefers cool seasons. Cover with frost cloth if frost is expected.
Armenian Cucumber
Plant to Harvest:
50–60 days
Space Needed:
16-24 inches
Tip:
Harvest pods when they are 3–4 inches long for the best texture. Regular picking encourages continuous production.
Black-eyed Pea
Plant to Harvest:
60–90 days
Space Needed:
12-16 inches
Tip:
Harvest pods when they are 3–4 inches long for the best texture. Regular picking encourages continuous production.
Okra
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Plant to harvest:
50–65 days
Space Needed:
16-24 inches
Tip:
Harvest pods when they are 3–4 inches long for the best texture. Regular picking encourages continuous production.
Tomato - Rio Grande
Plant to harvest:
75–80 days
Space Needed:
24-36 inches
Tip:
This is a heat-tolerant tomato variety, perfect for hot and tropical weather. Provide strong support as plants grow
to keep fruit off the ground.
Cantaloupe
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Plant to harvest:
75–90 days
Space Needed:
24-36 inches
Tip:
Trellising your canteloupe in your garden will be the easiest way to prevent the fruit from rotting. If you do not
want to trellis your leons, use a melon cradle to avoid rot and pests on the bottom of your fruits. Needs good air
circulation to prevent powdery mildew. Pick when the fruit easily separates from the vine.
Malabar Spinach
Plant to harvest:
50–70 days
Space it needs:
12-16 inches
Tip:
Unlike traditional spinach, which struggles in the heat, Malabar Spinach thrives in the warm conditions. This plant
prefers hot weather and will not bolt like regular spinach. Regular pruning encourages bushier growth.
Green String Bean - Contender Bush
Plant to harvest:
50–55 days
Space it needs:
16-24 inches
Tip:
This bush variety is a classic green bean. This plant produces well in warm weather, and should be planted in full
sun. Add a layer of mulch to conserve water in hot months.
Banana Pepper
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Plant to harvest:
70–75 days
Space it needs:
16-24 inches
Tip:
This is a heat tolerant banana pepper variety, perfect for tropical hot weather.Pick when yellow for a mild taste or
wait until red for more sweetness. Frequent harvesting increases production.
Green Zucchini
Plant to harvest:
50–60 days
Space it needs:
16-24 inches
Tip:
Harvest when 6–8 inches long for the best flavor and texture. Mulching helps retain moisture and prevents soil from
splashing onto leaves.
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Bell Pepper
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Plant to Harvest:
60-90 days
Space Needed:
16-24 inches
Tip:
This is a heat tolerant bell pepper to prepare for warm summer months. Bell peppers thrive in full sun and require
consistent moisture to prevent stress. Avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot—let the soil dry slightly
between waterings.
Cucumber - Spacemaster Bush
Plant to Harvest:
60 days
Space Needed:
16-24 inches
Tip:
This compact bush variety benefits from a trellis for cleaner fruit. Keep soil consistently moist to prevent
bitterness.
Tuscan Kale
Plant to harvest:
45-55 days
Space Needed:
12-16 inches
Tip:
This is a hardy variety of kale that performs well in cooler temperatures, making it ideal for fall gardening.
Tuscan kale thrives in well-drained, fertile soil and enjoys full sun, but it can tolerate partial shade as well.
Keep the soil consistently moist, but avoid waterlogging to prevent root diseases. Regular harvesting of the outer
leaves encourages new growth, and the flavor improves after a light frost. Be sure to protect it from extreme cold
if frost is expected for extended periods.
Tomatillo
Plant to harvest:
65-85 days
Space Needed:
24-36 inches
Tip:
Harvest when 6–8 inches long for the best flavor and texture. Mulching helps retain moisture and prevents soil from
splashing onto leaves.
Collard Greens
Plant to harvest:
75-95 days
Space Needed:
16-24 inches
Tip:
Tomatillos need plenty of sun and well-drained soil. In the fall, water them regularly but avoid overwatering. While
they prefer warmth, they can tolerate cooler temperatures. If frost is expected, cover the plants to protect them.
Plant at least two for proper pollination.
Dwarf Cherry Tomato
Plant to harvest:
65–75 days
Space it needs:
16-24 inches
Tip:
This tomato plant will stay small, growing to 18-24 inches in height. These compact plants thrive in the heat and
produce small, sweet, and flavorful fruits that mature quickly.
Eggplant
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Plant to harvest:
75-90 days
Space it needs:
16-24 inches
Tip:
Eggplants thrive in full sun and benefit from a steady supply of water. Use a mulch around the base of the plant to
help retain moisture and keep weeds at bay.
Malabar Spinach
Plant to harvest:
50–70 days
Space it needs:
12-16 inches
Tip:
Unlike traditional spinach, which struggles in the heat, Malabar Spinach thrives in the warm conditions. This plant
prefers hot weather and will not bolt like regular spinach. Regular pruning encourages bushier growth.
Purple Magic Broccoli
Plant to Harvest:
70–90 days
Space Needed:
16-24 inches
Tip:
This variety tolerates cold well. Plant in late fall and allow it to grow through winter—florets are tighter and
sweeter in chilly weather.
Cauliflower
Plant to Harvest:
75–100 days
Space Needed:
16-24 inches
Tip:
Prefers steady cool temperatures. Protect with row covers and blanch heads by folding leaves inward once
formed.
Jack B Little Mini Pumpkin
Plant to harvest:
95–110 days
Space Needed:
24-36 inches
Tip:
Best grown where winters are mild. Start early and protect young plants with mulch and clear plastic to extend
warmth.
Red Express Cabbage
Plant to harvest:
63–76 days
Space Needed:
16-24 inches
Tip:
A fast-maturing cabbage that handles cold very well. Mulch heavily and harvest even after light frosts.
Tuscan Kale
Plant to harvest:
60–75 days
Space Needed:
16-24 inches
Tip:
Kale loves cold. In winter, flavor becomes richer and sweeter. Keep harvesting lower leaves and protect roots with
straw.
Swiss Chard – Bright Lights
Plant to harvest:
50–65 days
Space Needed:
12-16 inches
Tip:
Surprisingly cold-hardy. In winter, growth slows but continues. Mulch heavily and harvest outer leaves sparingly.
Mustard
Plant to harvest:
40–60 days
Space Needed:
12-16 inches
Tip:
Grows quickly in cool weather. Winter mustard leaves are tender and less spicy. Protect from hard frost with row
cover.
Garden Layout
Get ready to transform your space into a vibrant veggie haven! We’ve put together a simple yet effective garden layout that will help you maximize your area and grow a variety of fresh, delicious vegetables.
