TOP 5 Veggies that LOVE the Cold
A lot of people think the gardening season is just summertime, but the opposite holds true. Well at least here in Kentucky, zone 6b. Fall is equally as busy not not nearly as miserable to work in as summer.
As a matter of fact, a lot of my favorite vegetables and flowers are planted in fall.
Here's a short list of the Top 5 Vegetables to Plant Now, if you're in my growing zone/region.
Top 5 Vegetables to Plant Now:
GARLIC-
Did that first picture give it away? I don't know about your culinary needs, but this is one I can't get enough of. My mom makes her own little honey garlic ferment to keep her blood pressure in check. I use it in almost every dish I make, and honestly, I've tried my moms natural concoction and it hurts my belly... but I do love making a savory tea with it. I take ginger, garlic, turmeric, pepper, lemon, and a dose of local honey when I feel under the weather. Fresh garlic, homegrown garlic has amazing health benefits,
KALE-
There are so many different textures and colors when it comes to growing kale. I love the way it looks out in my field and I love the way it tastes too! I alway give it due diligence when it comes to planting in the fall because it's a cold season staple in my kitchen. You can enjoy it in salads, sautéed with lots of garlic, cooked in a soup, added to pasta, and we make a kale gratin with gruyere cheese everything Thanksgiving (and it makes it special when grow it yourself).
BROCCOLI-
Say goodbye to that cardboard flavored store bought broccoli. Homegrown is what you were meant to experience. I mean can you blame picky eaters for not wanting the bland, flavorless experience they've gotten from Kroger broccoli. I remember the first time we harvested our own broccoli... Zoey was just over a year old and she was feasting on freshly harvested broccoli crowns from the garden. Just imagine my happy momma heart, it feels so good to see your kid eating RAW VEGGIES straight from the garden AND enjoying them!
SPINACH- I love ALL the leafy greens. Spinach (and all leafy greens) are wonderful ingredients to have on hand. We love blanching and freezing them for easy additions to meals. And if you're like me then a spinach salad with some balsamic sounds delectable. Did you know that when spinach gets hit with a frost it makes it sweeter?! There's a change that occurs on a cellular level that causes spinach to convert its starch into sugar, therefore making it sweeter! YUM!
CABBAGE-
This is something I grow a lot of for many reasons... For one, Devon LOVES to make sauerkraut. If you've never had sauerkraut made you are in for a treat. Fermented foods are wonderful for your guts microbiome. And honestly, our culture doesn't get enough of the natural goodness. It's so simple to make, it only takes 2 ingredients: cabbage and high quality salt (we enjoy Redmonds Real Salt). Additionally, I also love coleslaw and making some cabbage, potato and sausage soup (add some beans if you have them!) it's the perfect dish for those cold days!
After experiencing the different in flavor and nutrition from growing these AMAZING fall/winter crops, I will always make it a priority to grown them!
I hope this list can give you a jumping point for growing cold season vegetables. And if you missed the boat for your fall garden, let this be a starting point for a spring garden, as these same veggies can also be grown in very early spring when the ground can be worked (when it's no longer frozen).