Planting frost-tolerant vegetables in early spring is a great way to get a head start on your gardening season, especially if you are in a cooler climate like we are. These vegetables can withstand cooler temperatures and even a light frost, making them perfect for early planting.

Plants That Prefer Cold Weather

Most of these early spring vegetables can tolerate light freezes and can be planted directly into the ground once the hard freeze has passed. 

  1. Peas: Peas are very frost-tolerant and can be sown directly into the soil as soon as it’s workable in early spring. Varieties such as snow peas, sugar snap peas, and english peas are great varieties to plant in your spring garden
  2. Spinach: This leafy greens like kale can survive frost and freezing temperatures, making it perfect for early spring planting.
  3. Kale: Kale is known for its cold tolerance and can actually become sweeter after a frost.
  4. Lettuce: Many lettuce varieties can tolerate light frosts, especially if they’re gradually acclimatized to cooler temperatures.
  5. Broccoli: This cool-season crop can be planted in early spring and can withstand frost when mature.
  6. Cabbage: Like broccoli, cabbage is a cool-season crop that can tolerate frost, especially if it’s been acclimatized.
  7. Mustard Greens: When planting mustard greens in early spring, you can sow the seeds directly into the garden as soon as the soil can be worked.
  8. Brussel Sprouts: These are among the most cold-hardy vegetables and can even improve in flavor after exposure to frost.
  9. Carrots: Carrots can be planted early since they can handle light frosts. Young plants are quite frost-tolerant.
  10. Radishes: Radishes are quick to mature and can withstand frost, making them ideal for early spring sowing.
  11. Onions and Garlic: Both can be planted in early spring and are frost-tolerant. They actually require a period of cold for optimal growth.
  12. Swiss Chard: This leafy green can withstand light frosts and is a great early spring vegetable.
  13. Turnips: Both the roots and greens of turnips are frost-tolerant, making them a versatile early spring crop.
frost tolerant infographic

Plants That CANNOT Tolerate Frost

It might be tempting to plant all of your vegetable plants outside in your garden if you are experiencing warm weather. We had a month of higher than normal temperatures and now on the first day of spring we are experiencing below freezing and snow! You can never trust mother nature! A good rule of thumb is to avoid planting any of your tender vegetable plants out until after your last frost date. Check out the Farmer’s Almanac for a list of last frost dates. The below plants are varieties that are NOT frost tolerant plants and should be planted after the colder temperatures have passed.

  1. Tomatoes: These popular garden plants are very sensitive to cold temperatures and frost. They require warm soil and nighttime temperatures consistently above 50°F (10°C) to thrive.
  2. Peppers: Both sweet and hot peppers are warm-weather crops that cannot tolerate cold. Frost can damage the plants and significantly impact fruit production.
  3. Cucumbers: Cucumbers are a warm-season crop that thrives in warm soil and air temperatures. They can be severely damaged by even a light frost.
  4. Squash (including Zucchini): Both summer and winter squash varieties are sensitive to cold temperatures and should only be planted after the last frost.
  5. Eggplants: These warm-season vegetables need warm soil and air temperatures to grow and produce fruit. They are damaged by cold temperatures and frost.
  6. Melons (Cantaloupes and Watermelons): Melons need warm conditions to germinate, grow, and ripen. They are particularly sensitive to cold soil and air temperatures.
  7. Beans: Both bush and pole beans are warm-season crops that should not be planted until the soil has warmed up and all danger of frost has passed.
  8. Sweet Potatoes: These are tropical plants that require warm weather and a long growing season. They are very sensitive to cold temperatures.
  9. Basil: This popular herb thrives in warm weather and can be damaged by temperatures below 50°F (10°C).
warm season crops

Covering Your Spring Crop

Even though frost-tolerant crops are hardy, you still need to take care to protect them from unexpected elements of early spring such as hard frost, freezing rain, hail, and high winds. Some way you can protect your spring crops are:

  1. Floating Row Covers: Lightweight and permeable, floating row covers are made of spunbonded polyester or polypropylene. They can be laid directly over your plants, creating a barrier against frost while allowing light, water, and air to penetrate. Secure the edges with soil, rocks, or pins to prevent them from blowing away.
  2. Cold Frames: Constructed from a wooden or metal frame and topped with a transparent lid (often glass or clear plastic), cold frames act like miniature greenhouses. They trap heat during the day and keep plants warmer at night. Ensure proper ventilation on sunny days to prevent overheating.
  3. Cloches: Originally made from glass, modern cloches can also be plastic jugs, bottles, or commercially available plastic domes. They cover individual plants or small groups, creating a warm environment around them. Remember to remove or ventilate them during the day to prevent excessive heat buildup.
  4. Greenhouses and Hoop Houses: For larger-scale protection, greenhouses or hoop houses provide a controlled environment for your plants. While more expensive and labor-intensive to set up, they offer the most comprehensive protection against frost and harsh weather.
  5. Mulch: Applying a thick layer of organic mulch around the base of your plants can help insulate the soil, maintaining warmer temperatures and protecting roots from freezing.
  6. Water Barrels: Placing water barrels or jugs of water inside greenhouses, hoop houses, or near plants outside can help absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night, reducing the risk of frost.
  7. Windbreaks: Setting up physical barriers like fences, burlap screens, or even planting a hedge can reduce wind chill and protect sensitive plants from cold winds.
  8. Tunnels: Low tunnels, made by bending flexible piping or metal rods into arches over your garden beds and covering them with plastic or row cover material, can protect long rows of plants. These tunnels can be easily vented or lifted for access to the plants.
  9. Emergency Blankets: In a pinch, blankets, sheets, or even newspaper can provide temporary frost protection. Just make sure to remove these covers during the day to allow for light and air circulation.
a bunch of red and white radishes

Spring Frost Tolerance

In early spring, certain plants can tolerate frost and cooler weather even when they are in their initial growth stages. This is because they are adapted to start growing in cool temperatures right from the start. Plants typically considered frost-tolerant in early spring include:

  • Peas: Can germinate and grow in cool soil, tolerating a little frost.
  • Spinach: Young spinach plants are quite hardy in cold temperatures.
  • Lettuce: Certain varieties are adapted to grow in cooler temperatures and can handle light frosts.
  • Kale: Known for its cold-hardiness, even young kale plants can withstand frost.
  • Broccoli: Can be planted early as it tolerates cool temperatures well.

These plants have adapted to the cold, damp conditions of early spring and can often survive light to moderate frosts without a lot of damage.

cabbage in the garden

Fall Frost Tolerance

In the fall, plants that have matured throughout the warmer months may have different levels of frost tolerance. Some plants become more tolerant as they mature, while others may become more susceptible as they reach fall harvest and beyond. Plants often considered frost-tolerant in the fall include:

  • Kale: Mature kale plants can survive hard frosts and often taste sweeter after exposure to cold.
  • Brussels Sprouts: These plants are very frost-tolerant and can withstand temperatures well below freezing.
  • Carrots: When mature, carrots can survive frosts, and the cold can enhance their sweetness.
  • Swiss Chard: Mature plants can handle light frosts and sometimes survive into the winter.
  • Leeks: Can withstand frost and cold temperatures, often remaining harvestable through snow cover.

In the fall, these plants have typically gone through a full growing season, which can increase their sugar content, acting as a natural antifreeze. This makes them more resilient to colder temperatures.

More Spring Gardening Ideas

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