Complete Gardening
Fall gardening in New Hampshire doesn’t have to end when temperatures drop. Many leafy greens actually taste better after experiencing a light frost, becoming sweeter and more flavorful. By choosing the right cold-hardy varieties, you can enjoy fresh, homegrown produce well into winter while extending your growing season naturally.
1. Kale – The Frost-Loving Superstar
Nothing beats kale when it comes to cold weather toughness. This leafy champion actually improves in flavor after frost hits, developing a sweeter taste that makes it perfect for fall harvests.
Varieties like ‘Winterbor’ and ‘True Siberian’ can handle New Hampshire’s chilly nights with ease. Plant seeds in late August, and you’ll have tender leaves ready by October.
Regular harvesting of outer leaves keeps plants producing fresh growth throughout the season.
2. Spinach – Quick Growing Cold Champion
Fast-growing spinach races to maturity before winter sets in completely. ‘Space’ and ‘Winter Bloomsdale’ varieties are particularly hardy choices that thrive in cooler conditions.
Plant these seeds in early September for best results. The cool fall weather prevents the bitter taste that hot summer temperatures often create in spinach leaves.
Harvest baby leaves in just 30 days, or wait for full-sized leaves in about 45 days for maximum nutrition.
3. Swiss Chard – Colorful Cold Weather Warrior
Bright stems and colorful leaves make Swiss chard a garden showstopper that refuses to quit when temperatures drop. ‘Bright Lights’ variety offers rainbow-colored stems that brighten up dreary fall days.
This tough green survives light frosts while continuing to produce fresh leaves for weeks. The stems are just as edible as the leaves, giving you double the harvest value.
Cut outer leaves regularly, leaving the center to keep growing throughout the extended season.
4. Arugula – Spicy Autumn Sensation
Peppery arugula adds kick to fall salads while tolerating surprisingly cold temperatures. Cool weather actually mellows its spicy bite, creating perfectly balanced flavors for autumn meals.
‘Astro’ and ‘Sylvetta’ varieties grow quickly in fall conditions. Seeds germinate rapidly in cooler soil, often sprouting within just a week of planting.
Harvest young leaves for milder flavor, or let them mature for more intense peppery taste that pairs beautifully with seasonal ingredients.
5. Mustard Greens – Peppery Fall Favorite
Bold mustard greens bring serious flavor to your fall harvest table. These hardy plants actually prefer cooler weather, which reduces their natural heat and creates more balanced, enjoyable eating.
Light frosts don’t phase these tough plants at all. They continue growing steadily through New Hampshire’s unpredictable fall weather patterns, providing reliable harvests when other crops fail.
Young leaves work great in salads, while mature leaves are perfect for cooking in hearty autumn soups and stews.
6. Collard Greens – Ultimate Winter Survivor
Collard greens laugh at cold weather that would kill less hardy plants. These incredible survivors can handle temperatures down to the upper teens, making them perfect for New Hampshire’s harsh conditions.
Frost actually improves their flavor, converting starches to sugars for sweeter, more tender leaves. Plant them in late summer for best establishment before winter arrives.
Harvest outer leaves continuously while leaving the center growing point intact for ongoing production throughout the cold months ahead.
7. Mache – The Snow-Proof Salad Green
Also called corn salad, mache represents the ultimate in cold tolerance among salad greens. This remarkable plant can survive completely buried under snow, emerging fresh and ready to harvest when conditions improve.
Small, rounded leaves offer mild, nutty flavors that complement other fall vegetables perfectly. Plant seeds in early fall for winter harvests that seem almost magical.
This European favorite thrives in New Hampshire’s climate, providing fresh salads even during the coldest months of the year.