Winter Greens: What Are They and How to Grow Them

Are you a farmer looking to increase your winter green yield this year? Winter greens present a great opportunity for farmers and commercial growers to extend their growing season into the winter. Let’s explore how you can make the most of your crop this winter and grow happier, healthier leafy greens! 

What are Winter Greens?

Winter greens are cold-hardy leafy vegetables that thrive in cooler temperatures, making them an excellent crop to grow from October to December. These crops can withstand frost and even light snow, providing a valuable source of fresh produce during the colder months. They also benefit your soil health by acting as cover crops and keeping your soil active in the winter. 

Common winter greens that grow the best in cold months include:

• Kale
• Spinach
• Collard greens
• Swiss chard
• Mustard greens
• Arugula

Tips for Growing Healthier Winter Greens

Growing healthy winter greens takes a bit more than simply planting a seed in October. It requires planning and science. Growing healthy crops starts with maintaining healthy soil. Once you ensure your soil is healthy, then you can plan when and where to plant your winter green crop. Then continue to monitor to make sure your soil and plants are maintaining a healthy nutrient balance until harvest. 

Prepare Your Soil

Before you plant your seeds, be sure to conduct a soil test to make sure your soil will provide sufficient nutrients to your crop. The cold temperatures make photosynthesis a bit tougher on winter greens, therefore ensuring your soil has sufficient nitrogen levels as well as microbial activity will be crucial for making it through the winter stronger and healthier than ever! 

Fertilization: Best Fertilizers for Winter Greens

Fertilization plays a crucial role in ensuring winter greens are healthy, nutrient-dense, and high-yielding. The best fertilizers provide balanced nutrition while supporting soil biology.

• GROWPRO: We have seen great success with GROWPRO fertilizers which come in various NPKs. They are also abundant in calcium and boron. 
• Lobster Shell Products: Offers essential micronutrients and enhances plant resilience. We have tested PowerShell on lettuce and seen positive results. 
• Amino Acids: Promotes nutrient uptake and root development. Consider a root primer for establishing a healthier root system. 
• Microbial Inoculants: Increase soil microbial diversity, improving nutrient cycling and plant health.

Choosing organic and all-natural fertilizers ensures long-term soil fertility without harming the environment or reducing soil biodiversity. The type of fertilizer you choose will depend on the nutrients desired, so the soil and SAP test will be your guide for this. 

Weekly fertilization through drip or overhead irrigation is very helpful through the winter. Applications of Conductor 16 and Potassium Sulfate will result in a quicker and healthier harvest since these products drive strong and healthy growth.

Timing: When to Plant Winter Greens

Timing is critical for successful winter green production. In most regions, planting should occur in late summer to early fall, allowing plants to establish before the first frost. In milder climates, winter greens can be planted throughout the fall and even into early winter.

For season extension, consider succession planting every two to three weeks to maintain a continuous harvest. Additionally, using cold frames or high tunnels can allow earlier planting and later harvesting, maximizing productivity.

Get All-Natural, Sustainable Fertilizers from Keystone Bio-Ag

Keystone Bio-Ag specializes in soil health solutions that support regenerative agriculture. Our all-natural fertilizers and biological soil amendments help commercial growers cultivate resilient, high-yielding winter greens while maintaining long-term soil vitality.

By incorporating Keystone Bio-Ag’s sustainable fertilizer solutions, farmers can enhance their soil health, reduce synthetic inputs, and grow premium-quality greens even in the coldest months. Contact us today to learn how our regenerative products can benefit your farm.