When cultivating in cooler climates, it’s essential to make the most of the limited growing season. To overcome this challenge, selecting crops with shorter maturity periods can be a game-changer. These varieties allow for multiple harvests and increased yields, making them ideal for areas with brief summers. By focusing on these short-season crops, gardeners in cooler climates can optimize their production and enjoy a bountiful harvest.
Choose Short-Season Species, Such as Varieties that Mature Quickly
When reviewing seed packets or online descriptions, you’ll encounter a crucial piece of information: the days-to-maturity count. This figure provides an approximate timeline from planting to harvesting, giving you a sense of when your crops will be ready for consumption.
For those residing in regions with brief growing seasons, it’s essential to research and record local first and last frost dates.
By combining this data with the maturity days required by various vegetables, you’ll be able to plan your planting schedule accordingly.
Fortunately, there are several short-season crops that thrive in cold climates. These 14 varieties mature rapidly, tolerate cooler temperatures, and offer impressive yields. They’re perfect for gardeners seeking a head start on the growing season.
Radishes
Little French radishes have a quick maturation period of 25-30 days, making them an excellent choice for multiple harvests throughout the growing season. Their versatility is another plus, as both the greens and roots can be enjoyed. To get started, sow the seeds as soon as the soil thaws, and continue to sow every few weeks to ensure a steady supply. As cool-season crops, French radishes thrive in spring and fall conditions.
If you do decide to grow them during the summer, it’s best to provide partial shade for optimal growth. Furthermore, compact varieties like Hailstone are ideal for container gardens, allowing you to enjoy these radishes even in small spaces.
Climbing Beans and Peas
When it comes to short-season crops, legumes are among the most rewarding options for gardeners. Many varieties mature in just 55 days or less, although larger types like lima and broad beans may take slightly longer. Even tiny heirloom peas can be harvested within a couple of months. One of the best things about growing beans and peas is their ability to thrive in partial shade. This means you have endless possibilities for incorporating them into your garden design.
I’ve successfully trained pole beans and peas to climb up trees, mesh screens attached to my house, and even string lattices around a gazebo. By making the most of every available space, you can maximize your harvest and add visual interest to your outdoor area.
Spinach
Spinach is a must-have for leafy green enthusiasts. This versatile vegetable thrives in temperate weather, making early spring or fall the ideal seasons for cultivation. To ensure a bountiful harvest, sow spinach seeds about four weeks prior to the last frost date of the year’s first growing period and again roughly a month before the onset of autumn’s first frost. For tender shoots, pluck them when leaves reach approximately 2 inches in length.
Alternatively, allow the plants to mature to around 5-6 inches, then cook them thoroughly to achieve optimal tenderness.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers require varying maturation periods depending on their size, with smaller varieties typically taking around 50 days to reach maturity. Larger ones, on the other hand, may take up to 65-70 days to ripen. As heavy feeders, they thrive in rich soil that’s been enriched with well-aged compost. To support optimal growth, it’s essential to provide them with generous feedings throughout their growing season.
For a burst of fresh flavor, consider cultivating little lemon or Dragon’s Egg cucumbers for snacking, while heirloom pickling cucumbers are ideal for preserving and adding a touch of nostalgia to your recipes.
Small Tomatoes
While large tomatoes require an entire growing season to reach maturity, there’s no need to sacrifice your tomato passion if you live in a cooler climate. The good news is that micro varieties like cherry, grape, currant and others take only 60-70 days to mature, leaving ample time for them to grow. You can sow these tiny tomatoes directly into the ground or containers, depending on your area’s sunlight and heat patterns.
For instance, if you’re in an area with intense sun and heat during July and August, like my front yard, it’s best to start seeds around June 15th to take advantage of optimal growing conditions.
Carrots
When it comes to root vegetables, carrots are a must-have for your short-season garden. Smaller varieties like Little Finger and Parisienne mature in about 60-65 days, while longer ones take around 70-80 days. However, the extra time is worth it as they’ll still reach maturity within your growing period. One key thing to keep in mind is that these cool-season crops thrive in the colder parts of the year.
For best results, grow them in the spring and fall, rather than during the hot summer months when they’re likely to become woody and bolt. On the other hand, carrots grown during warm days with cooler nights tend to be sweeter and crunchier.
Zucchini/Summer Squash
In about 40 to 60 days, most zucchini varieties will reach maturity, although this timeframe can vary depending on the specific type. On a related note, these prolific producers often have a tendency to take over your entire garden, prompting you to redistribute the bounty among friends, family, and even acquaintances. For growers with shorter seasons, small summer squash varieties like patty-pan, scallop, and dwarf types are excellent choices.
By providing these heavy feeders with an abundance of nutrients and sunshine, you can look forward to enjoying a steady supply of your homegrown harvest for months on end.
Peppers
When it comes to growing peppers, one key factor is the time it takes them to mature. Depending on the variety, this can range from 50 to 85 days. Interestingly, smaller hot pepper varieties tend to ripen more quickly than their larger counterparts. For those looking for a spicy kick, consider planting tiny varieties like Blue Filius or Kaleguritsa, which thrive in containers or window boxes and deliver plenty of heat for dishes like pickles, curries, and more.
If you prefer a sweeter pepper taste, miniature varieties are the way to go. Alternatively, for larger and quicker-growing options, look to varieties like Lilac Bell and King of the North.
Kale
Most kale varieties take around 55 days to reach maturity, but they can also be harvested early as baby salad greens. One of the great things about growing kale is its adaptability – you can sow it a month before your last frost date and continue harvesting right up until the snow starts falling. In fact, many gardeners find that a light frosting or two can even enhance the flavor and texture of their kale.
For those looking to grow kale on a larger scale, Thousandhead Kale is an excellent choice. Its leaves can grow up to three feet long, making it perfect for mass-producing delicious kale chips.
Beets
As the soil becomes workable, typically just before the final frost date, beets are ready to be sown. Most varieties take around 50-60 days to mature, making them ideal for succession planting from early spring to late autumn. What’s more, these versatile roots can be enjoyed in two ways: their greens and their roots. By planting a few extra, you’ll have the opportunity to preserve some through pickling for your winter larder or dehydrating into crunchy snacks for a healthy snack.
Eggplant
Eggplants are remarkably quick to mature, with most varieties taking around 60 to 90 days to reach full ripeness. As heavy feeders that crave bountiful sunshine, they thrive in well-lit areas of your garden or land. This rapid maturation allows them to produce a robust crop when grown during the peak summer months.
For growers in colder climates, starting seeds indoors early and giving seedlings at least 6 inches of height before transplanting can be crucial.
By providing these plants with ample summer heat and sunlight, you’ll set them up for success.
In areas with a late start to the growing season, aim to plant eggplant seeds in mid-to-late June to harvest a bountiful crop by late August. With proper care and conditions, your eggplants should flourish under the warm summer sun.
Cabbage
While cabbage shares some similarities with kale, it can still be sown prior to the final frost date of the year. This early start allows larger varieties to enjoy a prolonged growing season, which is particularly beneficial for bigger heads. In fact, even the most substantial cabbages, such as the Late Flat Dutch variety, typically take around 100 days to mature, providing ample time for growth.
For those living in regions with distinct seasonal fluctuations, like our own climate where spring and autumn are characterized by milder temperatures but midsummer experiences scorching heat, it’s essential to plant cabbages and kales at the onset of early spring or fall. These cooler periods provide an ideal environment for these Brassica family members, which struggle to thrive in the intense sunlight and sweltering temperatures that come with summer.
Potatoes
Potatoes are one of the most versatile and rewarding crops for home gardeners. While maincrop potatoes take around 90-120 days to mature, new potatoes, also known as ‘fingerlings’, have a much shorter maturation period of approximately 70 days. These sweet and tender tubers are perfect for growers with limited seasons, as they can be harvested in as little as two months.
Not only do they taste amazing when eaten fresh, but they’re also ideal for storing in the cellar or using in long-term storage containers like barrels or baskets.
Lettuce
Lettuces are one of the quickest-growing leafy greens, with a maturity period ranging from 40 to 65 days. This means you can harvest them multiple times by using cut-and-come-again varieties as baby greens, ideal for early spring and late summer/early autumn gardens.
Species that Tolerate Frost are Great Too!
When selecting plants with shorter growing seasons, opt for varieties that can not only survive but flourish in cooler temperatures. Some vegetables, like carrots and beets, even develop a sweeter flavor after being kissed by frost. In fact, kale and cabbage become particularly delectable once cold weather has had its way with them.
What’s more, the entire Brassicaceae family – which includes everything from cabbages to broccoli – is surprisingly resilient in the face of cold temperatures, their flavors often sweetening as a result.
Start Short-Season Crops Early
Before sowing your seeds, consider the typical germination period, which is usually around 6 weeks. To ensure you’re giving them the best chance to thrive, calculate the last frost date for your region and work back 6 weeks to determine when to start. For optimal results, set up a dedicated indoor growing space that’s pet- and child-friendly. This area should feature well-draining seed-starting soil and a comprehensive system of indoor grow lights.
With proper preparation, you can even extend the growing season into late autumn and early winter by utilizing cold frames and greenhouses, allowing for an earlier start to some vegetable and herb varieties.
Consider Growing Indoors Too!
For individuals residing in regions with extremely limited growing seasons, such as Alaska or Iceland, an indoor garden can be a fantastic alternative. You can utilize the setup you’ve created to start seeds and grow short-season crops to maturity throughout the year. If you’re feeling bold, consider setting up an indoor hydroponic system. Alternatively, you can cultivate a wide variety of edible and medicinal plants within your home.
Hang lettuce ball planters as decorative pieces or create string trellises in sunny windows and train beans and peas to grow upwards. You could also design a living herb wall in your kitchen or have pots of arugula, kale, and the like on your bedroom window ledges. Just ensure that any edibles you’re growing indoors are non-toxic to any companion animals that may ingest them.
