Deciding upon the best plants and vegetables to grow in cold climates often proves a headache for relatively inexperienced gardeners, and many put in the hard work only to have their plants and vegetables emerge frostbitten, and therefore unattractive and inedible. There are however, a number of plants and vegetables that will survive the inhospitable treatment they receive at the hands of cold climates, and the following plants and vegetables here are suitable for green thumbs of all experience levels, even beginners.
Snowdrops – The name alone should give you an idea of just how cold resistant this delightful flower can be, though it should also provide you with an insight into how well it fares during summer, and that’s poorly. These delicately beautiful flowers are best planted in shady spots, like around the base of trees and shrubs.
Broccoli – A tasty, easy to grow vegetable that will help reduce your vegetable bills, broccoli is an excellent example of a cool climate loving, frost resistant vegetable. Broccoli is also rich in nutrients, and taking into account how many of us are susceptible to the winter chills, a healthy supply of broccoli could be just what your garden is in need of this coming cold season.
Daffodils – Although not frost resistant, daffodils are the earliest flowers to bloom in spring so you’ll have a wonderful sea of orange to look out upon. Daffodils can be planted in the cold since they’re extremely hardy flowers, and many gardeners find that they give their garden some much needed colour during January and February when everything else is yet to make an appearance.
Cabbage – As there are a number of varieties of cabbages, and some are edible whilst others are ornamental, ensure that you’re planting the right ones. Cabbages are well suited to cold climates, some more so than others, and where cabbages for cold climates are concerned some of the best varieties are Gonzales and Super Red.
Camellias – These stunning flowers can be grown all year round in warm climates, and those residing in colder climes should experience a high degree of success with cold climate hybrids. Camellias grow a lot bigger than many gardeners are aware (in some cases they’ll grow up to 3 metres) and in addition to their stunning flowers they’re also popular for their glossy evergreen leaves.
Spinach – Although extremely resistant to the cold, this nutrient packed vegetable doesn’t fare so well in warm weather, as don’t similar vegetables like Brussels sprouts and kale, so bear this in mind. However, this cold climate loving vegetable is well suited to extremely cold conditions, and many gardeners have found that even during times of freezing temperatures their spinach plants emerge unscathed.
Japanese maple – A deciduous tree native to Asia, Japanese maple is best planted in spring and these slow growing trees will take a while to form (one of) the impressive silhouettes they’re renowned for. These trees are most spectacular in the autumn where they boast lovely shades of red, yellow, brown and green, and should therefore be planted somewhere so as to be the focal point of the garden.
This is just a taste of the many plants and vegetables that are well suited to cold climates, and in addition to the vegetables discussed, there’s also a number that can be grown hydroponically during the winter, including a wide array of lettuce varieties. Visit www.greenshorticulture.co.uk for an idea of the costs involved in setting up a hydroponic garden at home, and in addition to a year round supply of fresh vegetables, you’ll also find you benefit from a more nutritious diet.
About the Author: Established in 2003, Green's Horticulture is a premier provider of hydroponics equipment in the UK. To know more about these products, you may turn to www.greenshorticulture.co.uk.
