10 Best Winter Vegetables for Aquaponics Systems That Are Easy to Grow
Winter Vegetables that are Better when Grown from Transplants
Some cool-season vegetables require about 3 months to mature from seed and might not seem ideal for a winter garden.
However, if you start these in pots or transfer them as seeds onto your land when it is free of other crops that need more sunlight then they will be just fine once harvest season arrives!
In order get the most from your garden, it’s always a good idea to start with seed. Transplanting is another great way of maximising harvest space and time!
Tips for Planting a Winter Vegetable Gardens:
Finding the best winter vegetables to plant or transplant means finding the best winter vegetables to grow in your specific space. Here are some tips to help:
Choose wisely: When seeding directly, you should choose varieties that mature as quickly as possible. Count back from your first expected frost date and plan accordingly!
Plant seeds sooner: Planting a few seeds in the winter will give you an earlier harvest. The ground is warmer and more hospitable for planting this time of year, so give them some extra room to grow!
Try transplanting from elsewhere: Transplants are more versatile than seedlings because they can handle swings in temperature and water better.
If cost allows try pelletised seeds: Pelletised seeds are great for vegetables that take a long time to germinate, like carrots. The clay coating helps retain water and can reduce your need to watering them by up too 50%. However they usually have higher costs as they need to be mail delivered.
Here are our 10 favourite winter vegetables to plant this winter:
To help with choosing the right winter vegetables to grow we've got our 10 favourites listed below. The best part is that you can grow all of these within an aquaponics system, which is perfect for small space gardening, or gardening while you are renting, and they will all grow quicker in aquaponics than in soil or containers.
1. Beets
Beets are a root vegetable that can be grown from seed. They’re easy to maintain, and produce an especially good harvest when you start with the plant in early spring through summertime; but make sure not to disturb or harm any developing roots!
Late summer is a great time to resume succession planting, at 2-3 week intervals. The bulbs will keep growing until hard frost or temperatures below 0 °C (32 degrees F).
2. Bok Choy / Pak Choi
Bok choy is a great winter gardening plant. It’s called “baby” because it only grows 8 inches tall, but that doesn’t stop them from being delicious!
You can harvest the heads when they’re just right for your needs-they won’t get too small or bitter even if you don’t get around to using them all before frosty weather arrives!
3. Broccoli
Broccoli is a cool-weather crop that grows best in winter. For one thing, tender broccoli seedlings are more resilient to early spring frosts than ones grown during warmer months can be. However, without protection from frost they’ll eventually lose their leaves and die off if left unchecked - so be sure to keep an eye on them when winter gardening.
The flowers will open more slowly in cool weather giving you time to harvest and consume them before their seeds sprout! Broccoli takes several months from planting, so those who want an earlier start have a few choices: For example, “Waltham” Broccoli, with its quick-growing qualities can provide some delicious stems in winter.
4. Bush Beans
Pole beans or bush beans need a long growing season so if you want to include them in your winter gardening you need to prepare early. The vines have to grow tall, before they start setting beans – but many bush varieties will produce in as little as 45 days making them excellent candidates for winter vegetables to grow this nutritious veggie!
Get started with you winter gardening with the FREE Online Aquaponics Essentials Course.
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5. Cabbage
Winter is the perfect time to grow your own cabbage. You want winter vegetables to plant that can adapt well in both warm and cool weather which is cabbage! You also want vegetables like cabbage with plenty of water throughout all stages; this will lead them to produce heads at their best flavour!
In order to be the best winter gardener you can be, it’s important that plants have enough time for their roots and vines grow.
Cabbage needs about 90-120 days from transplanting in summer or winter before maturity so a light frost won’t harm them, and they don’t continue growing during colder months but will still retain freshness and even get a sweeter taste!
Beware of the cabbage moth! They love to eat your cabbages :-)
6. Carrots
With a little patience, you can grow your own carrots. Carrots are not the fastest growers but some varieties like ‛Thumbelina’ and Paris Market will mature in 50 days or less! An alternative for those who want quicker harvests is sowing winter-bearing types such as Long Window Boxes.
Or, you can grow your carrots in containers, for example, long window boxes are an excellent option – with at least 6 inches depth.
7. Kale
Kale is one of the easiest crop plants to grow, because it requires warm or cool soil and can be grown for its leaves without worrying about flowers blooming.
The advantage of growing kale in the winter is that magical transformation so many vegetables go through when they’re grown at cool temperatures or hit by light frost; leaves will still have a great texture and flavour after being harvested.
Start seeds for Winter harvests from mid to late summer, transplanting once more if needed before cold weather sets forth autumn’s bounty!
8. Radishes
Now is the time to plant your radishes! This cool-season crop loves a moist, well drained soil. Though they can be finicky when it comes in spring and sometimes woody texture with hot bitter taste makes them less desirable for eating raw–in winter most of these problems would go away.
Although radishes grow more slowly than globe radish and can tolerate heat, they prefer planting in mid-summer. This is because it takes them until winter to develop into winter harvest bulbs for use as turnips do! You can harvest your spring flowers early, or leave them over-winter and collect plants next spring.
9. Spinach
Spinach is the most popular leafy green in America. It only takes 30-40 days to mature and can be harvested three times before it becomes too large for your tastes, but that’s not all!
You’ll also enjoy tender leaves grown from small seeds if sowed late autumn through winter months.
10. Swiss Chard
If you’ve been harvesting your Swiss chard as cut-and-come again, then all the plants need is a little cool air and water to get back into production.
They may even survive through winter if harvested quickly before they start growing seed stalks that are tough or bitter tasting!
Get started growing veggies today with these 15 tips for starting your vegetable garden.
Check out My YouTube Channel 'Candy The Aquaponics Lady'
Aquaponics is an ecosystem, and with anything it takes time to learn how it works. So, sit back and binge watch my 'how to' playlist and the 'Water Quality Made Simple' Playlist, and learn the next steps in your aquaponics system as you create the ecosystem.
Here are the next 2 videos I recommend you watching to create your ecosystem ~ before you add any fish
How Aquaponics Works as an Ecosystem
Why Aquaponics is the best, and most sustainable form of gardening in small spaces
Learn More About Aquaponics
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Want to help out and Feed my Fish?? (They don't drink coffee)
Candy Alexander is a dedicated aquaponics enthusiast with a wealth of formal training in aquaculture. Over the past 15 years, Candy has been deeply immersed in both commercial and backyard aquaponics, honing her skills and expertise in this sustainable farming method.
Candy's passion lies in making aquaponics accessible to everyone. With a mission to simplify aquaponics, she believes that anyone can embark on this sustainable journey.
She encourages those new to aquaponics to "kick the tires" without a significant financial investment. Her guidance focuses on helping people start their aquaponics journey with small-scale systems, ensuring a low barrier to entry for newcomers.
Candy shares practical tips, step-by-step guides, and personal stories to inspire and guide readers on their aquaponics adventure. Whether you're a seasoned farmer or a curious beginner, Candy Alexander is your go-to source for simplifying aquaponics and fostering a sustainable gardening experience.
