Close Menu
Global News HQ
    What's Hot

    Teddi Mellencamp & Edwin Arroyave Reunite for Their Daughter’s Latest Milestone | Bravo

    June 8, 2025

    The Secret to Staying Strong as You Age May be This Type of Workout

    June 8, 2025

    XRP Price Risks Plummeting Below $2 As Sellers Take Control

    June 8, 2025
    Recent Posts
    • Teddi Mellencamp & Edwin Arroyave Reunite for Their Daughter’s Latest Milestone | Bravo
    • The Secret to Staying Strong as You Age May be This Type of Workout
    • XRP Price Risks Plummeting Below $2 As Sellers Take Control
    • Diane von Furstenberg Fall 2025 Ready-to-Wear Collection
    • Why is My Lawn Mower Smoking? 
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube TikTok
    Trending
    • Teddi Mellencamp & Edwin Arroyave Reunite for Their Daughter’s Latest Milestone | Bravo
    • The Secret to Staying Strong as You Age May be This Type of Workout
    • XRP Price Risks Plummeting Below $2 As Sellers Take Control
    • Diane von Furstenberg Fall 2025 Ready-to-Wear Collection
    • Why is My Lawn Mower Smoking? 
    • I Tried Lululemon’s Latest Summer Arrivals, and You’ll Want to Run to Buy These 7 Styles
    • Four Seasons Hotel Seoul review – The Points Guy
    • The Verge’s 2025 Father’s Day gift guide
    Global News HQ
    • Technology & Gadgets
    • Travel & Tourism (Luxury)
    • Health & Wellness (Specialized)
    • Home Improvement & Remodeling
    • Luxury Goods & Services
    • Home
    • Finance & Investment
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Real Estate
    • More
      • Cryptocurrency & Blockchain
      • E-commerce & Retail
      • Business & Entrepreneurship
      • Automotive (Car Deals & Maintenance)
    Global News HQ
    Home - Home Improvement & Remodeling - 5 Bitter Greens You Should Grow in Winter For Tastier Vegetables, Gardeners Say
    Home Improvement & Remodeling

    5 Bitter Greens You Should Grow in Winter For Tastier Vegetables, Gardeners Say

    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp VKontakte Email
    5 Bitter Greens You Should Grow in Winter For Tastier Vegetables, Gardeners Say
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email



    We all know it’s important to eat your vegetables, and dark leafy bitter greens are a great addition to any diet. They are a great source of fiber, rich in vitamins K and C, provide iron, calcium, folate, and carotenoids, and act as antioxidants to help remove free radicals from the body.

    In addition to their nutritional benefits, bitter greens are easy to grow in the winter, and tastier for it; cold temperatures break down starches into simple sugars, producing a milder, sweeter taste more palatable for even the pickiest of eaters.

    Learn more about the 5 easiest bitter greens to grow in a patio container or your garden this winter.

    Meet the Expert

    James Myers, Ph.D., is a professor of vegetable breeding and genetics at Oregon State University, Corvallis.

    Justin Ballew is a fruit and vegetable research associate at Clemson University.


    Tania Ciolko / EyeEm / Getty Images

    Spinach plants (Spinacia oleracea) prefer cooler weather and will produce new tender growth if harvested regularly. In the fall, wait until the soil temperature has dropped below 70°F for good seed germination and sow in a nutrient-rich, loamy soil. You can also purchase seedlings for a quicker harvest.

    Harvesting of leaves that are between three and six inches long can begin about 37 to 45 days after planting. Start by picking the outer leaves and then harvest the newer leaves as they reach the desired size.

    “A 3-inch high raised bed with good drainage will reduce the problem of damping off in young seedlings,” says Clemson University fruit and vegetable research associate Justin Ballew.

    Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more!

    The Spruce / Debbie Wolfe 

    Kale (Brassica oleracea) is one of the most popular greens to grow in winter because there are so many varieties. You can grow kale from seed or transplants for an earlier harvest. The best soil temperature for planting kale is 60°F to 65°F and every variety will have a sweeter taste if it is harvested after the first frost.

    Decorative vs. Delicious Kale

    While kale is often grown as an ornamental plant to add color to winter gardens, choose a variety optimal for eating.

    • Starbor: green leaves, ready to harvest in 55 days.
    • Red Russian: purple leaves, ready to harvest in 50 days.
    • Scarlet: red leaves, ready to harvest in 55 days.

    The Spruce / Autumn Wood

    Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) is a cool-weather crop that forms a tight center head of the most tender leaves. While it can be grown from seed, cabbage seedling transplants will bring an earlier harvest.

    Cabbage grows best at around 60°F to 65°F but can tolerate temperatures down to 20°F. Plant spacing will affect how large the head forms so each plant should be at least 12 inches apart. Cabbage plants prefer evenly moist, well-draining soil throughout their growing time.

    Cabbage requires about 70 days to mature from the time of planting. Once the heads are firm to the touch, they are ready to be harvested.

    The Spruce / K. Dave  

    Collards (Brassica oleracea var. viridis) are considered a delicacy in the southern U.S. when at their best in the winter after the first frost. The new, tender collard leaves can be eaten raw but larger leaves must have the center stem removed and then cooked for the best flavor.

    Collard plants grow with a center stalk and the leaves should be harvested from the bottom of the plant. Pick only a few leaves from each plant so the plant will continue to grow upward producing more leaves.

    Ballew says that collard microgreens will be ready to harvest 10 to 15 days after seeding with the plant reaching full maturity in 60 to 80 days depending on the cultivar.

    lzf / iStock / Getty Images Plus

    Mustard greens (Brassica juncea) are grown for their spicy leaves and seeds. Some varieties are grown for their seeds used to flavor brown mustard. If you’re looking for bitter greens, these cultivars are exceptionally tender and flavorful:

    • ‘Carolina Broadleaf’: tender, lightly ruffled, light green leaves
    • ‘Red Giant’: large, maroon-tinged leaves
    • ‘Savannah’: a milder, hybrid mustard with smooth, rounded leaves

    Mustards reach maturity between 25 to 50 days from sowing, depending on the cultivar. Regular harvesting will help the plants continue to produce tender leaves. As warmer temperatures arrive, the plants will bolt and should be removed from the garden.

    Why Grow Bitter Greens in Winter?

    Bitter greens are a cool-season crop that should be planted outdoors in very early spring or late autumn. These plants can withstand freezing temperatures, and will not thrive in the heat and high humidity of summer.

    Even if you can keep the plants alive during the summer, they will not be as tasty as those grown in winter. Periods of cold temperatures break down the starches in the leaves into simple sugars producing a milder, sweeter taste.

    If you have enjoyed the rewards of gardening during the summer, planting bitter greens in the fall will provide nutritious, fresh produce throughout the winter.



    Source link

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Email
    Previous ArticleNIH Funding Cuts Appear to Draw on Heritage Foundation Report That Blasts ‘DEI Staff’
    Next Article Inspire Medical’s Earnings Surge in Q4 | The Motley Fool

    Related Posts

    Why is My Lawn Mower Smoking? 

    June 7, 2025

    How Designers Style Coffee Tables to Feel Finished (Without Overdoing It)

    June 7, 2025

    5 Contemporary Lighting Trends to Know in 2025

    June 7, 2025

    I’m a Target-Obsessed Shopper, and I’m Adding These 15 Dresses to My Wish List—From Casual Styles to Wedding Guest Looks

    June 7, 2025
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    ads
    Don't Miss
    Real Estate
    3 Mins Read

    Teddi Mellencamp & Edwin Arroyave Reunite for Their Daughter’s Latest Milestone | Bravo

    Co-parenting amid a divorce isn’t always easy. But Teddi Mellencamp and Edwin Arroyave appear to be handling it like pros.How…

    The Secret to Staying Strong as You Age May be This Type of Workout

    June 8, 2025

    XRP Price Risks Plummeting Below $2 As Sellers Take Control

    June 8, 2025

    Diane von Furstenberg Fall 2025 Ready-to-Wear Collection

    June 7, 2025
    Top
    Real Estate
    3 Mins Read

    Teddi Mellencamp & Edwin Arroyave Reunite for Their Daughter’s Latest Milestone | Bravo

    Co-parenting amid a divorce isn’t always easy. But Teddi Mellencamp and Edwin Arroyave appear to be handling it like pros.How…

    The Secret to Staying Strong as You Age May be This Type of Workout

    June 8, 2025

    XRP Price Risks Plummeting Below $2 As Sellers Take Control

    June 8, 2025
    Our Picks
    Real Estate
    3 Mins Read

    Teddi Mellencamp & Edwin Arroyave Reunite for Their Daughter’s Latest Milestone | Bravo

    Co-parenting amid a divorce isn’t always easy. But Teddi Mellencamp and Edwin Arroyave appear to be handling it like pros.How…

    Technology & Gadgets
    6 Mins Read

    The Secret to Staying Strong as You Age May be This Type of Workout

    Essentrics/CNET I’ve been covering wellness topics for many years, and during that time, I’ve tested…

    Pages
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Disclaimer
    • Homepage
    • Privacy Policy
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube TikTok
    • Home
    © 2025 Global News HQ .

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Go to mobile version