Which Vegetables Survive a Hard Freeze
Kale, collards, spinach, Brussels sprouts, leeks, parsnips, and carrots ride out a hard freeze below 28F. Typical kill temperatures from Minnesota, Purdue...
Published by ThriveThyme
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Which Vegetables Survive a Hard Freeze
A light frost is about 28 to 32F. A hard freeze is below about 28F for several hours. Tender crops die at the first. Hardy crops keep going through the second, and many taste sweeter after it.
Hardy Crops and Typical Limits
| Crop | Typical limit without cover | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kale | About 15 to 20F | Hardiest leafy green. Sweeter after frost |
| Collards | About 20F | Some varieties lower. Less cold tolerant than kale |
| Spinach | About 20F | Overwinters under cover or mulch in many zones |
| Brussels sprouts | About 20F | Sprouts sweeten after frost |
| Cabbage | About 20F | Firm heads handle more cold than loose ones |
| Turnips | About 15 to 20F for greens | Pull roots before the ground freezes solid |
| Leeks | Low 20s F or lower | Mound soil or mulch and dig as needed |
| Carrots, parsnips | Tops hurt in the high 20s F | Roots keep in the ground under thick mulch |
Sources: University of Minnesota Extension and Purdue Extension cold hardiness of vegetables; Ohio State University Extension, frost tolerance of fall vegetables; University of Maryland Extension, growing leafy greens (kale and turnip greens tolerate 15 to 20F).
Limits are for established plants that hardened off through cool fall weather. A sudden drop after a warm spell does more damage. Variety matters too: savoyed spinach and Russian kales often go lower than these numbers.
Crops That Only Take a Light Frost
Lettuce, chard, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, bok choy, and cilantro usually handle 28 to 32F but are damaged by a hard freeze. Cut broccoli and cauliflower heads before temperatures fall into the mid 20s F.
Getting More Out of Hardy Crops
- Cover with medium or heavy row cover or a low tunnel for 4 to 8 more degrees. See how to use row cover and low tunnels.
- Mulch root crops with 6 inches or more of straw or shredded leaves before the ground freezes.
- Harvest leaves after they thaw. Frozen leaves bruise if you pick them stiff.
Why the flavor improves: vegetables that taste better after frost. For your zone's countdown and every crop's kill temperature, use the Frost Harvest Desk.
Seeds for Next Fall
Kale and spinach are the two most reliable crops to carry through a hard freeze. Seeds Now sells kale seed and spinach seed. Plan fall sowings with when to plant fall kale and when to plant fall spinach.