Growing leafy greens in central Florida during the winter offers a fantastic opportunity to cultivate fresh, nutrient packed vegetables. Cool season gardening focuses on crops that thrive in our mild winters. Most leafy greens grow from September to March, depending on temperatures. Here’s a guide to help you grow and enjoy your cool-season greens.
1. Selecting the Right Leafy Greens
There are quite a few leafy greens that grow in the cool season. When selecting what type of greens to grow, consider what you enjoy eating, how you can offset grocery bills, or just try something new! If you’re new to gardening or need a refresher, here are some choices:
• Lettuce: Loose-leaf varieties include the Simpson types, Red Sails, Royal Oak, Oak Leaf, and Salad Bowl. Romaine varieties include Parris Island Cos and Outredgeous. Butterhead types include Ermosa, Bibb, Tom Thumb, and Buttercrunch. The loose-leaf types are a great place to start if you are new to growing lettuce.
• Kale: Varieties like Tuscan and Curled are popular. Look for Winterbor and Redbor varieties as well. Harvest outer leaves first. You can eat the ornamental varieties but they are often bitter.
• Collards: Collards can be grown in both warm and cool season gardens in central Florida. Select varieties such as Georgia, Georgia Southern, Top Bunch, and Vates. Harvest outer (lower) leaves first. Collards can be started from seed and are known for their resilience and extended harvesting window.
• Swiss Chard: Just like collards, Swiss chard can be started from seed and has an extended harvesting window. Select from Bright Lights, Bright Yellow, Fordhook Giant, Lucullus, and Red Ruby. Harvest outer leaves first.
• Spinach: Spinach, particularly varieties suited for warmer climates, does well here in cooler months. Varieties such as Melody 3, Bloomsdale Longstanding, Tyee, and Space should be selected. You can either harvest the entire bunch or just the outer leaves if you would like a continual harvest.
• Mustard Greens: Mustard greens add a peppery flavor to dishes. Grow Southern Giant Curled, Florida Broad Leaf, Tendergreen, Giant Red, Green Wave, or Mizuna varieties. Harvest outer leaves first.
• Cabbage: Cabbage varieties for Florida include Rio Verde, Flat Dutch, Round Dutch, Wakefield types, Copenhagen Market, Savoy and Red Acre. Cabbage is high in vitamins, particularly C.
• Turnip Greens: If growing for the tops (greens), select Seven Top and Sogoin varieties. Turnip greens will lend a spicy flavor to dishes like mustard greens.
Start these vegetables from seed or purchasing transplants to ensure a successful season. Check out the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide for more tips on seasonal vegetable gardening.
2. Growing and Caring for Winter Greens
• Location and Sunlight: Leafy greens need ample sunlight to thrive. Place them in an area with full sun exposure for at least 6 hours a day. Plant in the ground, raised bed, or containers.
• Soil Preparation: A well-drained, nutrient-rich soil is essential. Enrich it with compost or a balanced fertilizer to support growth.
• Starting from Seed or Transplant: Leafy greens can be started from seed or from transplants. Sow lettuce seeds shallow as they need light to germinate.
• Watering Needs: Keep the soil moist but not soggy, as greens prefer regular watering. Watering early in the day reduces disease risks and keeps plants hydrated through warmer afternoons.
• Pest Management: Regularly inspect plants for pests. If management solutions are needed, contact your local Plant Clinic for the best options.
3. Benefits of Crop Rotation
To maintain soil and plant health, crop rotation is essential. This practice prevents the buildup of soil-borne diseases and pests. For example, if you grew leafy greens or other Brassica (the family of vegetables that include greens) in a particular area last season, plant a vegetable from a different plant family there this season.
4. Harvesting and Using Your Bounty in the Kitchen
Harvest individual leaves as needed rather than removing the whole plant. This method encourages continuous growth. Research has shown that eating greens has been associated with brain health by aiding in preserving memory and thinking skills and slowing cognitive decline. Dark greens are rich in vitamins A, C, K, and folate and have heart-healthy potassium and fiber. After harvesting, try these delicious, nutritious recipes to make the most of your winter greens.
Kale is a nutrition-powerhouse and can be delicious in salads, soups, smoothies, or sautéed with scrambled eggs. The key to using kale in salads is to give the leaves a massage first! Grab the leaves by the handful and squeeze them like you would a stress ball. This breaks down some of the fibers that make the leaves so tough. Have you tried wkale chips yet? Cut into pieces, drizzle with a little olive oil, add a dash of salt or your favorite no-salt seasoning, and bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 min. They are especially terrific for that person in the house not yet sold on kale or collards! You can even crumble them after roasting and sprinkle on lasagna, spaghetti, or popcorn.
And if you’d like another way to enjoy your greens, how about lettuce, kale, or collard wraps? Just spread some avocado or hummus on the leaf, then add your favorite toppings—such as shredded carrots, purple cabbage, radishes, bell peppers, a slice of turkey, beans, a little cheese. You could even use these wraps instead of tortillas for your next taco; your brain and heart will love it! For easier rolling, try softening the leaf by massaging a small amount of olive oil onto the leaf with your finger. If you use your pointer finger, you won’t get a ‘green thumb’!
With these tips, you’re ready to enjoy a productive and rewarding winter garden. By following UF/IFAS guidelines and experimenting with creative ways to use your harvest, you’ll keep your kitchen stocked with fresh, flavorful greens all season long. Happy gardening!
For more information on seasonal vegetable gardening and preparing your harvest, contact UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at (863) 519-1041 or visit us online at sfyl.ifas.ufl. edu/polk. The Plant Clinic is open Monday-Friday, 9 am-4 pm to answer your gardening and landscaping questions. While we are not open to walk-in visits at this time, give us a call, or email us at polkmg@ifas.ufl.edu. If you need more fun ideas for using your produce or finding a new way to enjoy it, feel free to email andreanikolai@ufl.edu. If you are not in Polk County, contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Clinic.
The Florida Master Gardener Program is a volunteer-driven program that benefits UF/IFAS Extension and the citizens of Florida. The program extends the vision of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, all the while protecting and sustaining natural resources and environmental systems, enhancing the development of human resources, and improving the quality of human life through the development of knowledge in agricultural, human and natural resources and making that knowledge accessible. An Equal Opportunity Institution.
