Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District
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  • Home
    • About >
      • Staff & Supervisors
      • Strategic Plan
      • COVID-19
    • Contractor List
    • Donate/Affiliate Membership
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Newsletter >
      • News articles
    • Community Hero- Emergency
  • Programs & Services
    • Ag Stewardship/INfield Advantage
    • Cost Share Programs
    • Invasive Species >
      • Hamilton County Invasives Partnership (HIP) >
        • HIP Past Mtg. Notes
      • Weed Wrangles & Volunteer Opportunities
    • Map Resources
    • Native Plant Sale
    • Native Tree Sale
    • Rain Barrel Info & Sales >
      • Noblesville Rain Barrel Program
    • Soil Maps & Surveys
    • Soil Testing
    • Outdoor Lab Grants
    • Photo Contest
    • Well Capping
    • Well Water Testing
    • Report a Polluter
    • Tool Loan Program
    • Video Resources
    • Stony Creek Feasibility Study
  • Urban Conservation
    • Backyard Conservation
    • Urban Agriculture >
      • COVID-19 Garden Vegetable Donation Guidelines
      • Donate Your Vegetables
      • Garden Resources
    • Financial Assistance/Cost Share >
      • BYC Cost Share
      • Heartland Backyard Conservation Program & Cost Share
    • Pollinator/Native Garden Info >
      • Site prep
    • Rain Garden Info
    • Seed pack
    • Tree Info
    • Where to buy native plants
  • Rule 5 Submission
  • Events
    • Workshops & Events
    • Envirothon >
      • Past Resources
    • Rain on Main
    • Sustainability Workshop
    • Water Fair
    • Past events
  • Online Store

Cool Season Vegetables for Central Indiana

Gardeners and experienced farmers call early spring, winter, and late fall "shoulder seasons." Shoulder seasons are outside the typical growing season. Some vegetables grow well during the shoulder seasons. In fact, growing some vegetables in cooler weather has benefits. These include fewer insects, more seasonal moisture, and better taste.

Vegetables that Grow in the Cold
Not every vegetable can grow in cooler and colder temperatures. Below is a list of those that can categorized by their tolerance to cold and frost.

Semi-Hardy Vegetables (Tolerates Light Frost)
Semi-hardy vegetables will tolerate light forest. With a hard frost, these plants need protection from plastic or a cloth to continue growing.
  • Beets
  • Carrot (Spring Planting) (About growing carrots)
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Chard
  • Chinese Cabbage
  • Endive
  • Lettuce
  • Parsnip
  • Potato
  • Salsify

Hardy Vegetables (Tolerates Hard Frost)
Hardy vegetables can be started in the late summer to early fall. It is best to start them indoors and transplant once ready. Growing in a hoop house (small or large) throughout the winter will allow them to continue to grow in most scenarios.
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels
  • Cabbage
  • Collards
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Mustard
  • Onion
  • Parsley
  • Peas
  • Radish
  • Spinach
  • Turnip

Tender Vegetables (Damaged by Light Frost)
A light frost will damage tender vegetables (listed below). You can extend their life by covering them with plastic or cloth in anticipation of frost.
  • Beans
  • Cucumber
  • Sprouts
  • Eggplant
  • Muskmelon
  • Okra
  • Pepper
  • Greens
  • Pumpkin
  • Squash
  • Sweet Corn
  • Sweet Potato
  • Tomato
  • Watermelon
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soil.water@hamiltoncounty.in.gov
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1717 Pleasant St. Suite 100
Noblesville, IN 46060
Established in 1968
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