Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District
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  • Home
  • About
    • About >
      • Staff & Supervisors >
        • Supervisor- Nominee Info Sheets
    • Donate/Affiliate Membership
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Newsletter >
      • News articles
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Strategic Plan
    • Contractor List
  • Programs & Services
    • Ag Stewardship/INfield Advantage >
      • Agriculture Resources
    • Drainage
    • Financial Assistance/Cost Share Programs
    • Invasive Species >
      • Invasive Trade In Program
      • Hamilton County Invasives Partnership
    • Map Resources
    • Native Plant Sale
    • Native Tree Sale
    • Rain Barrel Info & Sales >
      • Noblesville Rain Barrel Program
    • Rule 5 Submission
    • Soil Is Alive: Soil Health Trailer
    • Soil Maps & Surveys
    • Soil Testing
    • Stony Creek Feasibility Study
    • Photo Contest
    • Well Capping
    • Well Water Testing
    • Report a Polluter
    • Tool Loan Program
    • Video Resources
  • Urban Conservation
    • Backyard Conservation
    • Conservation Playhouse
    • Urban Agriculture >
      • Donate Your Vegetables
      • Garden Resources
    • Creating and Maintaining a Prairie
    • Restoring HOA Native Landscapes
    • Stormwater Landscape Maintenance Training
    • Rain Garden Info
    • Seed pack
    • Tree Info
    • Where to buy native plants & seed
  • Events
    • Workshops & Events
    • Rain on Main
    • Sustainability Workshop
    • Past events & recordings
  • 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
317.773.2181
1717 Pleasant St. Suite 100
Noblesville, IN 46060
Established in 1968
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