Arizona Winter Vegetables

5 images: parsnips, multicolor cauliflower varieties, asparagus growing in the ground, kohlrabi and green and purple kale

Winter Vegetables

At SummerWinds Nursery, We Offer A Wide Variety of Vegetables & Herbs!

When growing vegetables in your garden, it’s important to select the right time of year to plant. While some vegetables will thrive in the spring or summer, different types of vegetables prefer the cool temperatures of fall.  In general, most vegetables with leaves, stems or roots are considered cool season fall vegetables or winter vegetables.  In the Greater Phoenix Metro Area, most cool season vegetables are planted in late October through February or early March and are mature and ready for harvest in late fall or early winter.

Fall vegetables and winter vegetables do best if they are mature either before the summer heat hits or after the temperatures fall.  If these vegetables are harvested in the summer heat, they may develop a bitter taste. Planting in early spring will allow you to harvest before the summer heat arrives, while planting in late summer will provide you with a mature winter garden. For more details on the ideal planting time for different types of vegetables, download the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension’s Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County.

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Below is a list of cool season vegetables that you can find seasonally at SummerWinds Nursery.

Cool Season Vegetables – A to Z

2 images: Carrots and Beets, and Celery - all on wooden tables

  • Arugula – (Eruca sativa)
  • Artichokes, Globe – (Cynara scolymus) & Jerusalem – (Helianthus tuberosus)
  • Asparagus – (Asparagus officinalis)
  • Beans, Snap/Bush/Green* – (Phaseolus vulgaris)
  • Beets – (Beta vulgaris)
  • Bok Choy/Pak Choi – (Brassica rapa)  
  • Broccoli – (Brassica oleracea)
  • Brussels Sprouts – (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera)
  • Cabbage – (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)2 images: a variety of lettuces growing in the garden and fresh picked Brussels sprouts on the stalks
  • Carrots – (Daucus carota)
  • Cauliflower – (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)
  • Celery – (Apium graveolens)
  • Chard – (Beta vularis subsp. cicla)
  • Collard Greens – (Brassica oleracea)
  • Cucumbers* – (Cucumis sativus)
  • Endive – (Cichorium endivia)
  • Fennel – (Foeniculum vulgare)
  • Kale – (Brassica oleracea)
  • Kohlrabi – (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes)
  • Leeks – (Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum)2 images: Turnips on a wooden table, and 2 varieties of radishes in a box and sliced in a bowl by a place setting
  • Lettuce, Head & Leaf – (Lactuca sativa)
  • Mustard Greens – (Brassica juncea)
  • Onions, Bulb – (Allium cepa)
  • Onions, Green/Scallions – (Allium wakegi)
  • Parsnips – (Pastinaca sativa)
  • Peas – (Pisum sativum)
  • Potatoes – (Solanum tuberosum)
  • Radishes – (Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus)
  • Rutabagas – (Brassica napobrassica)
  • Spinach – (Spinacia oleracea)
  • Turnips – (Brassica rapa)

* - While often thought of as vegetables, these edible plants are technically fruits!

Cool Season Companion Plants

2 images: a boarge flower closeup and orange nasturtium flowers

  • Borage – (Borago officinalis)
  • Cilantro – (Coriandrum sativum)
  • Dill – (Anethum graveolens)
  • Lovage – (Levisticum officinale)
  • Mint – (Mentha)
  • Nasturtiums – (Tropaeolum)
  • Parsley – (Petroselinum crispum)
  • Sages & Salvias– (Salvia officinalis)
  • Tarragon – (Artemisia dracunculus)

To get the most out of your winter garden harvest, visit your local SummerWinds Nursery and let our Trusted Garden Advisors help you select the best vegetables and the right time to plant. Available while supplies last.

At SummerWinds, We Guarantee Success!