6 Indestructible LEAFY GREENS That LOVE Cold Weather!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you enjoyed this video, please *LIKE* it and share it to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 🙂TIMESTAMPS here: 0:00 Winter Gardening Tips 1:25 Leafy Green #1 3:54 Leafy Green #2 5:15 Leafy Green #3 7:46 Leafy Green #4 10:21 Leafy Green #5 13:15 Leafy Green #6 16:50 Adventures With Dale

[@darrylgrimaldi5101]

Oklahoma here and I 💯 agree with regards to bake choy. I've grown it in the teens under cover and it has done great!

[@frankulino98]

Started growing Bok Choy last year here in SW Florida, and even with our heavy pest pressure they do very well. They always look beautiful and taste amazing in stir fry and soups! Love it so much I've devoted an entire raised container to bok choy.

[@callikohl5698]

Oh, thank you so much for mentioning BokChoy. I grew some last year, along with Baby BokChoy. It is so good added to salads. I need to get some seeds.

[@jenniferdavis3776]

Do you grow regular bok choy or Chinese bok Choy that's small? I love them!

[@gothic_oma]

I don't care for bok choy, but I love to garden! They are so pretty that I'm thinking of growing them and trying to give them away?

[@joshmegow6424]

I'm realizing the value of covering my leafy greens here in the PNW. Even though we haven't had too many freezes, the constant cool moist conditions cause rust and rot.

[@emkn1479]

Defintely only one type of kale in my supermarket, wish there were more, but I remember when it was just a garnish on buffet trays. Same with parsley. Wouldn’t have dreamed of eating them then, but now I love both!

[@honeybadgers1996]

Your leafy greens are just amazing despite the fact you had fairly cold nights. I’ve always wish my dogs could talk and Mr. Dale is doing it. He demands his walk. lol. Thanks for sharing the video.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

They do well as long as you're diligent with preventing frost formation. Next week's once in a decade cold and snow is going to be their real test, though. Dale is a communicator. We make him communicate for his food and walks. We ask him, "What do you want?" and he responds with the buttons. He's gotten good at it.

[@kentuckycowboy7660]

Rainbow Swiss Chard… another one killing it . A mix of a lettuce / celery a partial shade that loves it

[@tommywilt9721]

Happy little plants 😀 Love your sweatshirt 🇺🇲

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks! It was a present.

[@lisatutler-jones5992]

"Liked" before I even listened. You are reading my mind!! Thank you🙏🏾

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You’re welcome!

[@cindyeasterling6917]

I grew bok choy and tatsoi. The tatsoi is a beautiful dark green and is gorgeous. I highly recommend it.

[@daniellebailey6802]

The millennial gardener: "Bugs don't bother my mustard greens." Bugs in my garden: "hold by beer". 😂

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Maybe some varieties are more resistant than others. Mine is Southern Giant (linked in description).

[@lisalindberg4836]

😂😂

[@daniellebailey6802]

@@TheMillennialGardener I use the violet ones from baker Creek. They are delicious though! I can eat them raw, so maybe less bitterness makes them more enticing.

[@vickiwestlund7777]

😂😂

[@emkn1479]

100%

[@veelash3505]

Your bok choy are beautiful 🤩

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I can’t wait to harvest some!

[@christinej2358]

I thought all your greens looked great! I’ve never done a winter garden, just never thought I could here in NC piedmont. I might have to consider growing a winter garden next year. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience in gardening.

[@PR.Hobbit]

You got the cold but not snow ... we have had 3 feet of snow and the humidity is high here in the wetlands of the Columbia valley. Spring is coming ... it always does :)

[@angelacalloway8125]

Hello,thanks for sharing. 😊

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@1man2many]

You are always such an inspiration! I'm happy to report the sun came out this afternoon, and I was able to plant my snow peas and two varieties of golden beets (to see which is better). I put all these seeds to soak at lunchtime yesterday and the peas were already peeking out of their seed shell! I thought they were going to be ruined, but I got them in. Yay! My radishes sprouted this morning BUT the birds were picking them out of the seed bed! Put some bird blocker over your seeds, all!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Excellent! If you are in a cool zone, be very prepared for the cold coming next week. The coldest air in years is coming east of the Rockies.

[@callikohl5698]

Thanks so much, and your Bok Choy looks amazing.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I appreciate it!

[@siohbon2]

We’re up in Brooklyn, New York and all the time I was a kid and up until I got way too old the garden, my family kept a kitchen garden and we always had kale, mustard greens and collard greens. My mother would mix them when cooking the “greens”. I have never thought about growing bok choy.

[@jjcousin1]

I particularly love growing TATSOI, MIZUNA and KOMATSUNA Asian greens. I think you would love them too.

[@Beluga2-v6q]

I approve your French😉 Greeting from France😘

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I was working on it all day 😏

[@mz.jenbrooks1262]

I love mustard greens and I have grown so many this year. I love them cooked with smoked turkey or bacon

[@TheMillennialGardener]

YES! That is the most excellent flavor combination. They are also fantastic in pasta e fagioli or a basic chicken soup.

[@jaytoney3007]

Heren in north central Alabama (zone 7a), it has been a typical winter thus far, and warmer than last year. Last year we had daytime highs of 20F for multiple days in a row, and it got a lot colder at night. I just harvested the last of my 2024 garden, carrots and parsnips. I have Danvers carrots that would make Buggs Bunny drool, and they are going to be sweet after below freezing temperatures, and being covered with snow and ice. I have three Swiss Chard plants left in my garden, so officially, it is finished. They will be going to the chickens for treats soon. It is too cold to plant leafy greens in my area, even with row covers. It won’t be long before planting time though, around February 20th. I have seeds started for Calabrese Broccoli, Self-Blanching Cauliflower, All Seasons Cabbage, Red Burgundy Onions, and Yellow Potato Onions. On my heat mat germinating are Jolene tomatoes, Hungarian Yellow Wax peppers, Sweet Banana peppers, Big Red bell peppers, Lunchbox Orange peppers, Lipstick peppers, Corona di Toro peppers, and two types of basil. I’ll finish round two of seed starting with oregano, marjoram, dill, and cilantro. Round three will be leafy greens and flowers, Tokyo Bekana Mustard, Ford Hook Swiss Chard, Pak Choi, Romaine Lettuce, mixed leaf lettuces, marigolds, Amaranth, Alyssum, cosmos, zinnias, butterfly weed, butterfly flower, and bachelor button. On or near February 20th, I’ll start transplanting seed starts into the ground, and do a lot of direct seed sowing, root crops and peas. I am going to have a very big garden with 16 raised beds, three GreenStalks, a 10ft x 20 ft herb garden, chickens, a small orchard with 11 fruit trees, nine grow bags, and a few odd pots. Every bit of planting space will have something growing in it.

[@victorialg1270]

So good to know for the early spring.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I would plant them now. Transplants started today won’t be ready to go out til early March, and by then, they run into issues with heat as they try to mature in May in many climates. It is better to be early with these since they tolerate a hard freeze.

[@rosemarybushea3447]

Bok choy is so good, and full of vitamins and minerals, easy to grow. So cold here in Western NC, though today the sun is brilliant and the sky Carolina blue.

[@rookiegardeningjournal]

I love leafy greens! You can also enjoy multiple harvest throughout the season, yum! Still trying to grow lettuce and spinach, and the struggle is real lol😅😂. Newbies were you at? ❤🌱

[@kentuckycowboy7660]

My Mustard Lettuce is kicking too. Add it to anything. Made a few rolls for my lunch dice up some and add to a sandwich add to a breakfast etc

[@lisalindberg4836]

Love the fact you can grow lettuce! Do you start them outside?

[@bradsabo3919]

I love how these people say global warming😂😅😂😅😂... We have been freezing our Ass's off up here in NJ! Brother your kicking butt down there!! Keep up the great work! I've been planning out my garden, plus recently my seeds just came in from Rare Seeds. I'm looking forward to planting my bokchoy this March!!

[@cynthiamartinez5884]

My best spinach harvests have been after they survive the winter looking dead after some days in the teens and single digits then in February and March they grow so fast and abundantly. They bolt by April when it's time to plant tomatoes.

[@goldriderlc]

Thanks

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You’re welcome!

[@jimd1617]

lets get it 🌱

[@wandakelly2173]

The only thing that bothers my bok choi is the birds. They love to pull the edges! They also love my lettuce.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I would recommend bird netting or agricultural fabric. The ag fabric works wonders.

[@lynnensley7879]

Hope you're ready for snow.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Snow is easy. Snow insulates. The problem is cold and if we get ice. That is the real issue.

[@lynnensley7879]

I was thinking of you more than your plants. Snow is a great insulator

[@stephenremo9200]

I have 5 degrees coming with nothing above freezing for 3 days in zone 7 nj probably going to lose everything.. Tomorrow I'm protecting my figs with leaves

[@DaleKuntz-e8i]

Very good info. Are u still using your drip irrigation thru the winter? Dale

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I do not have a need to run drip irrigation in winter. The evaporation rate is too low. Watering in winter is rarely needed here, because the rainfall rate is usually enough. I only have to water seedlings to get them established.

[@lisatutler-jones5992]

I'm in 8a South Carolina- Can I start these tomorrow if I cover them?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You would start these as transplants indoors, so they won't be ready to go outside until March. By then, it is plenty warm in SC to plant any of these things.

[@laddieokelley6095]

I'm partial to turnips and turnip greens. Weather has been mixed: one night 15-16 degrees; several nights in lower 20s; 8 inches of snow (but day temps in 40s and 50s). I didn't cover them; old leaves wilted down but new leaves standing up. I just picked and thinly sliced a turnip for supper tonight; so crisp and sweet eaten raw. Wondering if I could pickle them, like Koreans do with daikon radish.

[@earthisflat]

I had a ton of leafy greens growing in a 3ft by 3ft raised, I had kale, peas, chard and a good nice looking patch of spring mix lettuce but in one night mice ate absolutely everything 😞 I guess I have to build a garden cage out of hardware cloth since I'm growing in basically open desert unless there is some other way of battling the mice besides killing them

[@gothic_oma]

Oh I feel your pain! I live just outside the desert in a "mediterranean chaparral" climate, and I had to build a "cage" out of hardware cloth for every bed. The kangaroo rats, cottontail rabbits, and birds ALL want a peice! Lol. 😂

[@brianjones1679]

I'm not into Mustard greens although I grow them as a cover crop to combat root knot nematodes.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you cook them in soup, they become very mild. They are insanely good as a green in pasta e fagioli!

[@brianjones1679]

@@TheMillennialGardener I will defiantly try that. I've been making zuppa toscana copycat recipe with my kale. BTW I'm right up the road from you in Fayetteville.

[@BustinRootz]

I don't have frost and freeze.I have sub zero temperatures in arctic blast. Lol

[@TheMillennialGardener]

We will have close to that next week. Everything will be fine under covers, though.

[@genejaytre]

Amongst black and brown people “greens” aka mustard, collards and turnip greens are very well known in the northeast.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I lived in Philadelphia proper for 5 years, and that is the only time I have ever encountered them. I really love them, especially with a ham shank in there. I didn’t get to grow them til I moved to NC, since I had zero land up there in the city.

[@Patricia-v7z]

Thanks-I needed this information. Did you plant these greens (with exception of spinach) as seedlings then transplant in ground/raised bed in the fall?

[@saucywench9122]

So dang cold for so long. Chatham county here. I'm so done with being cold. Parsley still going strong with no protection.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It is going to get worse next week. This winter actually KILLED all my parsley plants. That has never happened in 6 years. The last 5 winters, they didn't even take damage. It just refuses to warm up during the day to help them recover.

[@odomshomestead]

How does the bok choy taste never tried it before looks delicious

[@veelash3505]

The stems are crunchy and juicy, not hard like kale or collard greens.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It is a much softer and milder green. I have only had it in Asian soups. It is very good. It is almost buttery.

[@odomshomestead]

@TheMillennialGardener thank you

[@gothic_oma]

I am curious as well. What does it taste like raw?

[@sislertx]

What are cold hardy spi ach varieties..i had no idea...

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Every seed exchange online will have a variety to choose from. You'll want to read the descriptions and find varieties notable for cold. I linked to an assortment in the video description.

[@wop3asem97]

Haha, I almost gave up this winter, waiting for next weeks frost in Raleigh, then will start again

[@TheMillennialGardener]

There's no reason to give up. This has been the worst winter I've ever seen here, worse than the last 5 combined, and everything is still doing great. A little frost protection is all we need.

[@wop3asem97]

@TheMillennialGardener thanks much, getting back and better this season with all the great knowledge i have learned from here

[@johnwood738]

We’re looking at nights and minus numbers I would love to see even a daytime high of 20

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Next week is going to be especially terrible. We are looking at a solid 48 hour period below freezing and 2-3 nights deep into the teens. I just ordered a 20 ft tarp for my date palm. It's going to be rough.

[@WelysonCastro-o3h]

Here I am, living in a country only have hot and hotter seasons, watching tips on wich crops tolerate the cold more hahaha ❤ regardless love you content bro 💪

[@NihilusTheGreat]

How are your citrus trees holding up in the cold this week? Also, how are your paw paw trees? I don't think I saw an update on them this year.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Citrus is all fine. One of my pawpaw grafts randomly died last year, so I have nothing to show since they require cross-pollination.

[@NihilusTheGreat]

@TheMillennialGardener good news on the citrus, mine seem to be doing well too, even though they all were planted last spring. If you want another paw paw variety, my KSU Atwood has been a very fast grower. Probably 2-3ft on its first summer. I also have a KSU Atwood that's allegedly the most vigorous grower that I planted this past fall. Those might be able to catch up to your seedlings that you originally planted.

[@carleshiagillespie5059]

How often do you water in the winter?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Almost never, except when I transplant or start new seed to get the tiny roots established. Once they grab hold, I don't need to water anymore, because our rainfall rate is adequate.

[@carleshiagillespie5059]

@ thank you! I’ll be starting my seeds this weekend.

[@kentuckycowboy7660]

Garden Shade cloth with Christmas lights makes everything grow on another level. Why frost fry your celery/ parsley/ oregano etc. just hoop it and watch everything explode

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I do not recommend using shade cloth for frost protection. It is mesh, so frost can penetrate, and it does not hold onto any warmth. Agricultural fabric is much better. It provides better frost protection, holds in significant warmth, but it still breathes.

[@mediumfast]

Can you direct sow these, or should they be started indoors? I've had bad luck hardening off seedlings and the extreme temperature difference between outside and in at this time of year seems like it might be especially tricky.

[@veelash3505]

😂 thanks for the pronunciation. I still can't even 😅

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I studied it all day.

[@BeBe8267]

How well do you think they would do in -03°? Which is where we've been several nights this month.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

F or C? Celsius is no issue. Fahrenheit will require cover for well established crops. Some might make it if they are mature and hardened off, but I would expect losses or damage unless you do things like put C9 incandescent outdoor lights under the covers like I do with my citrus.

[@BeBe8267]

@@TheMillennialGardener Fahrenheit. I'm putting up a greenhouse to alleviate the cold temps but that's a spring project. I was hoping to be able to get some plants out early but we're in for blistering negative temps again next week. :( I'm in Springfield, Illinois.

[@CARODSLINK]

Gd stuff :))

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I appreciate it!

[@timhansen475]

Why is this in Germain?

[@dianapayton6418]

If you really want a kick, try wasabina mustard or wasabi arugula.

[@widehead1234]

Do those laundry baskets work as frost protection??? Awesome video btw.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

They work fantastic! And since they vent and let light in, they can stay on indefinitely. They haven't moved for 2 weeks, except to film this.

[@lisalindberg4836]

Love the fact you can grow lettuce! Do you start them outside?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

My red leaf lettuces, yes, because I sow them in tight rows. For lettuce heads, I start them as transplants to get proper spacing.