The year is coming to an end, but the cold weather is here to stay. While many may not be excited about that idea, there’s plenty of good that comes from the winter season! An amazing assortment of hardy vegetables can keep you healthy even through the coldest months. Many of these vegetables taste sweeter in the winter, making it the optimal time for harvest!
If you’re wondering how these vegetables are more resilient than others, it is quite simple. The cells of leaf and root vegetables have the ability to expand due to their tissue density making them more capable of tolerating harsh temperatures (less than 28°F). The sucrose found in these vegetables also protects their cell membranes and allows them a higher tolerance to severe weather conditions.
Take a look at a few flourishing winter vegetables to add to your meals:
Cabbage: This cruciferous vegetable thrives in cold-weather conditions down to 20°F. By planting cabbage in the spring, it allows for the plant to reach its peak harvest time for the winter. The following are benefits of cabbage:
Cabbage is juiced into our Belly Rub
Kale: Kale is one of the healthiest and most versatile greens, the three most popular being curly, black, and red kale. This resilient vegetable can even withstand snowy conditions.
Kale is one of our favorites here in the Garden, click here to explore all of our juices containing Kale
Carrots: Unlike other vegetables, carrots reach their full potential of sweetness in the winter. They convert their stored starches into sugars which deters the cells from freezing. After a frost they are often referred to as “candy carrots”.
Several of our Garden of Flavor products include carrots, click here to see the full list
Parsley: Parsley can grow through extremely cold temperatures and can survive under several inches of snow! Not only is this vegetable adaptable, but it’s full of nutritious properties.
Parsley is included in many of our green juices for its range of nutritious properties, click here to see all our juices containing parsley
Radishes: Radishes can survive in climates down to 20°F. Even if the radishes are damaged by frost, they still have the potential to grow back from their roots.
You can find radish sprouts in our Garden of Flavor juice Shoots and Sprouts
You can find Garden of Flavor juices at a Whole Foods near you! Have a Happy Holiday from Garden of Flavor!