At this point in the season I think we’ve learned what is a good cold weather, low light crop for our location, and what is not.  Despite a slow start last Fall, our high tunnel and winter harvest (yes, very Eliot Coleman) has been a huge success. We're in USDA zone 7, I suppose, with an average winter low of 0 to 10F. We’ve had nights below 10 this winter, but not many, and under the row covers inside the high tunnel it’s stayed considerably warmer. Still, even under the row covers the plants freeze, but without the wind and snow to damage them they’ve done well, thawing each morning as the tunnel warms. Some varieties have fared better than others. I was going to rate them on a scale of 1 to 10, but I’m not sure that really tells the whole story, so I’ll put them into three categories: great, good, and not worth the trouble.

Great (no freeze damage)

Spinach, Arugula, Chard/Beets, Mizuna, Cilantro, puts on new growth even in the lowest light. Kale – Toscano and Winterbor, great for harvest, but little new growth. Carrots – Napoli, great for harvest, and a fair amount of root growth. Mache – A very slow grower, and it may not be worth the trouble.

Good (very minor freeze damage)

Salad Turnips – Tokyo Market, Hakurei, Radish – Shunkyo, Crunchy Royale, Daikon – Oharu, Miyashigie, Rouge d’Hiver – Romaine Lettuce, Tokyo Bekana, Curly Endive, Komatsuna, Pak Choi

Not worth the trouble (significant freeze damage or too little growth)

Sylvesta - Green Butterhead Lettuce, Flashy Trout Back – Romaine Lettuce, Radicchio

Rouge d'Hiver

Purple Mizuna, Daikon, Turnip, Cilantro, Tokyo Bekana