Hardy Greens for All Seasons

Collard greens, kale, mustard greens and Swiss chard are real workhorses in the garden.

- Susan M. Brackney

They also happen to pack a nutritional wallop and can be stored long-term to help stretch your grocery budget. No matter what your local climate is like, odds are you can coax out a crop of one or more of these hardy greens, because they're generally tolerant of heat, cold and drought conditions. They're also easy to grow indoors.

Although these plants are usually grown as annuals, they are each technically biennials. That means they don't produce seeds (and subsequently die back) until their second year of life. As a result, it's possible to keep the same plants growing in your garden over multiple seasons.

While collards, kale and mustard greens are all in the cabbage family, Swiss chard is more closely related to spinach and beets. Despite that difference, each of these hardy greens has a lot in common. Most importantly, in the fall and winter garden, these veggies can withstand some harsh conditions. In many cases, in fact, a light frost makes their leaves taste sweeter or milder. During the cooler months, you're also much less likely to have to contend with insect pests like cabbage moth larvae, aphids and harlequin beetles.

Who’s Who

Here's a quick rundown on each of these great greens and some specific varieties to try:

COLLARD GREENS: Collards produce large, thick leaves that can be somewhat bitter. (Younger leaves are more tender and mild-tasting.) Collards contain calcium, potassium, folic acid and vitamin C among other nutrients.

While collard greens are a staple in the South, they also can be grown in northern gardens. Depending on the variety you try, expect them to reach anywhere from 1 to 4 feet tall with a 12-to-18-inch spread. Some types to look for include the hybrids Top Bunch 2.0 and Flash and heirlooms such as Vates.