Harvest Calendar

Winter

Kale, Collard Greens, Spinach, Chicory mix, Winter Salad Mix, Celery, Parsley & Cilantro

Cold, frosty weather makes for sweet, sweet greens!

Spring

Lettuce, Salad Mix, Kale, Swiss Chard, Spinach, Pea Shoots, Beets, Radishes, Salad Turnips, Garlic Scapes, Scallions, Cilantro & Parsley

Summer

Snap Peas, Cucumbers, Gherkins, Zucchini, Romano Beans, Eggplants, Sweet, Shishito and Hot Peppers, Tomatoes, Swiss Chard, Kale, Head Lettuce, Lettuce Mix, Fennel, Scallions, Carrots, Beets, Basil, Parsley, Cilantro & Dill

Fall

Carrots, Beets, Sweet, Shishito and Hot Peppers, Tomatoes, Garlic, Kale, Collard Greens, Swiss Chard, Lettuce, Ginger, Celery, Spinach, Leeks, Onions, Parsley & Cilantro

Winter Greens

Here at Second Frost Farm, seeding for winter harvest begins as early as July and continues through early fall, allowing the plants to size up before daylight limits growth. Through the coldest months of the year we rely on the soils thermal mass, as well as additional layers of cover, to retain heat from the sun inside the high tunnels. However, undoubtedly throughout Maine’s long winter, these greens freeze and thaw many times. Surviving this cold weather requires starches to turn to sugars, lowering the plants freezing temperature and sweetening their leaves. While harvesting fresh greens when the rest of the farm is blanketed with snow is a huge treat, we find eating them to be an even bigger treat!

There are of course many challenges to producing fresh food year-round in Maine. While each winter is unique and slightly unpredictable, one thing we can rely on is plant growth slowing to almost nothing during the darkest days of the year, and beginning again in early February when daylight peaks over 10 hours

We are always learning new tricks and experimenting with our MOFGA Certified Organic growing practices as we strive to provide fresh produce year-round.

Look for Second Frost Farm’s MOFGA Certified Organic winter greens at: