← All Zone Guides
What to Plant in Zone 2
Very cold winters with 10-12 weeks of growing season. Northern Minnesota, Montana, parts of Alaska.
Min Winter Temp
-50°F to -40°F
Growing Season
11 weeks
Vegetables You Can Grow
18
Zone 2 Growing Tips
- •Wall o' Water or cloches can let you transplant tomatoes 2-3 weeks early.
- •Root vegetables (carrots, beets, turnips) store well and can handle light frost in fall.
- •Garlic planted in fall overwinters well and produces larger bulbs than spring planting.
- •Choose short-season varieties: look for 'days to harvest' under 70 on seed packets.
Vegetables for Zone 2
🥬 Leafy Greens
| Vegetable | Days to Harvest | Spacing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥬 Lettuce | 30-60 | 6" apart | Succession plant every 2 weeks |
| 🥬 Spinach | 37-45 | 4" apart | Prefers cool weather, bolts in heat |
| 🥬 Swiss Chard | 50-60 | 12" apart | Cut-and-come-again harvest |
🥦 Brassicas
| Vegetable | Days to Harvest | Spacing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥬 Kale | 55-75 | 18" apart | Frost improves flavor |
| 🥦 Broccoli | 60-90 | 18" apart | Harvest side shoots after main head |
| 🥬 Cabbage | 70-100 | 18" apart | Start indoors for spring crop |
| 🥦 Cauliflower | 55-80 | 18" apart | Blanch heads by tying leaves |
| 🥬 Brussels Sprouts | 90-120 | 24" apart | Frost sweetens the sprouts |
🥕 Root Vegetables
| Vegetable | Days to Harvest | Spacing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🟣 Beet | 50-65 | 4" apart | Soak seeds 24hr before planting |
| 🔴 Radish | 22-30 | 2" apart | Fastest vegetable to harvest |
| 🟣 Turnip | 40-60 | 4" apart | Great fall crop |
| 🥕 Parsnip | 100-130 | 4" apart | Slow to germinate, be patient |
🫘 Legumes
| Vegetable | Days to Harvest | Spacing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🫘 Green Bean (Bush) | 50-60 | 4" apart | Don't soak seeds before planting |
| 🫘 Green Bean (Pole) | 60-70 | 6" apart | Provide trellis or poles |
| 🟢 Pea | 55-70 | 3" apart | Likes cool weather, inoculate seeds |
🌿 Herbs
| Vegetable | Days to Harvest | Spacing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌿 Cilantro | 45-70 | 4" apart | Bolts in heat, succession plant |
| 🌿 Dill | 40-60 | 6" apart | Self-seeds freely |
| 🌿 Parsley | 70-90 | 8" apart | Slow to germinate (2-3 weeks) |
Plan Your Zone 2 Garden
Never Miss Planting Season
Get seasonal reminders straight to your inbox — we'll tell you when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Zone 2 supports 18 common vegetables. Focus on varieties with shorter days to maturity, including Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Swiss Chard, Broccoli, and more. See the full list above.