Winter Hoop House Harvest Schedule

If you don't yet have a hoop house (high tunnel), this winter and spring harvesting schedule should give you encouragement to get one. We are in Zone 7a, so if you are in a colder climate, add inner tunnels (we don't need them), and adjust the dates to see what you can achieve. We have 20 different crops of salad and cooking greens, turnips, radishes and scallions. We have also used some space for starts of bulbing onions, kale, spinach and collards, to transplant outdoors in early spring.

See my article Don't Be Afraid of Bare Root Transplants in Growing for Market magazine February 2015 for more about this labor- and space-saving method of growing crops that transplant easily.

Hoop House Harvest Schedule, October to May

Sorted by harvest start date

Crop	Variety	Catalog days to harvest. Baby (or transplant age) - Full-size	Sown	Transplanted	Last planting date	Harvest Start	Harvest End	Notes
Radish #1	Easter Egg, Cherry Belle, White Icicle	24-35	6-Sep			3-Oct	10-Nov	Can follow with scallions #2 11/17
Edamame #3	Seed crop, Envy	110	16-Jul			5-Oct	16-Oct	Seed crop, sow 6/22-7/23. 110-120 days to mature seed
Cowpeas #5	seed crop, Mississippi Silver, Carolina Crowder	95	23-Jul		16-Jul	13-Oct	20-Oct	Only 1 week harvest, reduced yield. Too late to clear bed for winter crops 10/31
Spinach #1	Tyee	23-40	7-Sep			28-Oct	6-Mar	Seed pre-sprouted 1 week. 51d to harvest
Brassica Salad Mix #1	various	21	2-Oct		2-Oct	29-Oct	22-Dec	Can follow with Radishes #5, 12/23
Tatsoi #1		21-45	7-Sep			30-Oct	31-Dec	Thinnings 10/8. Clear by 1/14 to follow with Spinach #5 on 1/15
Mizuna #1	Mizuna, Ruby Streaks, Golden Frills, Scarlet Frills	21-40	24-Sep	20-Oct		5-Nov	10-Feb	Green Mizuna plus ferny mustards. Mizuna, Ruby Streaks bolt before mother mustards.
Radish #2	Easter Egg, Cherry Belle, White Icicle	24-35	1-Oct			6-Nov	17-Dec	May last till 1/2. Can follow with brassica salad mix 2/1 or earlier
Beet greens	Bulls Blood	35-60	7-Sep			12-Nov	25-Apr
Chard #1	Brite Lites	28-55	15-Sep	16-Oct		15-Nov	20-Apr
Tokyo bekana		21-45	15-Sep	1-Oct		15-Nov	9-Jan	Clear by 1/14 to follow with spinach on 1/16
Lettuce #1	leaf	28-56	15-Sep	15-Oct	31-Oct	16-Nov	20-Apr	Harvest as leaves until 3/21 then cut heads until late April
Lettuce #2	leaf	28-56	24-Sep	25-Oct	31-Oct	16-Nov	20-Apr	Harvest as leaves until 3/21 then cut heads until late April
Scallions #1	Evergreen Winter Hardy White	60	7-Sep			18-Nov	30-Apr	Harvest start variable 10/30-12/11
Arugula #1		21-45	24-Oct			20-Nov	24-Feb	We are notorious for not harvesting this!
Brassica fillers #1	senposai, Tokyo bekana, Maruba santoh. (Yukina Savoy)	21	10-Oct	26-Nov	25-Jan	26-Nov	4-Mar	Transplant to fill gaps in brassica beds, until 1/25
Pak Choy	Joy Choy, Prize Choy	50	15-Sep	3-Oct		30-Nov	23-Jan	Can follow with kale 1/24
Brassica fillers #2	senposai, Tokyo bekana, Maruba santoh. (Yukina Savoy)	21	20-Oct	4-Dec	25-Jan	4-Dec	4-Mar	Transplant to fill gaps in brassica beds, until 1/25
Chard #2	Brite Lites	28-55	26-Oct			4-Dec	30-May	7d to emerge. Thinnings 1/2
Chinese cabbage	Blues	52	15-Sep	2-Oct		4-Dec	23-Jan	Can follow with Kale 1/24. Or some may stand till 2/9
Lettuce Mix #1		28	23-Oct			4-Dec	15-Mar	6d to emerge. 50d to harvest Possibly 6 cuts (12/11, 12/30, 2/2, 2/20, 3/2, 3/8).
Turnips #1 & turnip greens	Red Round, Hakurei, Oasis, White Egg	38-55	14-Oct			5-Dec	20-Feb	Thinnings from 11/29. Hakurei and Oasis are fastest, some ready 2/12
Yukina Savoy #1		21-45	15-Sep	6-Oct		5-Dec	31-Jan	Thinnings 10/26
Kale	Red Russian	28-60	24-Sep	22-Oct		8-Dec	3-Apr	Bolts before White Russian
Kale	White Russian	28-60	24-Sep	22-Oct		8-Dec	26-Apr
Radish #3	Easter Egg, White Icicle	24-35	30-Oct			8-Dec	16-Feb
Spinach #2	Tyee	23-40	24-Oct			8-Dec	7-May	Emerge in 6d. 45d to harvest.
Senposai		21-40	24-Sep	24-Oct		13-Dec	10-Mar	Some bolting 2/8 omwards
Lettuce Filler #1	Good: Red Tinged Winter, Salad Bowl, Hyper Red Wave, Winter Wonderland, Osborne Multileafs	28	23-Oct	1-Jan		1-Jan	25-Jan	Leaf varieties to fill gaps in lettuce beds from 1 Jan
Spinach #3 (filler)	Tyee	23-40	9-Nov	1-Jan		1-Jan	7-May	Transplant to fill gaps in spinach beds from 1/1. Thinnings 2/3. 86d to harvest.
Lettuce Filler #2	Good: Red Tinged Winter, Salad Bowl, Hyper Red Wave, Winter Wonderland, Osborne Multileafs	28	9-Nov			7-Jan	25-Jan	Leaf varieties to fill gaps in lettuce beds
Yukina Savoy #2		21-45	24-Sep	24-Oct		8-Jan	2-Mar	May stand 2 weeks later.
Radish #4	Easter Egg, White Icicle	24-35	27-Nov			13-Jan	25-Feb	Harvest start date variable 1/13-2/18
Spinach #4 (filler)	Tyee	23-40	27-Dec			15-Jan	7-May	Transplant to fill gaps in spinach beds from 1/15
Mizuna #2	Mizuna, Ruby Streaks, Golden Frills, Scarlet Frills	21-40	9-Nov			20-Jan	3-Apr	Green Mizuna plus ferny mustards
Spinach #5 (filler)	Tyee	23-40	15-Jan		31-Mar	25-Jan	7-May	Transplant to fill gaps in all beds from 1/25
Turnips #2 & turnip greens	Red Round, Hakurei, Oasis, White Egg	38-55	26-Oct			1-Feb	8-Mar	Emerge in 4d. If we have space, we sow #2-5 earlier, for higher yields.
Turnips #3 & turnip greens	Red Round, Hakurei, Oasis, White Egg	38-55	30-Oct		10/30 for good yields	1-Feb	11-Mar	Important to thin promptly (1/13) or yield will be much reduced. Hakurei until 2/24
Tatsoi #2		21-45	15-Nov			12-Feb	2-Mar	thinnings 12/27-1/21.
Lettuce Mix #2		28	31-Dec			21-Feb	31-Mar	52d to harvest. 3 cuts. Round 2 3/24.
Radish #5	Easter Egg, White Icicle	24-35	30-Dec			21-Feb	30-Mar	Emerge in 5d.
Spinach #6 (starts for outdoors)	Tyee	23-40	16-Jan			21-Feb	8-Apr	To transplant outdoors
Turnips #4 & turnip greens	Red Round, Hakurei, Oasis, White Egg	38-55	10-Nov			25-Feb	15-Mar	Important to thin promptly, or yield will be much reduced. Hakurei until 3/11
Onions #1	Starts of bulbing varieties	80-100	10-Nov			1-Mar	20-Mar	To transplant outdoors 3/1
Onions #2	Starts of bulbing varieties	80-100	22-Nov			1-Mar	20-Mar
Onions #3	Starts of bulbing varieties	80-100	3-Dec			1-Mar	20-Mar	Back-up date for filler onions
Brassica Salad Mix #2		21	9-Dec			4-Mar	29-Mar	11d to emerge
Turnips #5 & turnip greens	Red Round, Hakurei, Oasis, White Egg	38-55	10-Dec		10-Dec	5-Mar	15-Mar	Important to thin promptly, or yield will be much reduced
Brassica Salad Mix #3		21	1-Feb			8-Mar	15-Apr	Only 2 cuts. Can follow Radishes #2
Collards starts	Morris Heading	35-70	24-Jan			15-Mar	25-Mar	Emerge in 15d at 50F. To transplant outdoors
Kale starts	Vates	28-56	24-Jan			15-Mar	8-Apr	Emerge in 15d at 50F. To transplant outdoors 3/15-4/8
Lettuce Mix #3		28	1-Feb			15-Mar	28-Apr	12d to emerge at 50F. 42d to harvest. 3 cuts.
Radish #6	Easter Egg, White Icicle	24-35	27-Jan			16-Mar	20-Apr
Arugula #2		21-45	1-Feb			17-Mar	17-Apr	Harvest start date uncertain
Lettuce Mix #4		28	15-Feb		15-Feb	18-Mar	15-May	Only if outdoor lettuce is delayed
Scallions #2	Evergreen Winter Hardy White	60	13-Nov			19-Mar	25-May
Brassica Salad Mix #4		21	9-Feb		12-Feb	27-Mar	30-Apr	Only 1 or 2 cuts
Cabbage starts			24-Jan	1-Apr		1-Apr	15-Apr	Emerge in 15d at 50F. To transplant outdoors 4/1
Pea shoots	any leftover seed	10	10-Mar			5-Apr	6-May	If space allows. 9d to emerge.
Mizuna #3	Mizuna, Ruby Streaks, Golden Frills, Scarlet Frills	21-40	3-Mar			10-Apr	30-Apr	Green Mizuna plus ferny mustards. Could last till 5/20
Beets	Cylindra	54	15-Feb			15-Apr	15-Jun	Edge beds OK. 17d to emerge at 50F
Peas, Snap	Sugar Ann	52	1-Feb			27-Apr	20-May	Fast dwarf variety. 24d to emerge

Pam Dawling works in the vegetable gardens at Twin Oaks Community in central Virginia. She often presents workshops at MEN Fairs. Pam also writes for Growing for Market magazine. Her book, Sustainable Market Farming: Intensive Vegetable Production on a Few Acres, is available at Sustainable Market Farming and in the MOTHER EARTH NEWS Store. Pam's blog is on her website and also on Facebook. Read all of her MOTHER EARTH NEWS posts here.

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