Top Broadcast Greens for Summer, Fall, and Winter
Broadcast sowing is one of the easiest ways to grow abundant greens year-round—even as temperatures rise, fall, or dip toward winter. By choosing the right greens for each season, you can create quick, productive beds that deliver continuous harvests with minimal effort. After decades gardening in warm, dry summers and cool, mild winters, I’ve learned which greens germinate reliably, which struggle, and which absolutely thrive when sown thickly. Here are the top broadcast greens for every season, plus tips for success.
Best Broadcast Greens for Summer
Summer broadcast greens must handle heat, resist bolting, and bounce back quickly after harvest.
Amaranth
Heat-loving and fast-growing, amaranth excels as a baby green in hot weather.
Malabar Spinach
A true heat lover. When broadcast-sown, the tender early leaves make excellent summer salads.
New Zealand Spinach
Germinates well in warm soils and produces tender baby leaves even in dry conditions.
Mustards (Heat-Tolerant Varieties)
‘Green Wave’ and ‘Southern Giant’ thrive in heat, producing flavorful, spicy greens for cut-and-come-again harvests.
Egyptian Spinach (Molokhia)
Excellent for hot climates and consistently productive when sown densely.
Summer Tip:
Pre-moisten soil, broadcast in the morning or evening, and use 30–40% shade cloth during heatwaves to protect germinating seeds.
Best Broadcast Greens for Fall
Fall is the easiest season for broadcasting greens—warm soils help germination while cooler air keeps plants tender.
Mizuna
Extremely reliable in fall. Produces mild, feathery greens perfect for baby-cut mixes.
Mustards
A fall powerhouse—rich flavor, quick growth, and outstanding regrowth for multiple harvests.
Arugula
Thrives in cool fall weather and grows quickly when sown thickly.
Leaf Lettuce (Baby Leaf)
Fall temperatures reduce bitterness, making lettuce a perfect broadcast crop.
Spinach (Early Fall)
Germinates quickly while soil remains warm, then thrives in cooler late-fall conditions.
Fall Tip:
Sow every 10–14 days to keep a continuous supply of fresh baby greens as temperatures drop.
Best Broadcast Greens for Winter
Winter broadcast greens depend on your climate—but cool-season greens thrive anywhere soils don’t freeze solid. In cold-winter areas, grow under row covers or tunnels.
Mizuna
Outstanding winter vigor; regrows even after light freezes.
Tatsoi
Winter-hardy and perfect for dense, low rosettes that are easy to cut at baby stage.
Claytonia (Miner’s Lettuce)
One of the most cold-tolerant broadcast greens; thrives in shaded, cool beds.
Winter Lettuce (Cold-Hardy Varieties)
Varieties like ‘Winter Density’ excel when sown thickly under protection.
Spinach (Cold-Hardy Types)
Sown before deep cold sets in, spinach thrives in low light and cool soil.
Winter Tip:
Keep soil consistently moist, cover beds with row cover, and harvest lightly to allow continued regrowth through short days.
How to Broadcast for Success in Any Season
1. Prepare Moist Soil
Seeds need good contact with fully moistened soil. Water deeply before sowing.
2. Mix Seeds With a Carrier
Blend seed with sand, coffee grounds, or fine compost for even distribution.
3. Maintain Steady Moisture
Mist daily until germination; then water deeply as needed based on the season.
4. Harvest Early and Often
Most broadcast greens are best at 10–25 days. Frequent cutting keeps beds productive.
Final Thoughts
Broadcast sowing is the simplest way to enjoy vibrant greens nearly every month of the year. By matching the right greens to the right season—and keeping the soil consistently moist—you can grow abundant baby-leaf salads and braising mixes with very little effort. Whether you garden in heat, cool fall air, or mild winter weather, broadcast beds keep your harvests steady and your garden thriving.
Top Broadcast Green Varieties for Summer, Fall, and Winter
🌞 SUMMER — Heat-Tolerant Broadcast Greens
These varieties excel in high temperatures, resist bolting, and stay tender when harvested young.
Amaranth
- ‘Red Leaf Amaranth’ – Fast-growing, beautiful color, excellent for baby leaf.
- ‘Green Callaloo’ – Traditional Caribbean type; extremely vigorous in heat.
- ‘Garnet Red’ – Deep red leaves, mild flavor, great for salad mixes.
Malabar Spinach
- ‘Green Malabar’ – Mild flavor, vigorous vines, best harvested young.
- ‘Red Malabar’ – Slightly thicker leaves; beautiful red stems.
New Zealand Spinach
- Standard New Zealand Spinach (Tetragonia) – Most seed packets carry the same proven heat-tolerant strain.
Heat-Tolerant Mustards
- ‘Southern Giant Curled’ – Excellent bolt resistance; classic summer mustard.
- ‘Green Wave’ – My top pick for hot weather; fast, bright, and spicy.
- ‘Miz America’ – Red-leaf mizuna that tolerates more heat than most.
Egyptian Spinach (Molokhia)
- ‘Molokhia Corchorus olitorius’ – All varieties perform well; fast and heat-loving.
Roselle (Baby Greens)
- ‘Thai Red Roselle’ – Lemon-tangy young leaves; thrives in heat.
- ‘Jamaican Sorrel’ – Vigorous plants ideal for repeated baby-leaf cuts.
🍂 FALL — Cool-Loving, Fast-Growing Broadcast Greens
Fall varieties thrive as soil stays warm but air cools—your easiest broadcast season.
Mizuna
- ‘Tokyo Early Mizuna’ – Very fast and tender.
- ‘Kyona Mizuna’ – Deeply cut leaves; excellent for baby-leaf mixes.
- ‘Mizuna Red Kingdom’ – Great color for salad blends.
Mustard Greens
- ‘Red Giant’ – Beautiful red-purple leaves; mild in cool weather.
- ‘Japanese Giant Red’ – More color; slightly milder taste.
- ‘Tendergreen’ – A mild mustard-spinach hybrid perfect for fall beds.
Arugula
- ‘Astro’ – Fast, mild, and dependable.
- ‘Rocket (Wild)’ – More tolerant of temperature swings; great flavor.
Baby Leaf Lettuce
- ‘Black Seeded Simpson’ – My go-to for fall broadcasting; fast and tender.
- ‘Red Sails’ – Slow to bitter, adds color.
- ‘Nevada’ – Very bolt-resistant, excellent texture.
Spinach (Fall-Sown)
- ‘Bloomsdale Long Standing’ – Traditional, flavorful, reliable.
- ‘Space’ – Fast and uniform—excellent for baby leaf.
- ‘Kookaburra’ – Outstanding vigor in warm fall soils.
❄️ WINTER — Cold-Tolerant Broadcast Greens
Winter greens do best in mild-winter climates or under row covers/tunnels elsewhere.
Mizuna
- ‘Winter Density Mizuna’ – Strong cold tolerance.
- ‘Komatsuna Green Boy’ – Grows fast in cold weather.
Tatsoi
- ‘Rosette Tatsoi’ – Classic low-growing winter green.
- ‘Yukina Savoy’ – Larger, more cold-tolerant cousin to tatsoi.
Claytonia (Miner’s Lettuce)
- ‘Claytonia perfoliata’ – Usually sold as a single strain; thrives in cold.
Cold-Hardy Lettuce
- ‘Winter Density’ – The best lettuce for winter baby leaf.
- ‘Merveille des Quatre Saisons’ – Beautiful red-tipped leaves.
- ‘Hyper Red Rumple’ – Handles cold and adds stunning color.
Spinach (Winter Types)
- ‘Giant Winter’ – Bred for cold weather.
- ‘Winter Bloomsdale’ – Deep green and robust.
- ‘Regiment’ – Great for repeated baby-leaf cuts under cover.
