Your Complete Checklist For What To Plant In November

NAVIGATION

It’s no secret that I love fresh homegrown veggies in my recipes, which is what inspired my interest in learning what to plant in November, with the goal of keeping my garden producing all year.

I was pleasantly surprised with the multitude of options I discovered — lots of leafy greens and other nutritious vegetables are perfect cold-hardy plants.

While growing anything in colder weather requires learning new tricks for keeping the soil and the plants healthy and productive, the end result has been more than worth it. I’ve created a chart of vegetables to plant in November that keeps my garden going strong even as the warm weather fades. With this plan, I can enjoy my favorite recipes all year long!

Hi, I’m Ryan

Learning what to plant in November has added a whole new element to my gardening routine. It’s allowed me to spend even more of the year outside, enjoying the fresh air on my North Carolina homestead while working in my garden to continuously produce fresh, organic vegetables.

Considering What To Plant In November?

One of the most surprising things I learned when determining what to plant in November is that a number of cold-weather plants, like chards, parsnips, carrots, kale, and some lettuces, actually taste better when they’ve endured frosts and colder temperatures.

Did you know that some leafy greens (like kale) actually keep growing and producing edible leaves for up to a year before sprouting flowers? The flowers then turn into seeds for your next planting, making these cold-hardy greens particularly worthwhile to grow.

The exact date and process you’ll use to get your November vegetables in the ground will depend on your location and growing zone, but I’ve compiled a list of vegetables that can survive in most places with enough creativity and care.

Vegetables	Planting Date	How To Sow
Beets	November 1–10	Seedling
Kale	November 1–10	Seedling and Direct Sow
Carrots	November 1–10	Seedling
Broccoli	November 1–10	Seedling
Kohlrabi	November 1–10	Seedling
Small Peppers	November 1–15	Seedling and Direct Sow
Radish	November 1–15	Seedling
Swiss Chard	November 1–15	Seedling and Direct Sow
Turnips	November 1–15	Seedling
Rutabaga	November 1–15	Seedling
Broad Beans (Fava Beans)	November 1–15	Seedling and Direct Sow
Mustard Greens	November 1–15	Seedling and Direct Sow
Bok Choi / Pak Choi	November 1–15	Direct Sow
Peas	November 1–30	Direct Sow
Lettuce	November 1–30	Direct Sow
Arugula	November 1–30	Direct Sow
Leeks	November 1–30	Seedling and Direct Sow
Spinach	November 1–30	Seedling and Direct Sow
Garlic	November 1–30	Direct Sow
Various Herbs	November 1–30	Seedling and Direct Sow
Collards	November 1–30	Direct Sow
Onions	November 1–30	Seedling and Direct Sow
Cauliflower	November 1–30	Seedling
Scallions	November 1–30	Direct Sow
Asparagus	November 1–30	Direct Sow
Sunchokes	November 1–30	Direct Sow
Rhubarb	November 1–30	Direct Sow
Celery	November 15–30	Seedling and Direct Sow
Cabbage	November 15–30	Seedling

Indoor Seeds To Plant In November

I enjoy experimenting with what veggies I can get away with growing outside in November, but the temperatures this month will drop steadily for many. This means that if you live in a harsh climate, you’ll want to do some of your November planting indoors. Here are a few plants best grown inside if your area has freezing temperatures.

What To Plant Indoors In November

Carrots
Beets
Radish
Lettuce

Swiss Chard
Small Peppers
Turnips
Parsley

Mint
Chives
Sage
Thyme

Rosemary
Dill
Cilantro
Oregano

In some climates, you’ll keep these seedlings indoors through the whole winter and harvest them from their pots, but in milder climates, you might get away with transplanting some of them to your outdoor garden. However long you have these plants indoors, you’ll want to keep them watered with access to sunlight and keep them clear of dead leaves and bugs to avoid disease.

What Can I Plant In November In My Outdoor Garden?

Depending on your climate, all of the veggies on my chart could be options for you when you’re deciding what to plant in your outdoor garden in November. If you live in the South, November is prime planting time for many root vegetables and cold-hardy greens, but if your area is prone to harsh freezes and consistently low temperatures, you’ll only want to plant the hardiest of the cold-hardy plant options, there are.

Top 10 Cold-Hardiest Crops To Plant Outside In November

Spinach
Onions
Garlic
Leeks
Rhubarb

Rutabaga
Broccoli
Kohlrabi
Kale
Cabbage

Even cold-hardy vegetables will grow a little slower and require some extra attention and care to survive frosts and lower levels of sunlight. In my relatively mild North Carolina climate, I’ve only needed to use row covers for my November vegetables, but cold frames and greenhouses are also great options for those with mild climates that still experience freezes and low temperatures from time to time.

Keep in mind that, along with taking some measures to protect your outdoor veggies from the cold weather, you’ll need to give them some extra water and mulch. You’ll also want to keep a close eye on your local weather forecasts so you can be prepared for any cold snaps coming your way. If a freeze is imminent, this is the time to pack some more mulch around your plants and break out your frost cloths or cold frames to keep them as insulated as possible.

Harvesting In November And Beyond

As much as we gardeners love the cultivation process, we’re all working toward harvesting our favorite veggies to make colorful salads and add flavor and nutrition to our favorite soups, meats, pasta, and stir-fries.

As November begins, you’ll still be harvesting some of your warmer weather plants that can continue producing into the fall. Doing a bit of a clean-up and soil care routine as you transition your garden for colder weather can do wonders for the health of your November crops.

Checklist For November Gardening Maintenance

You need to take care of your soil and plants any time of year, but cold weather adds a new factor for your seedlings to conquer. Giving your garden some extra attention this time of year is easiest to do when you have a handy list to check off every November.

November Gardening Checklist

Continue harvesting and caring for your warmer weather crops that are still producing.
Harvest seeds from your flowering vegetable plants and save them.
Clean up your garden, cutting plants at the base and leaving their roots intact.
Add dead plants to your compost pile, making sure to dispose of any diseased plants.
Mulch your garden beds heavily and add soil amendments.
If you’re planting new crops or overwintering existing plants, consider adding protections like cold frames.
Once your garden is clean, mulched, and fertilized, you’re ready to begin your November planting.

When Will You Harvest Your Plants In November?

Some of the cold-hardy veggies on my November vegetables chart will be ready to eat in as few as 30 days, but many of them take a lot longer to mature. Take a look at a breakdown of these approximate growing timeframes to help you decide which veggies are the right pick for your November garden.

When Will Your November Veggies Be Ready?

Bok Choy/Pak Choi: 45 to 75 days
Kale: 55 to 75 days
Small Peppers: 60 to 150 days
Celery: up to 140 days
Kohlrabi: 55 days
Cauliflower: 50 to 100 days
Scallions: 50 to 70 days
Onions: 90 to 100 days
Arugula: 35 to 50 days

Collards: 60 to 80 days
Peas: 60 days
Garlic: 9 months
Beets: 50 to 70 days
Radish: 45 to 60 days
Swiss Chard: 45 to 55 days
Mustard Greens: 40 to 45 days
Rutabaga: 80 to 100 days
Turnips: 45 to 70 days

Spinach: 45 to 70 days
Leeks: 120 to 150 days
Broad Beans: 4 to 6 months
Cabbage: 4 to 6 months
Lettuces: 30 to 70 days
Broccoli: 4 to 10 months
Carrots: 70 to 80 days
Asparagus: 3 years (but productive for 10 years)

FAQs About What To Plant In November

I get a lot of questions about what to plant in November, as many gardeners haven’t considered this cooler month for doing much growing. Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Which Cold-Hardy Plants Are Hard To Grow?

If you don’t have much extra time to devote to your garden this November, I understand wanting to avoid the harder vegetables to grow. If that’s you, don’t feel bad about it — you’re already braving a garden in cold weather with less-than-ideal growing conditions. Some of the hardest plants to grow on this November chart are celery, cauliflower, and head lettuce.

How Much Water Will My November Garden Need?

Your November garden won’t need quite as much water as a warmer-weather garden, but you’ll still want to give your soil a good soak every five to 10 days.

You might be able to stretch this to every seven to 14 days as you get closer to December, but just make sure your plants continue to thrive.

If it’s your first time planting vegetables this late in the year, feel free to start with indoor plants and see how that goes.

If your climate allows, though, and as you gain experience, learning what to plant in November in your outdoor garden will dramatically increase the number of fresh veggies on your table as the weather gets cold. And that will make all the strategizing worth it.

Your Turn!

Which leafy greens have lasted the longest and produced the most in your area?
Do you grow more indoor or outdoor plants in November?

By Ryan Mitchell on March 12, 2024 / Homesteading / Leave a comment

Tags: Garden