What to Plant in Your Yard and Garden This November

For most regions of the United States, sweater season is upon us. Your garden is likely slowing down, so you might think it’s time to rest until spring. But behold! November is actually a great time for growing. Veggies like kale and carrots can produce through the winter in some areas, and the cooler weather also makes November a great time to put some varieties of flower bulbs and trees into the soil before winter. Check out the guide below for a few ideas for what to plant in November according to your USDA plant hardiness zone.

Kale

Hardiness Zones: 9-10

If you’re looking for vegetables to plant in November, kale should be at the top of your list. This leafy green grows best in spring and fall and can tolerate November frosts — in fact, cold temperatures actually improve this veggie’s flavor. Though the cold weather and shorter days will slow the growth of kale, you can continue collecting your bounty through the winter. Kale is ready for harvest when leaves reach about the size of your hand.

Garlic

Hardiness Zones: 5-8

Garlic is another edible treat that is best grown through the fall. You can start planting cloves in late September through November. If you live in an area that experiences hard frosts, put your cloves in the soil 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost date. After a period of winter dormancy, your garlic should “wake up” rapidly and start producing foliage. It’s time to harvest your garlic when the lower two or three leaves turn yellow or brown.

Snapdragon

Hardiness Zones: 9-10

If you live in a milder climate, snapdragons are one of the best flowers to plant in November. These tall, uniquely shaped annuals come in nearly every color and are sure to add flair to your garden. Once the flowers are established, they can survive freezing temperatures.

See more: 8 Gardening Projects You Can Do This Fall

Spinach

Hardiness Zones: 8-11

If you want to make Popeye proud, why not add this iron-rich leafy green to your garden this November? After planting, make sure to keep the soil moist. Harvest your spinach regularly to avoid a bitter taste. Like kale, spinach will grow more slowly through the coldest temperatures, but you should be able to harvest all winter long.

Pansies

Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Pansies are another flower that loves cooler weather. In fact, they tend to get leggy in warmer temperatures. These seemingly delicate flowers are surprisingly hearty, surviving frosts and even single-digit temperatures. In cooler regions, you’ll want to plant these earlier in the fall, but you can wait until around November in many parts of the South.

See more: 12 Flowers to Beautify Your Landscape This Fall

Ornamental Cabbage

Hardiness Zones: 2-11

Ornamental cabbage is a showy addition to the fall garden, with colorful foliage that resembles a blooming flower.  The colors only intensify as temperatures drop. But don’t let the name of this plant fool you — while you can eat ornamental cabbage, it’s not that tasty. Use it instead as a decorative addition to the garden or as a garnish. Your crop can easily withstand winter’s chill, typically surviving down to about 5 degrees.

Carrots

Hardiness Zones: 9-10

Carrots are one of the best vegetables to plant in November. They thrive in cooler temperatures and are the perfect choice for novice gardeners. If you live in a warmer area like zones 9-10, November is the perfect time for planting carrots. Grow your seeds or seedlings in the ground, in raised garden beds or even in containers. Even in cooler areas, November is still fair game for carrot gardening as these crunchy veggies can survive a light frost. Just make sure to harvest your crop before the ground freezes. Alternatively, you can overwinter the carrots and enjoy them in early spring. Just add mulch or a cover to protect them from the elements. Carrots do best in sunny sites with light, fertile, well-drained soil.

Tulips

Hardiness Zones: 3-7

Tulips are the ultimate spring flower, coming in bright hues like pink, yellow and red. And November is a great time to plant your tulip bulbs to ensure they’re ready for their spring display. Tulips do best in cool and moderate climates, but they can also be grown in zones 8-11 by chilling the bulbs in the refrigerator starting in late fall and then planting them in the garden around January or February.

See more: 8 Bulbs to Plant This Fall for Spring Blooms Next Year

Daffodils

Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Daffodils are another flower to plant in November. These sunshine-yellow perennials are great as borders or in pots. Spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils are best planted after the first frost but before the ground freezes.

Japanese Maple

Hardiness Zones: 5-8

November is also the perfect time to plant many trees, including the Japanese maple. This particular species is known for its vibrant fall foliage ranging from deep purple to crimson, orange and gold. Put it in the ground at least a month before strong frosts and make sure to provide a good layer of mulch after planting.

Roses

Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Late fall is an excellent time to plant roses, but they need time to settle in before the first frost, so try about six weeks before the first predicted frost date. This will give your plant time to establish roots and survive the winter. When choosing a rose to plant in November, opt for a dormant bare-root plant. Remember that roses love fertile soil, so make sure you amend with compost or manure before planting if necessary. There are many varieties of roses, so make sure to choose one that is well-suited to your climate.

Fruit Trees

Hardiness Zones: 8-11

November is a great time to plant fruit trees because a fall planting will get maximum root growth, leading (ideally) to better fruit growth in the spring and summer. Make sure to water and stake any newly planted trees.

See more: How to Grow Apple Trees: Planting, Maintenance and Harvest

Radishes

Hardiness Zones: 8-11

If you’ve planted kale and spinach, why not grow some radishes to add some spice to your homegrown salads? This unique cool weather-loving root vegetable is known for its spicy flavor and crisp texture. Radishes are also a great pick for novice gardeners, as they are one of the easiest vegetables to grow.