What to Plant in November
November settles the Florida Zone 9 garden into the heart of the cool season. Cooler days and nights make this an excellent month for leafy greens, root vegetables, brassicas, herbs, and cool-season flowers in raised beds, pots, and grow bags.
November at a Glance
November brings some of the most comfortable gardening weather of the year. Cool-season crops can take center stage, and many vegetables that struggled with early fall heat can now become established more easily. It is also a good month to begin watching nighttime temperatures as the possibility of colder weather increases.
Vegetables
November is prime cool-season planting time. Root crops can be sown directly where they will grow, while many leafy greens and brassicas can be planted as established transplants or started for succession planting later in the season.
Direct Sow in the Garden
Carrots
Sow directly into loose, well-prepared soil. Keep the upper layer of soil consistently moist during germination.
Radishes
Direct sow small batches every couple of weeks for a steady supply of quick-growing roots.
Onions
Sow bunching onions directly in prepared beds or containers. They fit especially well into small garden spaces.
English Peas
As cooler weather arrives, peas can be direct sown where they will receive good sunlight and support for climbing varieties.
Arugula
Sow directly for tender cool-season leaves. Succession sowing can help extend the harvest.
Leaf Lettuce
Direct sow small amounts rather than the entire seed packet at once for repeated harvests through the cool season.
Mustard Greens
Sow directly into beds or containers for flavorful greens that appreciate November's cooler conditions.
Spinach
Cooler November temperatures provide better conditions for establishing spinach. Keep the soil evenly moist while seeds germinate.
Start for Transplanting Later
Broccoli
Start another round of broccoli for transplanting later and extending the cool-season harvest.
Cabbage
Start seeds in cells or small containers for another planting as garden space becomes available.
Cauliflower
Begin seeds in a protected location and grow sturdy seedlings for transplanting into fertile garden soil.
Brussels Sprouts
Start seeds for later transplanting and give developing plants plenty of room as they mature.
Kale
Start additional plants for a succession crop that can continue producing through cooler weather.
Swiss Chard
Start seeds in containers for transplanting later into beds, pots, or grow bags.
Flowers
November is when the cool-season flower garden can really begin. Lower temperatures allow many annual flowers to establish without the intense heat and humidity of Florida summer.
Direct Sow in the Garden
Sweet Alyssum
Sow lightly in sunny beds, containers, or along garden edges for masses of small fragrant flowers.
Calendula
Direct sow into sunny garden beds or containers for cheerful cool-season blooms.
Nasturtium
Sow seeds where the plants will remain. They work beautifully trailing from containers or growing along raised-bed edges.
Baby's Breath
Sow in a sunny location with well-drained soil for delicate flowers during the cooler growing season.
Start for Transplanting Later
Snapdragons
Start the tiny seeds in trays and transplant established seedlings into sunny beds or containers.
Violas
Start seeds for compact plants that provide dependable cool-season color in containers and garden beds.
Pansies
Begin seeds or set out established plants as cooler weather settles into the garden.
Dianthus
Start seeds for transplanting into sunny beds and containers during the cool season.
Petunias
Start seeds in a protected area or transplant established plants into containers and sunny garden spaces.
Verbena
Start plants for cool-season color in sunny containers, borders, and garden beds.
November Planting Notes
- Take advantage of cooler temperatures to establish leafy greens, brassicas, root crops, and cool-season flowers.
- Continue succession sowing quick crops such as radishes, arugula, and lettuce rather than planting everything at once.
- Check raised beds, pots, and grow bags regularly for moisture. Cooler weather reduces evaporation, so watering needs may begin to decrease.
- Watch broccoli, cabbage, kale, and other brassicas for caterpillars and leaf damage.
- Begin paying attention to nighttime forecasts. Tender plants in containers can be easier to protect or move when unusually cold weather arrives.
- November is an excellent time to refresh containers with cool-season flowers such as pansies, violas, snapdragons, petunias, and sweet alyssum.