What to Plant in the November Garden: Tips for Zones 8-10
Fall is a great time for planting in zones 8-10. In fact, the cooler months can be the best time of year for gardening in warm climates. Join Florida gardener Melissa Strauss to talk about what you can plant in your garden this November.
Contents
Gardening in warm climates can be both enjoyable and frustrating. Spring is a lovely time for fast-growing crops, but as soon as summer heat kicks in, things get tricky. Between the heat, humidity, and insect populations, summer is a tough time for gardeners in zones 8-10.
Here in my zone 9, north Florida garden, fall is my preferred time of year. Since we rarely experience a hard freeze here, there are many plants that will overwinter wonderfully. In fact, many cool-weather crops love the mild winters. With fewer pests and diseases to contend with, planting and growing in the fall and winter is a great experience.
If you’re a zone 8-10 gardener wondering what you can plant this November, I’ve got some great ideas for you. This is the time of year that I plant a number of my favorite plants. From leafy greens to frost-tolerant flowers, there are tons of things you can plant in November in your zones 8-10 garden.
Trees and Shrubs
In your zone 8-10 garden, November is one of the best times to plant many trees and shrubs. Because of your mild winters and long growing seasons, fall planting gives these a valuable head start before the stress of summer heat. It gives them plenty of time to establish roots for a strong spring growing season as well.
In November, the soil is still relatively warm. Warm enough for root growth, that is. Summer heat causes increased transpiration, or water loss, through leaves. Without that stress, your trees and shrubs can focus their energy on their roots.
Rainfall is often more plentiful in November, which means less watering to get those trees and shrubs adapted. Between the warm soil, cool air, and increased moisture, it’s an ideal situation for these plants. They will establish now, and then have a head start in the spring when they come out of dormancy.
Some great trees for November planting in zones 8-10 include crape myrtles, magnolias, redbuds, and fruit trees. As for shrubs, camellias, azaleas, gardenias, and loropetalum all thrive when you get them in the ground in the fall.
Leafy Greens
November is the best time to plant leafy greens in zones 8-10 gardens. Daytime temperatures tend to stay in the 50s to 70s (around 10-21°C) during the day, which is cool enough to keep those greens tender. But it’s still warm enough to keep them growing steadily.
I sow seeds for leafy greens in November, as they are fast-growing. Most of them take less than two months to mature, and they benefit from a frost or two. The cold sweetens them up, making them even tastier.
All types of lettuce are great for November planting. Spinach, kale, and chard are all going in my zone 9 fall garden. You can also grow mustard and collard greens, and don’t forget the bok choy and mizuna!
Root Crops
Root crops are a great idea for planting in zones 8-10 in November. For the most part, the ground doesn’t freeze in this region, so these veggies can stay in the ground through winter. You can harvest these as needed, and many can simply stay in the ground for storage.
Root vegetables prefer cool weather. The cold temperatures increase their sugar content, giving veggies like beets and carrots a sweeter flavor. Most pests are less active this time of year, so you will get nicely formed roots.
Most root vegetables are best when directly sown in the garden. Beets, carrots, radishes, and turnips are fast growers. In warmer climates, you can typically grow these throughout the winter. Rutabagas like cool weather, so plant these in early November for a winter harvest.
Garlic, onions, and potatoes are all good for November planting. These will grow roots in the fall, and then do most of their developing in the spring. Potatoes will be ready to harvest in the spring. Onions and garlic need a bit more time, but this is the ideal time to get them started. I’m growing onions, garlic, and carrots in my zone 9 garden this winter.
Brassicas
Brassicas are a favorite in my kitchen. I can serve broccoli any day of the week, and no one complains. Brussels sprouts are a different story, but if they’re roasted with some bacon and garlic, they go quickly.
Because they take a while to get started, it’s better to plant these from nursery starts in November. It’s a bit late in the year to start them from seeds. They love the cool, crisp winters in this region, which help them grow strong and flavorful.
In addition to the two I mentioned, you can also grow cabbage, cauliflower, and kohlrabi this time of year. Truly, all brassicas are great for late fall and winter growing in zones 8-10. They love fertile soil and plenty of sunlight. Make sure your garden gets enough light in the winter, as the daylight hours are more limited.
Peas
Peas are a smart crop to plant in November in zones 8-10. Cool days and mild nights give these a healthy start, so they will grow quickly. Since the ground rarely freezes, the roots continue to grow through the winter. Your plants should flower during the winter, and by early spring, you’ll have plenty to pick.
This group includes sweet peas, snow peas, and garden peas. They all like cool weather. They’re also nitrogen-fixing, so it’s almost like planting a cover crop. They will enrich your bed for spring-planted vegetables. These are great to rotate with heavy feeders like peppers and tomatoes.
Choose a variety that likes cold weather and doesn’t mind fewer daylight hours. The seeds are large, so soak them overnight and then directly sow them in your beds. They don’t transplant well. Make sure to give them a trellis or pea fence for support.
Hardy and Cool-Season Herbs
Some herbs, like basil and dill, wilt at the first hint of frost. But many herbs are evergreen, and others prefer cool weather to do their best growing. In addition to my evergreen herbs, I’m also growing chives and cilantro now, and they are loving the crisp mornings.
In November, you can plant thyme, sage, oregano, and chives in zones 8-10. They will live through the winter and stick around for years to come. These hardy perennials will set down roots in the fall, and when spring comes around, they will grow fast.
You can sow parsley and cilantro now, as these are hardy annuals. They will live through the winter and be robust in the spring. Most plants will languish in the summer heat. But they are fast growers, and you can plant again in the fall.
Spring-Flowering Bulbs
You won’t get much action with these until spring, but November is prime time in zones 8-10 to plant spring bulbs. Most of these require a period of cold stratification, or vernalization. A period of cold is what lets them know it’s time to grow.
In colder climates, it’s important to get your fall bulbs in the ground a bit earlier in the fall. After the ground freezes, you’re out of luck. However, in warmer climates where the ground doesn’t freeze, timing is still important, but for a different reason. In warmer climates, you need to get them planted in time for them to experience enough cold temperatures.
Tulips are out for these zones, but daffodils grow beautifully in zones 8 and 9. Crocuses and hyacinths are likely to be annuals in these zones as well. Irises, alliums, lilies, and gladiolus all perform well in warmer climates.
Plant these now and tuck them under a light layer of mulch to hold in moisture and insulate the soil. They will be a beautiful surprise in early spring.
Frost-Tolerant Flowers
My favorite things to plant in my zone 9 garden in November are frost-tolerant flowers. I live in my cutting garden, but in winter, I can’t grow sunflowers and zinnias. However, there are some amazing flowers that you can grow over the winter for late winter and early spring blooms.
Ranunculus often fall in with bulbs, and are perennial, but since they aren’t true bulbs, I’ll mention them here. Plant now, and they will put on some green growth as the temperature falls, then stall, and resume robustly in the spring.
The same applies to snapdragons, bachelor’s buttons, sweet peas, and dianthus. All of these survive a frost, and with protection, even a hard freeze. It snowed here in North Florida last winter. We got six inches of gorgeous white snow, and I worried that it would kill my snapdragons. It didn’t harm a single leaf!
You can also grow pansies through the winter, and they may even flower throughout. Pansies are excellent for blooming quickly and tolerating dips down to 20°F (-7°C) without a problem. Lower than that, and the foliage may die, but the roots are extra cold-tolerant!
Calendula is another great, frost-tolerant flower. These take 45 to 60 days to bloom. Plant any of these in November in your zones 8-10 garden!
