What Can You Grow in November? 13 Winter-Hardy Crops to Try
In most North American climates, November is a time of rest for gardeners. If you're missing those garden fresh veggies, there are still some crops that you can grow that will soak up the cold weather. Gardening expert Melissa Strauss shares some delicious veggies to grow in November.
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When you’re accustomed to eating garden-fresh vegetables, it can be disappointing when winter comes. Store-bought, out-of-season tomatoes just don’t have the same amount of flavor as those eaten fresh off the vine. I’m not knocking store-bought vegetables—any veggies are better than none. But it’s still wonderful to have a supply of homegrown vegetables in your own garden.
November may not seem like the ideal time for planting, and indeed, in cold climates, the time for planting may be over. In warmer climates, where the ground won’t freeze for some time, you can still plant many cool-weather vegetables. In fact, many leafy greens are far more flavorful after a couple of nights of frost sweetens them up.
That brings up the question of what cold-hardy crops you can plant in November and grow in the winter. Let’s take a look!
The Short Answer
Planting in November can be tricky and might not be the best option if you live North of Zone 7. However, in mild and warmer climates, it’s a good time to get growing. The best things to plant in late fall include beautiful brassicas, nutrient-dense leafy greens, and root vegetables that stay tucked underground for the coldest months.
The Long Answer
The ideal crops to start in November are winter-hardy and become more flavorful after the kiss of a frost or three. Brassicas, leafy greens, and many root vegetables grow best in cold weather. But I’d love to offer some beautiful and tasty varieties for you to try.
Kale ‘Dazzling Blue’
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botanical name Brassica oleracea ‘Dazzling Blue’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 24”-48” |
Kale is a superbly winter-hardy crop that stands up to freezing temperatures and grows quickly from November sowings. You can harvest tender, young leaves in as few as 30 days. At that rate, you’ll have delicious leafy greens to cook on New Year’s Day. It’s cold hardy down to 10°F (-12°C), so you can grow it all winter in some places.
‘Dazzling Blue‘ is a gorgeous variety that doubles as an ornamental. The large, heavily textured leaves are wonderful shades of blue-green with a purple midrib. Frost will sweeten up these leaves, as well as amplify the purple tones, making this one pretty plant.
Cabbage ‘Red Acre’
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botanical name Brassica oleracea ‘Red Acre’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 5”-7” diameter |
Cabbage is slightly less tolerant than kale, but it will still grow through the cold in Zones 8 and warmer. It’s one of my strongest growers here in Zone 9a. If you’re a kimchi lover, you’ve got to grow your own fresh cabbage. The fresh texture is wonderful in stir-fries, coleslaw, and chopped up in a salad.
‘Red Acre‘ is a glowing jewel in the chilly garden. Its compact size makes it perfect for smaller spaces. This smaller variety’s flavor is extra sweet and delicious. It also stores excellently in a root cellar or fridge.
Brussels Sprouts ‘Long Island Improved’
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botanical name Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera ‘Long Island Improved’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 20”-24” |
Brussels sprouts rank with kale as some of the most winter-hardy crops, ideal for planting in November in warmer zones. They will produce down to 10°F (-12°C) and take about three months to mature. They may not have been my favorite as a kid, but caramelize them in a little bacon grease and sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top. I could eat the whole pan!
‘Long Island Improved‘ is a tasty heirloom dating back to the late 1800s. Its staying power tells you that it has the flavor gardeners are after. It’s the most popular variety planted today! The plants are attractive, and cold weather improves the flavor of these already tasty little brassicas.
Beets ‘Touchstone Gold’
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botanical name Beta vulgaris ‘Touchstone Gold’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 12”-18” Leaf Tops |
Many root vegetables are good for winter growing. This is especially true of those with a high sugar content. The sugar in beets protects them from cold temperatures. It’s still a good idea to give your beets a nice, cozy layer of mulch for insulation. If your climate is too cold for them to sprout in the fall, they will lie dormant and come up in late winter as the temperatures rise.
Gold beets are sweeter than their red counterparts and have less earthy flavor that is distinctive to the species. The bold, golden flesh of ‘Touchstone Gold’ is wonderful for cooking, pickling, or grating over a leafy green salad. Plant them a bit closer together than recommended for more cold protection.
Broccoli ‘Waltham 29’
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botanical name Brassica oleracea var. italica ‘Waltham 29’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 20”-24” |
Broccoli is the most popular vegetable in my house. As long as I don’t overcook it, all three of my kids will finish what I put on their plates without argument. It’s cold-tolerant to about 20°F (-7°C) and takes about two and a half months to mature.
‘Waltham 29‘ is an heirloom variety known for its exceptional cold tolerance. This is a great type to experiment with when growing over the winter. It grows large, crunchy heads and tons of side shoots. Harvest while the buds are still closed for the best flavor.
Swiss Chard ‘Fordhook Giant’
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botanical name Beta vulgaris supbsp. vulgaris ‘Fordhook Giant’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 24” |
Swiss chard has excellent cold tolerance and will continue to grow and sweeten in temperatures down to 15°F (-9°C). This winter-hardy crop is appropriate for November planting in Zones 8-11, but in Zone 7, you still have a good chance if you give them some protection. A thick layer of mulch will go a long way. Chard grows well in containers, as well.
‘Fordhook Giant’ is a reliable, sturdy, strong variety that is extra resistant to frost. White stem varieties often have better tolerance than more colorful types. Swiss chard is a tender green with a finer texture than kale. I love to sauté it with some ‘Chesnock Red’ garlic.
Spinach ‘Oceanside’
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botanical name Spinacia oleracea ‘Oceanside’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 4”-6” |
Spinach is perfect for growing during the colder months. It is tolerant of temperatures between 15-20°F (-9 to -7°C) and matures quickly. You can harvest tender baby greens in as few as 25 days. Eat it raw or cooked. Spinach is one of the mildest and most tender leafy winter vegetables.
‘Oceanside’ is an extra tender, extra frost-resistant spinach variety. It’s known to survive even lower temperatures than most types. For late fall sowing, make sure to plant seeds in full sun and mulch around young plants for insulation. Direct sow for best results. They have sensitive roots.
Leek ‘King Richard’
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botanical name Allium porrum ‘King Richard’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 18”-30” |
Leeks’ mild, fresh onion flavor is a staple during soup season. Any way you prepare them, leeks elevate a dish’s flavor profile and aroma. In warm climates, you can grow them down to 20° F and harvest them all winter.
‘King Richard’ is an early producer of long, white stems with overlapping green leaves above the ground. To germinate, they need the soil to be above freezing, at least 40°F (4°C). So, you may want to start these indoors and transplant as early as possible.
Collards ‘Top Bunch 2.0’
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botanical name Brassica oleracea var. viridis ‘Top Bunch 2.0’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 24”-36” |
Collards are the traditional New Year’s Day green to make where I live. Here in the South, when someone says they are making greens, there’s a 90% chance it’s collards on the menu. These bold leafy greens are flavorful and stand up well to simmering all day with a ham hock.
‘Top Bunch 2.0’ is early maturing. It’s reliable through the winter in Zones 8-10, and with some protection, you might be able to get by in Zone 7. You can harvest young for tender leaves and continue throughout the winter as frost brings out the sugar and sweetens it up.
Cauliflower ‘Snowball Y’
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botanical name Brassica oleracea var. botrytis ‘Snowball Y’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 24”-30” |
Cauliflower was once an overlooked vegetable that occasionally found its way into a broccoli blend. The last decade, however, has seen this brassica turned into everything from vegan steak to a low-carb rice substitute. It’s an attractive plant in addition to being versatile in the kitchen.
‘Snowball Y’ is an early maturing variety with dense, snow-white, six-inch heads. It’s great for short growing seasons and will grow all winter in Zones 8-11. This variety is self-blanching, and its leaves grow up around the heads and act as extra cold protection.
Turnip ‘White Lady’
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botanical name Brassica rapa ‘White Lady’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 2”-5” diameter |
Turnips and their greens are tasty cool-weather vegetables that overwinter well in mild climates. They are a great source of fiber, folic acid, potassium, and calcium, among other nutrients. They are also super simple to grow and harvest.
‘White Lady’ turnips are small and tender enough to add to your raw veggie tray. The greens are tender and delicious, with a sweet and slightly fruity flavor. They mature quickly in as few as 30 days, so they work as a late fall crop in many climates.
‘Carrot ‘Scarlet Nantes’
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botanical name Daucus carota ‘Scarlet Nantes’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 6”-7” Long |
Sweet, crunchy carrots are another family favorite. Sweet enough to eat raw and integral to many delicious soup and stew recipes, they are one of the most versatile vegetables. Carrots are cold-hardy down to 15°F (-9°C). The cold helps to develop the sugars in carrots, so those grown in the winter are the sweetest!
‘Scarlet Nantes‘ is a wonderful French heirloom variety from the 1850s. It’s a reliable producer of sweet, six- to seven-inch carrots. They are almost coreless, so their texture is particularly smooth and crisp. Direct sow your carrot seeds; transplanting will make a mess of the tap root, and you’ll end up with crooked veggies.
Bok Choy ‘Baby Choi’
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botanical name Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis ‘Baby Choi’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 20” |
Bok choy is a brassica that is used in many tasty dishes in Asian cuisines. It’s nice to look at and makes a great container plant. It is winter-hardy and will do well with a November planting in Zone 8 and warmer.
‘Baby Choi‘ is a compact variety that matures early. In Zone 7, you may have success with this one if you harvest when the plants are small and tender. The flavor is mild, and the texture is crunchy. Directly sow these seeds in your garden for the best results.
