Plant These 8 Hardy Vegetables in November – They’re Easy to Grow for Fresh Winter and Spring Harvests

November doesn’t necessarily mark the end of the vegetable growing season. While warm-season crops are definitely done for the year, you may still be able to sow and grow some of your cold-hardy favorites.

Knowing how and when to plant a vegetable garden so late in the season depends on your USDA hardiness zone, climate, and local weather. If you have milder winters, you can likely sow seeds directly in outdoor beds. In colder climates, you’ll need to provide some protection against frost and snow.

Here, I offer pro tips on late veggie growing, along with eight vegetables you may be able to start now for a winter or spring harvest. If you’re unsure about whether or not you can grow any of these in November, contact your extension office for more location-specific guidance.

Tips for Planting Vegetables in November

Planting veggies now takes more effort than simply sowing seeds. Beyond knowing your climate and hardiness zone, you need to pay attention to the weather. For example, avoid seeding when the soil is frozen or soggy.

Prepare the soil by clearing out weeds, raking out any stones or remaining summer plant debris, and mixing in fresh compost. Seed planting depth and spacing depend on the crop you are sowing, so do check the seed packet information.

Manage your expectations for this project. Less sunlight and colder temperatures mean germination and growth will be slow. Be patient.

Although these veggies are either cold-tolerant or good at overwintering, they still will not tolerate very cold weather. If you have cold winters, you’ll need to protect your efforts. An old milk jug can give seeds some protection and act as a mini greenhouse for a few seeds. If you want to start more seeds, use a cold frame, like the Giantex wooden cold frame, which has a flip top for easy access.

As plants develop, row covers will protect winter veggies from frost, snow, harsh winds, and flying pests. This Plant Covers Freeze Protection Kit on Amazon includes hoops, clips, and a roll of frost blanket.

Apply straw, shredded leaves, or other loose, organic mulch over and around new crops or overwintering veggies. Just take care not to drown delicate seedlings in mulch.

Take care with watering, as letting soil get soggy is easy to do in winter. Check the soil before watering plants.

8 Vegetables to Plant in November

These are some of our favorite vegetables that many gardeners can start in November, including those that could be ready in winter and others that you’ll harvest in spring or summer.

1. Garlic

Garlic is an example of a crop that will overwinter and provide you with a harvest next summer. As long as your soil is workable and not waterlogged, garlic is a dependable crop for planting now. Plant individual garlic cloves with the pointy ends up. Use mulch to protect the cloves from winter freezes. If successful, your cloves will grow roots over winter, foliage in spring, and bulbs in the summer.

You can plant garlic from the grocery store, though it’s usually a softneck variety grown in milder climates and may struggle in colder regions. Hardneck garlic is often a better choice for those areas. Botanical Interests offers an organic garlic flavor sampler bundle featuring two hardneck varieties and elephant garlic.

2. Shallots

Shallots can also be overwintered and will reward you with a harvest in late spring or early summer. Plant shallot sets or individual shallot bulbs with the pointy ends up, just slightly above the soil surface. French Red Shallots from Burpee are a delicious culinary variety worth trying.

You should mulch lightly to protect shallots in colder climates. However, fall planting is best suited to milder regions, and if you have very cold winters, the planting window may already have passed. Check with your local extension office for exact dates.

3. Spinach

Spinach is remarkably cold-hardy. The seeds will be slow to germinate in the cold, though. This Sow Right Seeds Spinach Seed Collection contains three tasty varieties. Unless you have very mild winters, use cold frames or other protections. Once spinach plants get established, they should produce leaves you can pick throughout the winter. Harvest from the outside edge of the plants, leaving the center intact.

4. Kale

Kale is another very cold-hardy vegetable that many gardeners can grow now for winter harvests. It’s also hard to grow from seed in the cold, so unless you have mild weather in November, consider using transplants, like these Bonnie Plants Lacinato Kale Plants from Lowe's. Use cold frames or row covers as needed, especially during hard freezes. For warmer zones, Burpee sells a four-variety kale blend.

5. Arugula

Arugula is a mildly cold-tolerant green that is best for growing in November in milder climates. If conditions are right, it will germinate and grow rapidly, giving you a winter harvest. If you want to grow arugula in colder regions, use frames or a greenhouse and be prepared for growth to be slower. You can pick up a pack of arugula seeds for less than $5 from Sow Right Seeds.

6. Radishes

Like arugula, radishes grow rapidly, so if the weather and soil conditions are right, you can start plants now and get a quick winter harvest. Burpee's Cooks Custom Blend Radish Seeds Collection contains red, pink, purple, and white radishes. For the best results, the soil should be workable, and November temperatures should be cool or mild. For colder areas, plant the most cold-tolerant varieties and use cold frames.

7. Carrots

Plant carrots now for a sweet treat in early spring. Carrots generally overwinter well, but choose the more cold-tolerant varieties for the best results. Scarlet Nantes, included in this Gardeners Basics 5-Variety Pack on Amazon, can be harvested through winter with protection. It’s also important to make sure the soil is loose and free of stones, so the roots can grow deep. Use a generous layer of mulch to keep the soil warmer over winter.

8. Peas

Peas can also generally be overwintered for a spring harvest. Peas grow best in cooler weather, but they still need some warmth to establish. Alaska peas, available from Eden Brothers, tolerate chilly conditions, but if your November is very cold, it might be too late. In milder growing regions, this can be a good time to start peas. Be sure to plant your peas near a trellis or other vertical structure so the plants can climb in spring.

November doesn’t have to mean the end of growing veggies for the year. Depending on your region and local weather, you may be able to grow or overwinter some or all of these cold-tolerant vegetables. Choose the plants most suited to your conditions and be patient. Colder weather means slower growth.