November is a cleanup, protection, and cool-season harvest month in much of the United States. Conditions vary sharply by USDA zone, so follow your local frost dates and winter weather instead of a national calendar.

Start indoors in November

Most gardeners do not need to start seeds indoors now, except small trays of lettuce, herbs, or microgreens for protected or indoor growing. In mild regions, start onions or cool-season transplants only when they fit local extension recommendations and winter conditions.

Plant outdoors: cool & northern regions (zones 3–6)

In zones 3 to 6, harvest remaining tender crops, protect spinach, kale, and carrots with mulch or low tunnels, and finish garlic planting if soil is still workable. If the ground is frozen, focus on storing harvests and planning next year's garden.

Plant outdoors: warm & southern regions (zones 7–10)

In zones 7 to 10, continue planting and harvesting broccoli, cabbage, kale, lettuce, spinach, peas, carrots, beets, radishes, onions, and garlic as locally suitable. Use row cover on cold nights and succession-sow greens for a steady winter harvest.

Garden tasks for November

Clean and store tools, drain and protect irrigation equipment where freezing occurs, and label stored seed. Keep beds covered with mulch, cover crops, or tarps to reduce erosion and suppress winter weeds.

Regional guidance for US home gardens; always adjust to your own last and first frost dates. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.