What to Plant in November: 10 Vegetables That Can Still Grow

Depending on your region, there are still plenty of vegetables you can plant in November, including garlic, spinach, kale, carrots, radishes, turnips, and other cool-season crops.

The key is knowing your local frost and freeze dates. In mild climates, November can still be a productive planting month. In colder areas, you should focus on cold-hardy crops, overwintering vegetables, or growing under protection and in greenhouses. Here are 10 vegetables worth considering for the month.

Can You Still Plant in November?

Actually, November can be a good time to plant cool-season vegetables, particularly in areas with mild winters. Some crops prefer being planted in late fall because they can establish roots while temperatures are cool and then continue growing during winter. 

Your exact planting options depend on your USDA hardiness zone, first and last frost dates, and whether you're growing outdoors or with protection. Don't assume it's too late even if you are experiencing freezing temperatures. A greenhouse, raised garden bed, or other season-extension tactics can give you more options.

10 Vegetables You Can Plant in November

1. Garlic

Garlic is typically planted several weeks before the ground freezes, so the cloves can establish roots without putting on much top growth.

Plant individual cloves with the pointed end facing upward, cover them with soil, and add  mulch to help protect them through winter. Garlic planted in fall is usually harvested the following summer.

Cold tolerance: Excellent

2. Spinach

Spinach tolerates cold well and can continue producing in many climates through fall and winter, especially with some added protection.

For colder regions, plant spinach early enough for it to establish before more severe freezes arrive. Once established, mature plants are much more cold-tolerant than seedlings. Frost cloth can provide added protection during particularly cold nights.

Cold tolerance: Excellent

3. Kale

Kale can tolerate frost and often becomes sweeter after being exposed to the cold. Depending on your climate, planting in November can work well in a greenhouse, protected raised bed, or in a mild outdoor garden.

Cold tolerance: Excellent

4. Carrots

Carrots are another great choice for late-season growing. They can tolerate frost, and their roots can remain in the ground for an extended period.  In colder areas, a thick layer of mulch can help prevent the soil from freezing too much, making it easier to harvest carrots later.

Cold tolerance: Very good

5. Radishes

Radishes are among the fastest vegetables you can grow, making them useful when you don't have too much time left in the growing season.

In colder regions, planting outdoors now may be too late for a full crop, but radishes can still be grown under protection or in a greenhouse.

Cold tolerance: Good

6. Turnips

Turnips are well suited to cool weather and can tolerate light frost. Both the roots and greens are edible, making them a productive choice when garden space is limited.

A raised bed can be ideal for late-season root crops because it provides loose, manageable soil and good drainage.

Cold tolerance: Good

7. Beets

Beets are relatively compact, making them a good choice for raised beds and smaller gardens.

If you live in a mild climate, planting in November can produce a winter crop. In colder regions, you'll generally have better results if the plants are established before freezing temperatures.

Cold tolerance: Good 

8. Swiss Chard

Swiss chard doesn't handle extreme cold as well as kale, but it can tolerate cool weather and light frost. If a hard freeze is coming, protect the plants with frost cloth or move them into a sheltered location.

Cold tolerance: Moderate to good

9. Lettuce

Lettuce grows best in cool weather, making it a natural fit for late fall. Choose cold-hardy varieties and consider using row covers or a greenhouse if temperatures are expected to fall.

A protected raised garden bed can give lettuce a little more flexibility than an exposed garden.

Cold tolerance: Moderate, depending on variety

10. Peas

Peas prefer cool growing conditions, although planting in the month depends on your climate. In mild areas, peas can establish before winter and resume growth when temperatures rise.

In colder regions, late planting may be too risky unless you have a greenhouse or other protection. If you're planting peas, focus on varieties suited to your local conditions. 

Cold tolerance: Moderate

What Should You Plant in November by Climate?

Remember that November doesn't mean the same thing everywhere. A gardener in the Pacific Northwest, for example, may have very different options from someone gardening in California.

Mild Climates

Gardeners in warmer regions may still be able to plant:

• Lettuce

• Spinach

• Kale

• Carrots

• Radishes

• Broccoli

• Garlic

You may be able to grow many of these outdoors throughout winter.

Moderate Winter Climates

Focus on cold-hardy crops and give tender plants some protection. Some good options include:

• Garlic

• Kale

• Spinach

• Carrots

• Radishes

Mulch, raised beds, and greenhouses can all extend your options.

Cold Winter Climates

If your ground is already freezing or snow is approaching, outdoor planting will become more limited. Instead, you should focus on:

• Garlic, where local planting conditions still allow it

• Overwintering established crops

• Greenhouse growing

• Indoor herbs and greens

Check your regional planting calendar for guidance on specific timing. 

How to Protect Vegetable Crops From Frost

If your garden is likely to experience frost in November, protection can make a major difference.

Use Frost Cloth

Frost cloth or row cover can trap warmer air around plants and reduce exposure to the cold. For an unexpected frost, cover vulnerable crops before temperatures fall significantly.

Add Mulch

Mulch helps insulate the soil and protect plant roots from rapid temperature changes. This is particularly useful for overwintering carrots, garlic and other crops that remain in the ground.

Grow in Raised Garden Beds

Raised garden beds can make late-season gardening easier by giving you control over soil quality and planting space. Vego Garden's metal raised beds are designed as long-term structures, making them a good foundation for growing through the seasons.

Grow in a Greenhouse

A greenhouse can expand your planting options, particularly in colder areas. You can grow hardy greens and root crops under protection while also reducing exposure to rain and frost.

Keep in mind that an unheated greenhouse can still fall below freezing during a hard freeze. 

Planting Vegetables in a Raised Bed

Raised garden beds can be particularly useful for November gardening because they provide controlled growing space and make it easier to manage soil, drainage and protection.

Cold-hardy vegetables such as kale, spinach, carrots, beets, turnips and radishes can all be good candidates depending on your climate and timing. You can also install hoops over a raised bed and add frost cloth when temperatures drop.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What vegetables can I plant in November?

Common November vegetables include garlic, spinach, kale, carrots, radishes, turnips, beets, Swiss chard, lettuce, peas, broccoli, cabbage, green onions, arugula, and mâche. The best choices depend on your local climate and whether the crops will be protected.

Is November too late to plant vegetables?

Not necessarily. November can be an excellent planting month for cool-season crops in mild and moderate climates. In colder regions, outdoor options become more limited as the ground freezes, but garlic, overwintering crops, greenhouses, and indoor growing can still provide options.

What is the best vegetable to plant in November?

Garlic is one of the best-known November planting choices because fall planting allows the cloves to establish roots before winter and experience the cold period they need. Spinach, kale, carrots, and other cold-hardy crops are also good choices depending on your climate.

What vegetables can survive winter?

Kale, spinach, carrots, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, some broccoli varieties, turnips, and other cold-hardy crops can survive cold weather. Their ability to survive winter depends on the variety, local temperatures, how long freezing conditions last, and the protection provided.

Can I plant garlic in November?

Yes. In many regions, November is still within the fall garlic planting window. However, the ideal timing depends on your climate, soil conditions, and garlic variety.

Can I plant vegetables after the first frost?

Some cold-hardy vegetables can still be planted after a light frost, but planting becomes more difficult as the ground gets colder. In many regions, crops such as garlic and winter vegetables are best established before repeated hard freezes arrive.

Can I grow vegetables in a greenhouse in November?

Yes. A greenhouse can extend the growing season and protect cool-season vegetables from wind, rain, and frost. An unheated greenhouse can still freeze, however, so additional protection may be necessary in cold climates.

Are raised beds good for winter gardening?

Yes. Raised beds provide a defined growing area and make it easier to manage soil, drainage, mulch, and frost protection. They can be especially useful for cool-season crops and overwintering vegetables.

Final Thoughts

November isn't necessarily the end of the vegetable garden. In many climates, it's an opportunity to shift toward crops that actually prefer cooler conditions. Start with the vegetables that fit your local climate—garlic, spinach, kale, carrots, radishes, turnips and other hardy crops are all worth considering.

And if it's already too cold to plant outdoors, there's still plenty to do. Start seeds indoors, grow herbs and greens under lights, or use the winter to prepare your beds for an early spring revival.