What to plant in November in zone 5
USDA zone 5 has winter lows of -20 to -10°F, a typical last spring frost around Apr 30 and first fall frost around Oct 5, roughly 160 frost-free days. November is the "a planning month" there.
1 crop has a sowing or planting window this month: garlic - and 1 of those windows close during November.
Dates come from the typical frost dates of USDA zone 5 (last frost Apr 30, first frost Oct 5). A zone covers many climates, so for dates tuned to your town use the planting calendar, or pick your state below.
Zone 5: planting activity through the year
Last chance in November
Garlic (plant in fall (after first frost), by Nov 2)
For fall and winter harvests (1)
Sowings counted back from zone 5's first fall frost, so the crop matures before the cold - or, for garlic and similar, planted after it.
| Crop | What to do | Window | This month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garlic | Plant in fall (after first frost) | Oct 16 – Nov 2 | Last chance - ends Nov 2 |
Harvesting in November
First harvests expected this month from crops sown or planted on time earlier in the season.
A planning month: November garden jobs in zone 5
- Order seed while stock is good. Zone 5's average last frost is April 30, so the first indoor sowings begin around February 5 - see starting seeds indoors.
- Sketch this year's beds and move each crop family to a new spot - the garden planner and the crop rotation guide make it quick.
- Test old seed: roll ten seeds in a damp paper towel for a week. If fewer than seven sprout, sow thicker or buy fresh.
- If the ground isn't frozen, spread compost now so it's worked in by spring, and send off a soil test - November is when labs are quiet.
Questions gardeners ask
What can I plant in zone 5 in November?
1 crops have a window in November: garlic. The tables above give the exact dates for each.
When are the last and first frost in zone 5?
The typical last spring frost is around Apr 30 and the first fall frost around Oct 5. These are broad zone averages, so your own town can be a week or two either side: look yours up by ZIP code in the planting calendar.
What can I harvest in zone 5 in November?
From plantings made on time: radicchio, parsley, green onion / scallion, endive & escarole, fava bean (broad bean).
November in states with land in zone 5
Zone 5 in other months
What to plant in November in other zones
Dates are computed from the zone’s typical frost dates and each crop’s timing in our crop database. Your garden may be a week or two either side.