My Planting Calendar

What to plant in November in zone 8

USDA zone 8 has winter lows of 10 to 20°F, a typical last spring frost around Mar 20 and first fall frost around Nov 5, roughly 230 frost-free days. November is the "after the first frost" there.

2 crops have a sowing or planting window this month: shallot, garlic.

Dates come from the typical frost dates of USDA zone 8 (last frost Mar 20, first frost Nov 5). A zone covers many climates, so for dates tuned to your town use the planting calendar, or pick your state below.

After the first frostSow or plant: 2Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 34

Zone 8: planting activity through the year

29
61
86
58
9
9
14
30
27
3
2
2
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Mar 20 – Nov 5
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 2 have one in November; the busiest month is March (86).

For fall and winter harvests (2)

Sowings counted back from zone 8's first fall frost, so the crop matures before the cold - or, for garlic and similar, planted after it.

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
ShallotPlant in fall (after first frost)Nov 9 – Nov 26Nov 9 – Nov 26
GarlicPlant in fall (after first frost)Nov 16 – Dec 3Opens Nov 16

Harvesting in November

First harvests expected this month from crops sown or planted on time earlier in the season.

Broccoli · Sep 25 – Nov 6Cauliflower · Sep 25 – Nov 11Cabbage · Sep 25 – Nov 21Lettuce · Sep 30 – Nov 16Brussels Sprouts · Oct 4 – Nov 20Bok Choy / Pak Choi · Oct 5 – Nov 6Mizuna · Oct 5 – Nov 1Swiss Chard · Oct 6 – Nov 2Napa Cabbage · Oct 6 – Nov 17Mustard Greens · Oct 7 – Nov 8Fennel (Bulb) · Oct 7 – Nov 18Cilantro / Coriander · Oct 8 – Nov 19Carrot · Oct 9 – Nov 15Radicchio · Oct 9 – Dec 5Dill · Oct 10 – Nov 16Rapini (Broccoli Raab) · Oct 10 – Nov 16Pea · Oct 11 – Nov 12Collard Greens · Oct 11 – Nov 17Tatsoi · Oct 12 – Nov 13Beet · Oct 13 – Nov 19Radish · Oct 13 – Nov 7Spinach · Oct 14 – Nov 8Arugula · Oct 14 – Nov 10Kohlrabi · Oct 15 – Nov 16Mache (Corn Salad) · Oct 15 – Nov 16Turnip · Oct 17 – Nov 23Chervil · Oct 17 – Nov 23Rutabaga · Oct 18 – Nov 14Borage · Oct 25 – Dec 1Parsley · Oct 26 – Dec 2Green Onion / Scallion · Oct 30 – Dec 6Watercress · Nov 3 – Nov 30Endive & Escarole · Nov 10 – Dec 12Fava Bean (Broad Bean) · Nov 14 – Dec 16

After the first frost: November garden jobs in zone 8

  1. The average first frost (November 5) has passed - pull frost-killed tender plants and compost the healthy ones; bin or burn anything that had blight or mildew.
  2. Plant garlic now (Nov 16 – Dec 3): single cloves, pointy end up, 2 inches deep and 6 inches apart, then mulch.
  3. Leave cold-hardy roots (carrots, parsnips, leeks) in the ground under a thick mulch and dig them as needed.
  4. Clean and oil tools, drain hoses, and note what worked this year while you still remember - it makes next year's plan far easier.

Questions gardeners ask

What can I plant in zone 8 in November?

2 crops have a window in November: shallot, garlic. The tables above give the exact dates for each.

When are the last and first frost in zone 8?

The typical last spring frost is around Mar 20 and the first fall frost around Nov 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 8 in November?

From plantings made on time: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, brussels sprouts, bok choy / pak choi, mizuna, swiss chard, napa cabbage, mustard greens.

November in states with land in zone 8

AlabamaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaLouisianaMarylandMississippiNevadaNew MexicoNorth CarolinaOklahoma

Zone 8 in other months

JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberDecemberZone 8 overview →

What to plant in November in other zones

Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 9Zone 10All states →

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.