November Garden Prep: Planting, Soil Care, & Cleanup for All Zones

November Garden Prep: Planting, Soil Care, & Cleanup for All Zones

November is a transition month for gardeners across the United States. Whether you're watching snow fall or still harvesting greens in a mild climate, this is the time to reset, protect, and prepare your garden for the months ahead.

Here’s your zone-friendly guide to what you should be doing right now in your garden — no matter where you live.

✅ What to Plant Right Now (By Climate)

Cold & Frost Zones (Zones 3–7)

If frost has arrived or is on the way, plant crops that love a winter chill and come back stronger in spring:

  • Garlic

  • Shallots

  • Walking/multiplier onions

  • Perennial herbs (thyme, oregano, chives)

  • Asparagus crowns (if soil still workable)

Under a low tunnel or cold frame, you can still sow:

  • Spinach

  • Winter lettuce mixes

  • Kale

  • Arugula

  • Mâche (corn salad)

  • Claytonia (miner’s lettuce)

These won’t grow much right now — they will overwinter and explode with growth in early spring.

Mild & Warm Zones (Zones 8–10)

Fall is prime planting season for you! Sow:

  • Lettuce & salad greens

  • Kale & collards

  • Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower

  • Beets & carrots

  • Radishes

  • Peas

  • Garlic & onions

  • Hardy herbs (cilantro, parsley, dill)

Take advantage of cooler temps and winter rain — your soil will thank you.

🌿 Keep Harvesting (If Your Climate Allows)

Depending on your zone, you may still be picking:

  • Kale & collards

  • Carrots & beets

  • Brussel sprouts

  • Turnips & radishes

  • Fresh herbs

  • Late peppers or green tomatoes (warm zones)

Use frost cloth to extend the season in cooler regions.

✅ Garden Clean-Up (Without Damaging Soil Life)

Don’t strip your garden bare — clean wisely.

Remove:

  • Diseased plants

  • Pest-infested foliage

  • Rotten fruit/veggies

Leave:

  • Healthy roots to decompose naturally

  • Some stems for beneficial insects

  • Shredded leaves as mulch

Healthy winter soil = strong spring garden.

🌱 Build Your Soil for Spring Success

Right now is the time to feed your soil.

Add:

  • 1–2 inches compost

  • Worm castings (microbe boost!)

  • Natural mulch — leaves, straw, shredded plant matter

  • Optional: organic slow-release fertilizer

Don’t:

  • Till your beds (protect soil structure + microbes)

This is how you build rich, living soil the no-till, regenerative way.

❄️ Winter Prep Checklist

If You’re in Cold Zones

  • Drain and store hoses

  • Wrap outdoor faucets

  • Mulch garlic + perennial beds

  • Cover late crops with frost cloth or row cover

  • Protect tender shrubs/fruit trees from wildlife browsing

If You’re in Warm Zones

  • Mulch beds before winter rains

  • Stay ahead of weeds (they LOVE mild winters)

  • Continue planting cool-season crops

  • Check irrigation systems

🐦 Support Wildlife & Pollinators

Not everything needs to be tidied.

Leave:

  • Seed heads for birds

  • Some brush for overwintering beneficial insects

Your spring pollinators are depending on you

Ready for Next Season? 🌱

At SeedCatalog.com, we believe your garden starts months before your first planting. This month’s prep lays the foundation for a thriving spring harvest.

Whether you're gardening on five acres or a patio planter, we're here to help you grow.

Happy planting & happy prepping,
— The SeedCatalog Team 🌱

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