November is the first true winter month in a cold zone. The ground is freezing, the garden is put to bed, and the outdoor season is over until spring. That does not mean the gardening year is over. November is for indoor growing, for reviewing the year while it is still fresh in your memory, and for the planning that makes next year's short season work better than this year's.
The most valuable November job is the review.
Zone 1 in November: the frost window
Zone 1 is the coldest USDA zone in this guide, with winter lows below -50°F. The average last spring frost falls around June 15 and the average first autumn frost falls around August 1, which leaves roughly six to seven weeks between the average last spring frost and the average first autumn frost. Everything here runs on the latest timetable in the United States: sow tender crops indoors late, transplant only after mid-June, and harvest fast. Those dates are USDA zone averages from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map and NOAA frost records — they are ranges, not exact dates for any one garden, and they vary by microclimate, elevation and year, so check your local extension service before you plant tender crops outside. Our seed-starting calculator gives you the averages for your zone, and the planting calendar hub lists every zone and month.
Your November task list
- Write down this year's review: what finished, what did not, and which varieties to grow again or drop.
- Order seeds early from catalogues, while the best varieties are still available.
- Check stored produce weekly and remove anything soft or sprouting.
- Care for houseplants: bright light, away from radiators and cold draughts, water only when the soil is dry.
- Clean and store any tools, pots and supports you missed in October.
- Plan next year's beds and rotation on paper, so spring starts with a plan, not a scramble.
What to start indoors in November
- Houseplants take centre stage — November is the hardest month for houseplants: short days, dry heated air, cold draughts. Move plants to the brightest spot, keep them away from radiators and cold glass, and water sparingly.
- Herbs on the windowsill — Parsley, chives and mint in pots keep producing through winter. Basil brought in before frost will keep going if it has enough light.
- Microgreens all winter — Radish, pea shoots and sunflower microgreens are ready in one to two weeks and are the freshest thing you will grow until spring.
Give seedlings strong light close above them, keep the soil moist but not soggy, and label every tray with the crop and sowing date.
What to direct-sow outdoors in November
Nothing is sown outdoors in November — the ground is freezing and no seed will germinate. Indoor sowing is limited to microgreens and herbs on the windowsill. If you have a heated greenhouse or a bright sunroom, you can start the very slowest crops, such as onions, in late November, but most gardeners wait until January for that. The sowing to do in November is on paper: the sowing calendar for next year, worked back from your average last frost.
What to transplant and harvest in November
Nothing is transplanted outdoors in November. The only moving is houseplants finding their winter positions, and tender potted perennials settling indoors for winter. Check any plants you brought in during October for pests — aphids and spider mites thrive in warm, dry indoor air and can spread quickly in November.
The outdoor harvest is over. November eating from the garden is stored food — potatoes, onions, garlic and winter squash, plus frozen beans and preserved tomatoes — and indoor herbs and microgreens. Check stored crops weekly: one rotting onion or potato can spoil a whole box, and November is when storage problems usually show up.
Frost protection in November
November frost is the background of the month, not an event to prepare for — the ground is freezing and the outdoor garden is finished. The frost that matters is the one that can reach stored produce and tender plants: keep potatoes, onions and squash in a frost-free store, and keep potted perennials and houseplants away from freezing windows. Your frost dates are averages, so check your local extension service for your area — but in November the rule is simple: everything tender is already indoors or already lost.
November planting data — Zone 1
| Crop | Germination | Days to maturity | Spacing | Soil pH | Cold tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onions | 7–14 days | 90–120 days | 4–6 in | 6.0–7.0 | hardy |
| Garlic | 7–14 days | 180–240 days | 6 in | 6.0–7.0 | hardy |
| Potatoes | 14–28 days | 70–120 days | 12 in | 5.0–6.0 | frost-tolerant |
| Carrots | 14–21 days | 60–80 days | 2–3 in | 6.0–6.8 | hardy |
| Kale | 7–10 days | 50–65 days | 12–18 in | 6.0–7.5 | hardy |
Frequently asked questions
Can I plant anything in November?
No, not outdoors — the ground is freezing and no vegetable will germinate or survive. November is for indoor growing (herbs and microgreens), reviewing the year, and planning and ordering for next spring.
How do I keep houseplants alive in November?
Give them the brightest spot you have, keep them away from radiators and cold glass, and water only when the top inch or two of soil is dry. Short days and dry heated air are the two biggest problems — light and restraint with water are the answers.
Why are my stored potatoes sprouting?
Stored potatoes sprout when they are kept too warm or in the light. Keep them cool, dark and dry, check them weekly, and use sprouting ones first.
When is the first frost in my zone?
In Zone 1, the average last spring frost falls around June 15 and the average first autumn frost falls around August 1. Frost dates here are zone averages, not exact dates for any one place, and they vary by microclimate, elevation and year — check your local extension service.
November is the garden on paper and on the windowsill: a written review, seeds ordered, houseplants cared for, and stored food checked. The outdoor garden sleeps — but next year's garden is already being planned. Browse the planting calendar hub for every month in your zone, see last month, or look ahead to next month, and see how the same month looks in a milder zone in the Zone 7 January guide.