What to plant in November — zone 10b
Zone 10b averages its last spring frost around January 15 and its first fall frost around December 30. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Start indoors
- Start onions and leeks indoorsaround Nov 6
Alliums need 10-12 weeks under lights before they go out — the earliest sowing of the year.
- Onionaround Nov 6
10 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-15). Match day-length to your latitude — long-day north of 37°, short-day south.
- Rosemaryaround Nov 6
10 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-15). In zone 6 and below, grow in a pot and overwinter indoors near a south window.
- Pepperaround Nov 20
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-15). Pinch first flowers on transplants so the plant invests in roots before setting fruit.
- Parsleyaround Nov 20
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-15). Soak seeds 24 hrs before sowing. Cut outer stems and it comes back for years in mild zones.
- Chivesaround Nov 20
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-15). Divide the clump every 3 years — one plant becomes six with no effort.
- Oreganoaround Nov 20
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-15). Harvest just before flowering for the strongest flavor. Dries beautifully.
- Thymearound Nov 20
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-15). Needs sharp drainage — plant in gravelly soil or a raised bed edge. Never wet feet.
- Sagearound Nov 20
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-15). Prune hard in spring to prevent woody stems and keep the plant productive for 5+ years.
Dormant care
- Check season-extension geararound Nov 20
Patch row cover, cold frames and hoops now so a late freeze can't catch you unprepared.
Direct sow for fall
- Carrotaround Nov 1
Counts back 70 days from your first frost. Frost-hardy — light freezes sweeten it.
- Beetaround Nov 5
Counts back 55 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
- Dillaround Nov 5
Counts back 45 days from your first frost. Frost-tender — must finish before frost.
- Spinacharound Nov 10
Succession sowing 2 of 3 — sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
- Lettucearound Nov 10
Counts back 50 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
- Radisharound Nov 13
Succession sowing 3 of 3 — sow every 14 days for a steady cut.
- Cilantroaround Nov 15
Counts back 45 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
- Radisharound Nov 27
Succession sowing 2 of 3 — sow every 14 days for a steady cut.
Transplant for fall
Sow cover crop
- Cover crop (cereal rye + crimson clover)around Nov 30
Sown a month before frost it germinates, holds your soil all winter, and feeds it in spring.
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