What to plant in November: zone 9b
Zone 9b averages its last spring frost around February 15 and its first fall frost around December 15. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Plan & order
- Map this year's bedsaround Nov 2
Rotate families off last year's ground. Nightshades, brassicas and cucurbits each move to a new bed.
- Soil testaround Nov 9
A $20 test now tells you what to amend before planting instead of guessing all season.
Dormant care
- Sharpen and oil toolsaround Nov 16
Clean, sharpen and oil blades while there's time. Dull tools bruise plants and slow you down.
- Prune dormant fruit treesaround Nov 30
Prune apples, pears and peaches while fully dormant. Open the center, remove crossing wood.
Start indoors
- Sow microgreens indoorsaround Nov 23
A tray on the windowsill gives you a cut of fresh greens every 10-14 days through the cold months.
Direct sow
- Rutabagaaround Nov 23
Soil is ready -12 weeks before last frost.
Transplant for fall
- Kalearound Nov 1
Last safe transplant date to mature (55 days) before frost on 12-15.
Direct sow for fall
Sow cover crop
- Cover crop (cereal rye + crimson clover)around Nov 15
Sown a month before frost it germinates, holds your soil all winter, and feeds it in spring.
Plant to overwinter
- Onionaround Nov 17
In zone 7+ onion sets planted before frost overwinter for an early summer bulb.
Turn this into your own calendar
Want this calendar emailed to you?
Get the full 12-month version for your ZIP area. Every sowing, transplant, and harvest window, with reminders you can add to your calendar.