Garden 10 Things to Plant in November for a Beautiful Spring Garden Get a head start on your spring garden. By Michelle Mastro Michelle Mastro Michelle Mastro is a writer and author specializing in home and garden topics. She has written for Architectural Digest, The Spruce, Midwest Living, and other publications. Editorial Guidelines Published on November 6, 2024 Close Photo: IRINA NAZAROVA / Getty Images Don't pack up your gardening tools just yet. November's cool temperatures are ideal for planting a number of different plants. That’s because many cold-loving plants are often less stressed if they're planted when the temperatures are lower, allowing them to establish a thriving root system so they're healthy and lush come spring. To find out what to plant in November, we chatted with expert gardeners. Read on for their recommendations for what to plant this month and why. Lindsey Chastain, gardener, homesteader, and founder of The Waddle and Cluck Amy Yarger, senior director of horticulture at the Butterfly Pavilion 01 of 10 Daffodils Jacky Parker Photography / Getty Images Daffodils (Narcissus spp.) are perennials planted in the fall. “These bulbs benefit from planting in November, so they can establish roots before winter,” says gardener and homesteader Lindsey Chastain. Over winter, these bulbs spend their time growing plenty of roots to anchor the plant in the ground before the flower stem and leaves can emerge in early spring. Zones: 4 to 8Size: 6 to 30 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun to part sun; average, well-drained soil 02 of 10 Garlic Elvira Kashapova / Getty Images Always plant garlic (Allium sativum) in the fall, but be sure to plant it about a month before the first frost. “Garlic thrives when planted in late fall and can handle the cold weather,” says Chastain. The plant will naturally overwinter on its own. But if you delay too long in planting it, garlic’s roots won’t be able to anchor it in the ground, and it will get pushed out of the soil when the ground freezes. Zones: 4 to 9Size: 12 to 18 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun, frequent watering 03 of 10 Coral Bells Melissa Ross / Getty Images Coral bells (Heuchera spp.) are planted in late fall or early spring. They provide ground cover, making them good complements to rock gardens and garden borders or edges. “These perennials are hardy, come in a range of colors, and can be planted in fall to establish roots before winter,” says Chastain. Zones: 4 to 9Size: 8 to 18 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wideCare requirements: Partial to full shade; well-draining soil 04 of 10 Onions Olena Ruban / Getty Images In warmer climates, you can plant onions (Allium cepa) in the fall. Onions are slow-growing in winter but speed up in the spring. “Onions can handle cooler temperatures, so if you plant them in November from seeds, they will grow slowly over the winter,” says Chastain. Zones: 4 to 9Size: 12 to18 inches tall x 6 to12 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; fertile, well-drained soil 05 of 10 Common Milkweed Alleksander / Getty Images A native flower, milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) requires a cold period to germinate. “When our horticulture team is establishing a wildflower meadow, we often watch the forecast in November for periods of light snow," says Amy Yarger, senior director of horticulture at the Butterfly Pavilion. Right before the snow, they rake the ground and scatter the seeds. “The falling snow will provide natural cover and moisture for the new seeds.” By spring, the milkweed will then bloom. Zones: 3 to 9Size: 2 to 4 feet tall x 24 to 30 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; moist, well-drained soil 06 of 10 Carrots Laurence Mouton / Getty Images Carrots (Daucus carota) can also be planted in the fall, as the colder temperatures make them taste a little sweeter. “Just make sure to choose late varieties for carrots,” says Chastain. “Plant in a sunny area with well-draining soil and cover with mulch.” Zones: 3 to 10Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 1 to 3 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil 07 of 10 Allium Clive Nichols / Getty Images Plant these flowering bulbs in the fall. Unlike coneflowers and black-eyed Susans (other fall flowers), alliums (Allium spp.) don’t need deadheading and can be low maintenance. “Our horticulture team at Butterfly Pavilion prefers to wait until a week or two after the first frost to plant our spring-blooming bulbs,” says Yarger. So be sure to wait until your region’s night-time temperatures are cool enough to give alliums the cold period they need. Zones: 4 to 10Size: 1 to 4 feet tall x 3 to 10 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil 08 of 10 Tulips IRINA NAZAROVA / Getty Images Plant tulips (Tulipa spp.) in the fall. Colder regions can plant as early as September, but warm zones should wait until December to ensure the plant gets the cold it needs to thrive. For many regions, November is the perfect time to plant tulips because it’s not too warm or too cold for the bulbs. “In November, the ground is not frozen yet, so gardeners can dig more easily,” says Yarger. Zones: 3 to 8Size: 9 to 24 inches tall x 6 to 9 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil 09 of 10 Lettuce Laurence Mouton / Getty Images Fall is the best time to plant most types of lettuce (Lactuca sativa). “These leafy greens can tolerate frost, especially romaine and butterhead lettuce,” says Chastain. “Harvest the outer leaves first to promote continuous growth.” Cover the lettuce with a cold frame if your area gets more than a light frost in winter. Zones: 2 to 11Size: 6 by 12 inches tall x 6 by 12 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; fertile, well-draining soil 10 of 10 Bare-Root Roses Kevin Trimmer / Getty Images Bare-root roses (Rosa spp.) are dormant roses removed from their soil and pruned of all blooms and leaves. “Fall planting gives these roses time to establish roots before spring, which leads to stronger blooms,” says Chastain. So, November is an ideal time for planting roses when they are in their bare-root form. Zones: 2 to 11Size: 3 to 5 feet tall x 3 to 15 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit