As we embrace the last full month of fall, let’s dive into our monthly garden plan for November. Florida offers us a fantastic five months of growing time before the summer heat and bugs return, so let’s make the most of it. I’ll be sharing what seeds I’m starting, tasks in the garden, and a special tip that many of you have been eagerly awaiting.
Starting Seeds for the Cool Season
Given our proximity to the first frost date, it’s crucial to focus on cool-season crops. While warm-season crops can linger until frost takes them, cool-season seeds take precedence. The list of seeds I’ll be starting includes arugula, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, collards, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onions, peas, potatoes, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard, and turnips. Succession planting is key, and I recommend setting reminders every two weeks to ensure a continuous harvest.
Project Highlights for November
Two primary projects for this month involve sweet potatoes and onions. If you still have sweet potatoes in the ground, it’s time to pull them up within the next week for curing. The ideal method is placing them in a warm, humid, dark place for two weeks. Curing in the garage or any suitable area works wonders. On the onion front, this is an excellent time to purchase and plant onion starts. The process is simple – plant them, water them in well, and fertilize if needed. If you’ve started onions from seeds, transplant them now, ensuring they won’t interfere with other plants in your beds.
Special Tip: Planting Garlic
The special tip for November revolves around the much-awaited garlic planting. Towards the end of November or the first weeks of December (adjust based on your location), it’s time to plant garlic. After vernalizing garlic cloves in the fridge for about six to twelve weeks, break the cloves apart, leaving the wrapper on to prevent rotting. Plant them with the pointy side up, five to six inches deep, in well-fertilized soil. Mulch heavily with shredded material to aid in growth.
That sums up my plans for November. I hope your garden is growing well. Happy Gardening!
