7 Fall veggies you can still grow in November
It is easy to neglect the garden in late Fall/early Winter. Maybe because most of us don’t equate November with gardening shoes or maybe we’re just too busy cooking that turkey and planning the annual collective freakout a.k.a Black Friday.
Don’t let the cold weather or holiday madness curb your enthusiasm for gardening. Despite colder temperatures and shorter days of winter, you can still grow several varieties of suitable hardy vegetables. Unless you live in frigid, frosty, or downright freezing winter, (I’m in hardiness zone 9b), many delicious and nutritious vegetables that can be grown this late in the year— and trust me you do not have to be a pro to do it. I’ve been growing these 7 Fall veggies for years and they come our really well.
1. Beets
Beet is a cold-weather vegetable that grows quickly and survives freezing temperatures. If you forgot to grow it in October, November is not too late. Harvest fresh leaves while the root is developing and use them in your salads.
2. Brussel Sprouts
How many of us detested this miniature vegetable when we were a kid? And how many of us love them now, drizzled with olive oil, and roasted with garlic and black pepper? Yum! Brussel Sprouts are a cole crop meaning they belong to the mustard (Brassica) family and are descendants of the wild cabbage. They love cold temperatures. Put them in your garden a few weeks before first frost in your area and they will be as happy as they come.
3. Broccoli
The secret to the best tasting broccoli is the time of the year when you grow it. And if you are a broccoli snob like I am, then November is the month for it. Just remember that broccoli does better in partial shade. Full sun will promote early flowering and ruin its taste.
4. Carrot
Carrots are the easiest and most bountiful vegetables to grow in late Fall. The average day and night time temperature they require are 55 F and 75 F. I sow them in November for harvest before the onset of summer.
5. Lettuce
Homegrown, freshly harvested, crisp lettuce is more flavourful and richer than anything you will find at a grocery store. Just make sure the soil is well-drained and rich in organic matter, and you’ll have vibrant lettuce leaves in no time. Lettuce can also be easily grown hydroponically, which is how I grow them. Available in different colors and varieties, lettuce will liven up both your garden as well as your dinner table.
6. Kale
An easy treat to grow at home, Kale is widely recognized for it’s health benefits. It’s crisp texture and mild sweet flavor makes it a perfect ingredient in salads, smoothies, or sauteed vegetables. Kale takes about 55–70 days to mature. It’s time to harvest when the leaves are about the size of your hand. Pick them one by one, starting with the lowest, outermost leaves and working toward the center.
7.Radish
Plant radishes in November and expect a great vegetable harvest — large roots, big leaves and robust flavors. Radish is a short season crop and can be ready for harvest as early as 4 weeks after planting. For most varieties, harvest when roots are approximately 1 inch in diameter at the soil surface
Happy gardening!
