If you’ve been wondering what to plant in Florida in November, cool-season vegetables, herbs, and more are about to become your best friends! November is honestly one of my favorite times to garden here in Florida. The brutal summer heat finally backs off, the humidity drops to something manageable, and suddenly growing food feels fun again. What to Plant in Florida in November: Cool-season Vegetables, Herbs & More is a popular choice for gardeners.
I’ve been gardening in Florida for years, and I always tell people that fall is our secret season. While most of the country is putting their gardens to bed, we’re just getting started. It’s a total game-changer once you realize how much you can grow!
What to Plant in Florida in November: Cool-Season Vegetables to Start Now
November is prime time for leafy greens, and I cannot stress this enough. Lettuce, spinach, kale, and Swiss chard all love the cooler temperatures we get this time of year. They grow fast, they’re easy to care for, and you’ll be harvesting leaves in just a few weeks. I always plant way more than I think I need because we eat so much of it!
Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are also fantastic choices for November planting. These brassicas really thrive in Florida’s mild winters, and they need that cooler weather to form good heads. Start them from transplants if you can, since seedlings take a while to establish. Space them about 18 inches apart so they have room to spread out.
Don’t overlook root vegetables either! Carrots, beets, radishes, and turnips all do really well when planted in November. Just make sure your soil is loose and well-draining, because compacted Florida soil makes it hard for roots to grow straight. I like to mix in some compost before planting to loosen things up.
Snap peas and snow peas are another November favorite of mine. They love climbing, so toss up a simple trellis and watch them take off. Just know that once temperatures start creeping back up in late February or March, their season is pretty much done. So enjoy them while they last!
November Herbs: What to Plant in Florida in November for Your Kitchen Garden
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Herbs are where November really shines for Florida gardeners. Cilantro is at the top of my list because it absolutely hates our summer heat and bolts almost immediately. But in November? It’s totally happy and grows like crazy. I plant it in big batches so I always have plenty for salsa and tacos.
Parsley, dill, and fennel are all great picks too. These herbs prefer cooler weather and will give you a long productive season through winter and into early spring. Plant them in a sunny spot with well-draining soil and they’ll basically take care of themselves. I water mine about twice a week and they’re perfectly happy.
UF/IFAS Extension has a great herb growing guide that’s specific to Florida, and I reference it all the time when I’m figuring out timing. It’s one of the most reliable resources out there for Florida gardeners.
Basil is a little tricky in November because it’s a warm-season herb. If you’re in South Florida (zones 10-11), you can still grow it through the winter with no problem. But if you’re in North or Central Florida, basil will struggle once nighttime temps drop below 50 degrees. Stick with the cold-tolerant herbs and save basil for spring.
Flowers and Other Cool-Season Crops to Plant in November in Florida
Beyond vegetables and herbs, November is a wonderful time to add some flowers to your garden. Pansies, snapdragons, and petunias all love Florida winters and will bloom beautifully from now through spring. I plant pansies every single year because they make my garden look so cheerful when everything else looks bare.
Calendula is another flower I always include in my November planting. It’s edible, it attracts pollinators, and it’s incredibly easy to grow from seed. Just sprinkle the seeds in a sunny bed, water them in, and you’ll see sprouts within about a week. The orange and yellow flowers are just gorgeous.
If you want to grow strawberries, November is actually the perfect time to plant them in Florida! Get bare-root plants or transplants from a local nursery and plant them in raised beds or containers with good drainage. The USDA notes that strawberries need well-drained soil and at least 6-8 hours of sun to produce well. Florida-grown strawberries from your own garden are absolutely delicious!
Garlic and onions are also worth planting in November. They’re slow growers, but you’ll be rewarded with a harvest in spring. I plant garlic cloves about 4-6 inches apart and barely have to do anything else until harvest time. It’s one of the most low-effort crops I grow all year.
Tips for Keeping Your November Garden Happy All Season Long
One thing I’ve learned about Florida winter gardening is that soil prep makes a huge difference. Our native soil is often sandy and drains too fast, which means nutrients wash away quickly. I always add a good layer of compost before planting and then top-dress with more compost every few weeks to keep things fertile.
Watering in November is much less intense than summer, which is such a relief. Most cool-season crops need about an inch of water per week, and Florida’s occasional winter rains often help with that. I check the soil before watering every time instead of just running my irrigation on a schedule. If the top inch feels moist, I skip it.
Watch out for caterpillars on your brassicas! Cabbage loopers and imported cabbageworms love to munch on broccoli, cabbage, and kale. I check the undersides of leaves every few days and pick them off by hand when I spot them. If the infestation gets bad, a spray of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) works really well and is totally safe for the garden.
Frost is something North Florida gardeners need to think about, especially in December and January. Keep some row cover fabric on hand so you can protect tender plants on cold nights. Central and South Florida gardeners rarely need to worry about this, but it’s always smart to check the forecast during cold snaps.
November is honestly one of the most exciting months to be a Florida gardener. The weather is perfect, the pests are fewer, and the list of things you can grow is so long! Whether you’re brand new to gardening or you’ve been doing this for years, this season has so much to offer.
So get out there and start planting! Knowing what to plant in Florida in November – cool-season vegetables, herbs, and more – means you’ll have a beautiful, productive garden to enjoy all the way through spring. I can’t wait to hear what you decide to grow!
