What to Plant in November in Zone 6

What to Plant in November in Zone 6

We need to plan our November planting so we can enjoy the crops for the whole winter. With careful planning, you can also set a beautiful stage for your spring garden. This is considered fall gardening, but I am specifically considering those plants that will perform the best if planted in November in Zone 6.

Tip: Do not forget to check the weather. If the first frost is already done, you need to choose hardy plants and in November we know it's pretty cold. If early winter feels colder than usual, add mulch or row covers for extra insulation.

I never thought of making a planting calendar for Zone 6. There are very few online resources that provide a well-organized guide on what to plant for a specific month. Yes, some sites offer planting guides based on zip code, but they often fall short of being truly helpful. This is why I take my time out to make this planting guide, hoping you will enjoy it.

USDA Zone 6 Map
USDA Zone 6 Map

November Planting Guide for Zone 6 - What to Plant

We need to choose plants that are hardy and can tolerate frosts. Considering the climate and a few other factors, I have made this planting schedule for November for all the gardeners of Zone 6.

You need to decide if you're planting for an early spring harvest, soil health, or spring blooms. In my list, you will get everything covered.

November soil might be dense and cool. What you need to do is remove all the old roots left in the ground soil. Add some organic matter to increase the drainage. (It will increase the soil health as well)

The days will become shorter so I am considering plants that do not demand long hours of light.

Considering all the factors, I hand-picked plants to add to your November planting. To make it easy to read, I have categorized the plants into several categories:

  1. Leafy Greens
  2. Roots and Vegetables
  3. Flowering Plants
  4. Herbs
  5. Cover crops

If you are my regular reader, you might know this is the way I make planting guides.

To make this planting guide useful, I have added the proper spacing and variety recommendations.

Tips: It is normal that for a specific year the fall may start lately or slightly earlier. If it is still warm even at the beginning of November, wait for a week and go for planting. For early cold, you can consider this planting guide and start planting a bit earlier. A warm climate will reduce the harvesting time and a cooler climate will increase the harvesting time.

I know that considering zone number for deciding what to plant is not the best thing, but somehow you can grow a lot of common plants around every region if they falls in the same zone.

Leafy greens to plant in November in Zone 6

Did you know you can scroll the table side-wise on mobile devices to get the full insight?

Plant Name Planting Method Spacing Depth of Planting Harvesting Time Maintenance Difficulty Variety Recommendation
Spinach Direct Seed Sowing 6 inches apart 1/2 inch Early Spring Easy ‘Bloomsdale’, ‘Tyee’
Kale Transplanting 8-12 inches apart 1/2 inch Early Spring Easy ‘Winterbor’, ‘Lacinato’
Mâche (Corn Salad) Direct Seed Sowing 4-6 inches apart 1/4 inch Late Winter to Early Spring Easy ‘Gentil Rouge’, ‘Mâche d’Hiver’
Arugula Direct Seed Sowing 6 inches apart 1/4 inch Late Winter Easy ‘Rocket’, ‘Sylvetta’
Mustard Greens Direct Seed Sowing 6-8 inches apart 1/2 inch Early Spring Easy ‘Green Wave’, ‘Southern Giant Curled’
Swiss Chard Direct Seed Sowing 6-8 inches apart 1/2 inch Early Spring Easy ‘Bright Lights’, ‘Fordhook Giant’
Claytonia (Miner's Lettuce) Direct Seed Sowing 4-6 inches apart 1/4 inch Late Winter to Early Spring Easy ‘Miner’s Lettuce’
Endive/Escarole Direct Seed Sowing 8-10 inches apart 1/4 inch Early Spring Moderate ‘Frisée’, ‘Batavian’
Winter Lettuce Varieties Direct Seed Sowing 6-8 inches apart 1/4 inch Early Spring Easy ‘Winter Density’, ‘Valdor’
Collard Greens Direct Seed Sowing 12-18 inches apart 1/2 inch Early Spring Easy ‘Georgia’, ‘Vates’

To play it safe avoid planting Endive/Escaro (It will need more caring during heavy frosts).

The harvesting time for leafy greens mentioned in the above table is the mature harvesting time. But you can harvest earlier if you like to eat them earlier. I harvest earlier as it tastes better to me when harvested a bit earlier.

Roots and vegetables for November Planting in Zone 6

Plant Name Planting Method Spacing Depth of Planting Harvesting Time Maintenance Difficulty Variety Recommendation
Carrots Direct Seed Sowing 2-3 inches apart 1/4 inch Late Spring to Early Summer Easy ‘Nantes’, ‘Imperator’
Beets Direct Seed Sowing 3-4 inches apart 1/2 inch Early Summer Easy ‘Detroit Dark Red’, ‘Chioggia’
Radishes Direct Seed Sowing 1-2 inches apart 1/2 inch 3-4 weeks after sowing Easy ‘Cherry Belle’, ‘French Breakfast’
Turnips Direct Seed Sowing 4-6 inches apart 1/2 inch Early Spring Easy ‘Golden Ball’, ‘Purple Top White Globe’
Garlic Direct Seed Sowing 4-6 inches apart 2 inches Next Summer Easy ‘Hardneck’, ‘Softneck’
Onions Transplanting 4-6 inches apart 1 inch Late Summer Moderate ‘Walla Walla’, ‘Yellow Granex’
Parsnips Direct Seed Sowing 4-6 inches apart 1/2 inch Late Spring Moderate ‘Hollow Crown’, ‘Javelin’
Sweet Potatoes Transplanting 12-18 inches apart 3-4 inches Late Summer Moderate ‘Beauregard’, ‘Georgia Jet’
Potatoes Direct Seed Sowing 12 inches apart 4 inches Mid-Summer Easy ‘Yukon Gold’, ‘Red Pontiac’

Selecting the right variant for roots and vegetables is important for Zone 9 Fall gardening. (They will perform a lot better)

Are you interested in planting other plants with vegetables as a companion? Check my detailed guide here: Best companion plants for vegetable garden

What Flowering Plants We Can Plant in November - Zone 6

In this table, I have added columns for blooming time and the type (perennial or annual). The best planting methods are given but if you wish you can change the planting method. As you are going to plant the flowering plants in November, I have calculated the growing time, and depending upon that you can find the planting method. Direct seed sowing at this time will take a longer time to grow.

Plant Name Planting Method Spacing Depth of Planting Blooming Time Perennial or Annual Maintenance Difficulty Variety Recommendation
Pansies Direct Seed Sowing / Transplanting 6-8 inches apart 1/4 inch Spring to Early Summer Annual Easy ‘Cool Wave’, ‘Matrix’
Snapdragons Direct Seed Sowing / Transplanting 6-12 inches apart 1/4 inch Spring to Early Summer Annual / Biennial Moderate ‘Rocket’, ‘Madame Butterfly’
Winter Aconite Direct Seed Sowing 6-12 inches apart 1 inch Late Winter to Early Spring Perennial Easy ‘Eranthis hyemalis’
Crocus Direct Seed Sowing 3-4 inches apart 2-3 inches Spring Perennial Easy ‘Yellow Mammoth’, ‘King of the Striped’
Primrose Direct Seed Sowing / Transplanting 8-12 inches apart 1/4 inch Spring Perennial Easy ‘Cowslip’, ‘Primula vulgaris’
Violas Direct Seed Sowing / Transplanting 6-8 inches apart 1/4 inch Spring to Early Summer Annual Easy ‘Sorbet’, ‘Cool Wave’
Ornamental Kale Direct Seed Sowing / Transplanting 12-18 inches apart 1/4 inch Fall to Winter Annual Easy ‘Winterbor’, ‘Osaka’
Chrysanthemum Transplanting 18-24 inches apart 1-2 inches Fall Perennial Moderate ‘Mum’s the Word’, ‘Sheffield Pink’

Herbs to be planted in November in Zone 6

Plant Name Planting Method Spacing Depth of Planting Perennial or Annual Maintenance Difficulty Variety Recommendation
Garlic Direct Seed Sowing 4-6 inches apart 2-3 inches Perennial (usually grown as annual) Easy ‘Softneck’, ‘Hardneck’
Parsley Direct Seed Sowing / Transplanting 6-8 inches apart 1/4 inch Biennial Easy ‘Giant of Italy’, ‘Curly Leaf’
Chives Direct Seed Sowing / Transplanting 8-12 inches apart 1/4 inch Perennial Easy ‘Common Chives’, ‘Garlic Chives’
Thyme Direct Seed Sowing / Transplanting 12-18 inches apart 1/4 inch Perennial Easy ‘English Thyme’, ‘Lemon Thyme’
Oregano Direct Seed Sowing / Transplanting 12-18 inches apart 1/4 inch Perennial Easy ‘Greek Oregano’, ‘Italian Oregano’
Sage Direct Seed Sowing / Transplanting 18-24 inches apart 1/4 inch Perennial Moderate ‘Common Sage’, ‘Golden Sage’
Mint Direct Seed Sowing / Transplanting 12-18 inches apart 1/4 inch Perennial Easy ‘Peppermint’, ‘Spearmint’
Basil Direct Seed Sowing / Transplanting 12 inches apart 1/4 inch Annual Moderate ‘Sweet Basil’, ‘Genovese’

Herbs need regular watering in the root-developing phase. It does not mean that you have to water a lot. Just water when the soil is dry. Frequent watering and a lot of watering are different. I can not explain watering for each plant here as this article is only about what to plant.

Mint
Mint

Cover Crops for Zone 9 in November

Plant Name Planting Method Spacing Depth of Planting Maintenance Difficulty Variety Recommendation Benefits
Winter Rye Direct Seed Sowing 6-8 inches apart 1-2 inches Easy ‘Cereal Rye’ Improves soil structure, prevents erosion
Hairy Vetch Direct Seed Sowing 6-8 inches apart 1-2 inches Moderate ‘Austrian Winter’ Nitrogen fixation, improves soil fertility
Crimson Clover Direct Seed Sowing 8-12 inches apart 1/4-1/2 inch Easy ‘Dixie’ Weed suppression, nitrogen fixation
Field Peas Direct Seed Sowing 6-8 inches apart 1-2 inches Easy ‘Austrian Winter’ Nitrogen fixation, soil health improvement
Buckwheat Direct Seed Sowing 8-10 inches apart 1-2 inches Easy ‘Common Buckwheat’ Suppresses weeds, attracts pollinators
Oats Direct Seed Sowing 6-8 inches apart 1-2 inches Easy ‘Cover Crop Oats’ Soil moisture retention, erosion prevention
Radishes (Daikon) Direct Seed Sowing 6-8 inches apart 1/2 inch Easy ‘Groundhog’ Improves soil structure, nutrient cycling
Barley Direct Seed Sowing 6-8 inches apart 1-2 inches Easy ‘Spring Barley’ Soil erosion control, organic matter addition

Cover crops help to improve the soil health. The benefits are given beside plant names.

If you find this article helpful, subscribe to the site, it's free! (As it takes a lot of time to create this type of planting table) I will be back with another fresh article on Zone 6 gardening.

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