November often brings a deceptive calm to the South Central Texas garden. The scorching heat has finally relented, giving way to cooler, crisper mornings. While many gardeners associate this month with putting things “to bed,” trusted sources like Doug Welsh’s almanac and the wisdom shared by Central Texas Gardener remind us that November is not for rest—it’s for stewardship and deliberate preparation.
This is the month we overcome the internal obstacle of procrastination and lay the crucial groundwork. It is the beginning of the quiet path that leads to a magnificent spring harvest.
Here are the essential November gardening goals to ensure your journey through winter is successful and your spring garden is set for success.
I. The Vegetable Patch: Planting the Cold-Hardy Opportunity
The biggest November opportunity is planting the crops that thrive in cool soil and mild winter sun. This allows us to maximize the growing season and practice continuous, thoughtful land care.
🥕 What to Plant Now
- Garlic and Shallots: This is the ideal time to plant your garlic bulbs (separating them into cloves first) and shallots. They need the cool dormancy period of winter to properly develop into full, segmented bulbs by late spring.
- Leafy Greens: Direct-sow fast-maturing, cold-tolerant greens like Spinach, Kale, Swiss Chard, and Asian greens. They love the shorter, milder days.
- Root Crops: Direct-sow seeds for Carrots, Radishes, and Beets. They need a few weeks before the hardest frosts arrive but will sweeten considerably in the cool soil.
- Onion Transplants: If available, plant small onion sets/transplants for a summer harvest.
🛠️ Preparing the Soil
- The biggest internal obstacle to starting a fall garden is often the perceived effort. Overcome this by focusing solely on soil preparation: Add a fresh layer of compost (the gardener’s gold) to vegetable beds.
- Incorporate organic fertilizers or balanced NPK amendments. Healthy soil is the foundation of good stewardship. My favorites come from Medina Agriculture Products
II. Protection & Aesthetics: Shielding Against Frost
We must now anticipate the inevitable, though often brief, hard frosts Central Texas receives. November is the deadline for protection.
🌸 Cool-Season Color
- Plant Pansies and Violas: These hardy and joyful flowers provide continuous color through the winter months and are a welcome sight on bleak days.
- Ornamental Kale and Cabbage: These are beautiful, structural plants whose colors actually intensify with cold weather. Plant them in prominent spots for winter curb appeal.
🛡️ Frost Preparation
- Move Tender Containers: Ensure all frost-sensitive container plants (like tropicals, citrus, or plumeria) are relocated to a sheltered patio, garage, or indoors. This preemptive action is non-negotiable stewardship.
- Mulch Heavily: Apply a thick, 3-4 inch layer of organic mulch (shredded leaves or bark) around the base of perennial and fruit trees. This acts as an insulating blanket, protecting roots from sudden temperature swings and moderating soil moisture.
III. Groundwork & Ideation: The Continuous Journey
Gardening is a journey, not a destination. November provides the space for essential, low-stakes maintenance and high-stakes ideation for the coming year.
🌱 Leaf Harvest and Composting
- Do Not Bag Your Leaves: Collect the abundance of fallen leaves. This is a tremendous resource! Shred them and add them to your compost pile, or use them directly as mulch in your garden beds. This practice closes the nutrient loop—a fundamental tenet of sustainable permaculture and provides home and food for many beneficial friends
- Clean Out Spent Annuals: Clear out any vegetable and ornamental plants that have completed their life cycle. Diseased or infested annuals can just perpetuate your problems. However, you can add these to a well-maintained compost pile where the heat, pH, and biology of the pile will go far to counter those troubles.
🧭 Planning for Next Season
- Tool Care: Clean, sharpen, and oil your garden tools before storing them. This small act of mindful maintenance ensures they are ready for the demanding work of spring.
- Dream and Sketch: Take time for true, intentional leisure and sit down with seed catalogs and a notebook. Reflect on what worked and what didn’t this year. This quiet, reflective time is where the best new ideas for your garden’s layout, plants, and development are born.
November in Central Texas is the perfect moment for the contemplative gardener.
By focusing on essential maintenance, planting the resilient cold-season crops, and committing to thoughtful planning, we can ensure the path to a flourishing spring is clear, sustainable, and truly joyful.