November · USDA Zone 5
autumnWhat to plant in November in USDA zone 5
Autumn planting guide for zone 5 (Iowa, southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois, parts of New York) — a 150-day growing season with last frost around late April / early May and first frost around late September / early October.
Sow outdoors in November — zone 5
Direct-sow these seeds into prepared garden beds or large containers. Soil temperature matters more than the calendar date — wait for a sustained warm-up before sowing tender crops.
Harvest in November — zone 5
These crops should be ready or in active harvest in November for zone 5 gardens. Pick fruiting crops every 2-3 days to keep production going.
- Final kale, brussels sprouts (cold sweetens them), root crops
Maintenance in November — zone 5
- Mulch garlic and perennial beds
Prep and planning — zone 5
- Cold frame and row-cover prep for spring
Universal November tasks
These apply across most US and UK gardens in November, regardless of zone.
- Mulch garlic, asparagus, strawberries, and perennials with 10-15 cm of straw or leaves.
- Plant garlic and shallots in zones 7-9 (last chance in most zones).
- Clean, sharpen, and oil tools before storing for winter.
- Empty hoses, drain rain barrels and irrigation lines before hard freeze.
- Cover empty beds with cover crops, mulch, or tarps.
- Order seeds and plan next year while the season is fresh in memory.
Why this works for zone 5
Zone 5 has average annual minimum temperatures of -20 to -10°F (-29 to -23°C) and a frost-free window from late April / early May to late September / early October — about 150 growing days. Classic Midwest growing zone. Most US gardening books default to zone 5 timing. Mulch garlic and perennials before deep winter freezes.
Dates are zone-wide averages. Local microclimates (south-facing slopes, urban heat, lakeside warmth, elevation) can shift the window by 1-2 weeks within the same zone.
UK gardeners — November
November in the UK is for finishing garlic planting, sowing overwintering broad beans, and protecting tender plants. Harvest brussels sprouts, leeks, parsnips, kale, and main-crop apples. Mulch asparagus crowns and strawberry beds.
Source and methodology
Frost-date averages from NOAA Climate Data Online within USDA zone 5. Hardiness boundaries from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023). Crop timing curated against US Cooperative Extension Service publications (UNL, UMN, NC State, Texas A&M, UF/IFAS, Oregon State) and cross-referenced against the RHS sowing calendar. Curated by the Growli editorial team.
Keep going
- ← October in zone 5
- December in zone 5 →
- All zones — what to plant in November
- USDA Zone 5 — frost dates and crop list
- Full 12-month planting calendar