What to plant in November in USDA zone 8

Sow outdoors in November — zone 8

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.

• Garlic, shallots
• Lettuce, spinach, kale, mustard, peas, radishes, carrots

Transplant in November — zone 8

Move hardened-off seedlings into the garden. Tender crops want soil above 16 °C and night temperatures consistently above 10 °C; cool-season transplants tolerate light frost.

• Cool-season crops — broccoli, cabbage, kale

Harvest in November — zone 8

These crops should be ready or in active harvest in November for zone 8 gardens. Pick fruiting crops every 2-3 days to keep production going.

• Fall tomatoes (final), peppers, sweet potatoes, citrus

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 8

Zone 8 has average annual minimum temperatures of 10 to 20°F (-12 to -7°C) and a frost-free window from mid- to late March to mid-November — about 230 growing days. Summer heat can shut down tomato production July-August. Many zone 8 gardeners do spring + fall tomato crops with a midsummer break.

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 8. 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 8
• December in zone 8 →
• All zones — what to plant in November
• USDA Zone 8 — frost dates and crop list
• Full 12-month planting calendar

Other zones — November

• What to plant in November in zone 3
• What to plant in November in zone 4
• What to plant in November in zone 5
• What to plant in November in zone 6
• What to plant in November in zone 7
• What to plant in November in zone 9
• What to plant in November in zone 10