What to plant in November in USDA zone 9

Autumn planting guide for zone 9 (Central + South Florida, Southern Texas, Southern California, Arizona) — a 280-day growing season with last frost around mid-February to early March and first frost around late November / early December.

Sow outdoors in November — zone 9

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.

Transplant in November — zone 9

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 transplants — main season in full swing

Harvest in November — zone 9

These crops should be ready or in active harvest in November for zone 9 gardens. Pick fruiting crops every 2-3 days to keep production going.

Citrus, fall tomatoes, peppers, sweet potatoes

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 9

Zone 9 has average annual minimum temperatures of 20 to 30°F (-7 to -1°C) and a frost-free window from mid-February to early March to late November / early December — about 280 growing days. Heat-tolerant tomato varieties (Solar Fire, Heatwave II) needed for midsummer. Cool-season crops grow Oct-Apr while northern zones are dormant.

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 9. 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.