Month by month · Oregon · Washington · Idaho
November in the garden
Wet and dark west of the Cascades, frozen to the east. Protect what's still growing and put the rest to bed.
What to plant in November
Wherever there's still time, it's the same 6 plants:
Garlic
Shallots
Tulips
Daffodils
Camas
Peonies| Region | Plant outside | Start indoors | November 1 – 30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coast | 6 plants, until Nov 15 | Nothing | |
| West-side valleys | 6 plants, until Nov 15 | Nothing | |
| East-side valleys | 6 plants, until Nov 1 | Nothing | |
| Inland Northwest | Nothing | Nothing | |
| High desert | Nothing | Nothing |
November planting dates, by region
| Plant | Coast | West-side valleys | East-side valleys | Inland Northwest | High desert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 1 | — | — | |
| Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 1 | — | — | |
| Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 1 | — | — | |
| Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 1 | — | — | |
| Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 1 | — | — | |
| Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 1 | — | — |
Dates are for one typical town in each region: Astoria, Portland, Pendleton, Spokane and Bend and Redmond. Plant now shows your own town's dates.
November jobs
Plant and sow
- Finish planting garlic early in the month. West-side valleys
- Plant bare-root roses and fruit trees when they arrive at nurseries. West-side valleys
Harvest
- Kale, leeks, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and root crops as needed. West-side valleys
- Bring in the last carrots and beets before the ground freezes. East-side valleys
Garden care
- Mulch garlic and overwintering crops with straw or leaves.
- Drain and store hoses before hard freezes. East-side valleys
- Test soil pH. Most Northwest soils run acidic and benefit from lime spread over winter. West-side valleys
- Cover bare beds with leaves, a tarp or a cover crop so rain doesn't compact them.
Pests and problems
- Clean up diseased plant debris; don't compost blighted tomato vines.
- Check stored squash and potatoes every couple of weeks for rot.
Fruit, berries and flowers
- Mulch blueberries, raspberries and perennials before hard freezes.
- Wrap young fruit tree trunks to keep voles and rodents off. East-side valleys
Read next
Soil pH in the Northwest: Testing, Lime and When to Leave It AloneHeavy rain makes many west-side soils acidic, while east-side soils lean the other way. Here's how to find out what you have and what to do about it.
Winter Cover Crops for Northwest Vegetable BedsWhy to sow cover crops in empty beds each fall, which ones grow well in Northwest gardens, and how to turn them under in spring.
Raised Beds for Rainy Northwest GardensWhy raised beds suit the Northwest so well, how big and deep to build them, what to fill them with, and the mistakes to avoid.