Florida Gardening in November
Can you believe it’s November already? Cooler air and lower humidity of this season offer the perfect excuse to get your hands dirty. Let’s talk about some ideas for gardening, like what and when to plant.
What to plant
Some gardenistas and gardeners like to go with fall colors as the seasons change. Think about mixing it up and adding some dramatic colors, like brilliant purples and oranges with neon greens. Whatever your color palette choice, look below for some plants that will do well in the cooler months.
Flowers:
Ageratum
Alyssum
Baby’s breath
Black-eyed Susan
Blanket flower
Bush daisy
Dianthus
Carnations
Cat’s Whiskers
Cornflower
Foxglove
Goldenrod
Petunia
Phlox
Snapdragon
Sweet pea
Verbena
Viola
Petunias and Phlox flowers make a perfect pair in a hanging planter.
Bulbs:
Some bulbs need cooler temperatures to bloom, so now’s the time to get them in the ground. Those bulbs that are doing well or are overgrown can be separated and transplanted in other areas of the yard. I’ve found this is one of the cheapest ways to expand my garden! Here are some ideas for bulbs to plant in your garden this month.
African iris
Amaryllis
Bulbine
Crinum
Daffodils
Day lily
Rain lily
Herbs:
I’ve found many of my favorite herbs absolutely love this time of year! As the cooler and drier days arrive, experiment with planting seeds or transplant from a garden center. Below are herbs you might want to try in your garden.
Anise
Arugula
Basil
Chives
Cilantro
Coriander
Dill
Fennel
Ginger
Lavender
Lemon balm
Mexican tarragon
Mint
Nasturtium
Oregano
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Nasturtium in bloom. The blooms and leaves add a little spice to salads. You might have seen the flowers used for extra flare on some restaurant dishes.
Vegetables:
November tends to offer great conditions to continue your veggie gardens. If you haven’t started already, you can plant the following vegetables this November.
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Collard
Kale
Lettuce
Onion
Radish
Rhubarb
Spinach
Swiss chard
Gardening by the Moon
Traditional gardening, or as some say “Old School gardening”, was heavily influenced by the moon’s phases. So, I did some research and thanks to the Old Farmer’s Almanac you will know exactly what should be done in the garden for November 2019! By the way, the full moon this month is November 12th if you want to do some naked gardening in the moonlight. The 20th of November is a great day to work on your seedlings. November 30th is a barren day. So use this day to weed, deadhead flowers, or prune.
Plant: above ground crops: 1, 2, 6, 7, 11, 12, 28, 29
(light moon phase)
Plant: below ground crops: 15, 16, 21, 24, 25
(dark moon phase)
Maintain: control weeds and pests: 3, 4, 5, 13, 14, 17, 20, 30
Prune: trees and shrubs: 8, 9, 10, 18, 19, 26, 27
Last little tid-bits...
As we all begin to enjoy this pleasant weather, keep in mind our plant babies don’t need as much water as the hotter months! Cooler temperatures allow us gardenistas and gardeners to water only when needed.
Friendly Reminder: these ideas come from a Gardenista in Hardiness zone 9b. Your garden may be in a different hardiness zone in Florida, so your garden may have different needs! Happy Gardening
Gardening Sources:
Old Farmers 2019 Almanac
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep450#SECTION_11