Low Desert Arizona Garden in November
“Welcome sweet November, the season of senses and my favorite month of all.” ― Gregory F. Lenz
The Arizona garden in November is a beautiful place to be. In the low desert the cooler temperatures of November bring a less frantic pace to the garden. Much of the fall planting was done in September and October, with some harvests beginning this month. Favorites like sweet potatoes and pomegranates are finally ready for harvesting in November as well. Spending time in your Arizona garden in November is one of the reasons we love to live in Arizona!
Keep reading for garden inspiration, a low desert November garden checklist, and a list of which vegetables, herbs and flowers to plant in your low desert Arizona garden in November.
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Vegetables growing in the low desert Arizona garden in November
Read this article for more information about how to grow tomatillos.
Read this article for more information about how to grow eggplant.
Brassicas (which include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kohlrabi and kale) are all growing well in the garden this month. Look to harvest when young and tender for best taste. Continue to succession plant through the end of the year.
November is the perfect time to harvest the sweet potatoes that were planted back in late spring and early summer.
Flowers growing in the low desert Arizona garden in November
Check at the end of this post for a list of cool-season flowers that do well in Arizona. Many of them can be planted in November. Petunias planted now will thrive until it begins to get hot in April or May.
Coral Vine (Queen’s Wreath) continues to put on a show this month. Enjoy the bees and beautiful blossoms of this frost-sensitive, vigorous vine. Cut back to the ground in February and it will come back quickly each year.
This article talks about how to grow Coral Vine.
Consider adding cool-season edible flowers to your vegetable garden. Nasturtiums (pictured here), borage, calendula and pansies are all edible, attract pollinators, and add beauty to the garden. This article teaches how to grow nasturtiums.
Fruit trees in the low desert Arizona garden in November
Pomegranates are ready to harvest this month. Check for a deep red skin color and splitting of skins. Most varieties are sweetest when the arils (seeds) are deep red.
Lemons, calomondin, and limes are beginning to ripen this month with more citrus to come in December, January, and into spring.
For more information about growing citrus read this article.
Many varieties of figs are ready to harvest in your Arizona garden in November. Figs do not continue to ripen once picked. Check for soft fruit and an aroma of nectar.
Herbs in the low desert Arizona garden in November
If you are planning to save seeds from basil, let it flower and go to seed. When seed pods are brown and dry, collect them and store in a paper bag.
Drying or freezing basil is a great way to preserve this tasty herb. As the temperatures cool, basil will begin slowing down and may freeze. Be sure to harvest and preserve plenty of basil to last until next spring and summer. This article gives tips for growing basil.
Give perennial herbs like oregano a good trim. In this picture, the leaves have been stripped from the branches and are ready for the dehydrator. Learn more about how to grow oregano in this article.
Low desert Arizona garden in November to-do list:
- Water trees and shrubs deeply but less often than in warmer temperatures. Water no more than every 10-14 days. Wateruseitwisely.com is a helpful resource for landscape watering guidelines.
- Prune dead branches out of frost hardy trees and shrubs.
- Plant cold-tolerant trees, bushes and perennials. For a list of over 200 landscape plants that do well in Arizona, visit amwua.org. A few ideas include: penstemon, globe mallow, Chaparral sage, and Mexican honeysuckle.
- Plant strawberries now for spring berries.
- Wait until late February to plant frost-sensitive plants such as lantana and hibiscus.
- Do not prune frost-tender plants this month.
- Continue to prune spent roses.
- Prepare to protect citrus from early frosts by having burlap or frost cloth on hand.
- Identify and manage pest and insect problems early to prevent damage.
- Onion plants may be available this month to order from Dixondale Farms.
- Thin carrots, turnips, and other vegetables.
- Practice good garden sanitation. Identify, manage, and treat insect problems early to prevent major damage.
- If queen palms did not survive summer weather, consider replacing with something different. Queen palms are not adapted to growing in the low desert of Arizona.
What to plant in the Arizona garden in November:
Herbs to plant in the low desert in November
Arizona Herb Planting Guide helps you learn when to plant over 30 different herbs in Arizona, and whether to plant seeds or transplants.
Vegetables to plant in the low desert in November
Plant seeds or transplants of:
Arugula, Asparagus, Beets, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Chinese Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collard Greens, Endive, Kale, Kohlrabi, Green Onions, Lettuce, Mustard, Onions*, Swiss Chard
Plant transplants of:
Brussels Sprouts, Celery , Globe Artichoke, Leeks, and Strawberries (for best results, plant strawberries by November 15th)
Plant seeds of:
Carrots, Parsnips, Peas, Radishes, Rutabagas, Spinach, Turnips
Plant I’itoi Onions from I’itoi onion sets
*November is the best month to plant onion plants
Looking for more information about planting vegetables?
Arizona Vegetable Planting Guide helps you learn when to plant vegetables in Arizona, and whether to plant seeds or transplants.
With 50 vegetables listed that grow well in the low desert of Arizona you are sure to find one to try.
Flowers to plant in the low desert in November
African Daisy, Ageratum, Alyssum, Aster, Baby’s Breath, Begonia, Bells of Ireland, Bishop’s Weed, Butterfly Weed, Calendula, Candy Tuft, Carnation, Clarkia, Coral Bells, Coreopsis, Cornflower, Delphinium, Desert Marigold, Desert Milkweed, Desert Zinnia, Dianthus, English Daisy, Evening Primrose, Echinacea, Flax, Forget-Me-Not, Gaillardia, Gazania, Geranium, Globe Mallow, Hollyhock, Larkspur, Lobelia, Lupine, Mexican Hat, Nasturtiums, Nemesia, Ornamental Cabbage, Painted Daisy, Penstemon, Petunia, Phlox, Pincushion Flower, Poppy, Primrose, Ranunculus, Rudbeckia, Shasta Daisy, Snapdragon, Statice, Stock, Strawflower, Sweet Pea, Verbena, Viola, Violet, Yarrow
Favorite flowers from this list to start from seed outdoors during November: African daisy, Alyssum, Aster, Calendula, Coreopsis, Cornflower, Delphinium (larkspur), Flax, Forget-me-not, Hollyhock, Mexican hat, Nasturtium, Poppy, Rudbeckia, Strawflower, Sweet Pea and Viola
Looking for more information about planting annual flowers?
Arizona annual flowers planting guide helps you learn when to plant flowers in Arizona, and whether to plant seeds or transplants.
Would you like the low-desert planting dates for vegetables, herbs, and flowers in a convenient calendar?
*PLANTING GUIDE: Each month has a planting guide (letter boards) for the vegetables, herbs, and flowers to plant in the low desert of Arizona.
*HARVEST GUIDE: Harvest guides are the harvest photos of what it is possible to harvest each month.
Want more information about gardening in Arizona? This blog post shares 7 tips for how to grow a vegetable garden in Arizona.
Wendy Shields
Saturday 6th of November 2021
I live in Spain near Tabernas, Almeria province where the “Spaghetti westerns” were filmed. Fistful of dollars etc. It is semi desert and the only desert in Europe. I’m finding your gardening tips very informative as I think we have virtually identical growing conditions. Most gardening information is based on areas where they have mild summers, very cold winters and much more rain than we ever get. ThNk you for your wonderful, comprehensive and informative website.
Angela Judd
Monday 8th of November 2021
Hello from Arizona! I'm so glad the information has been helpful. I lived in Madrid for several months and loved your beautiful country.