Arizona Garden in November
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.
Low desert includes elevations below 3500 ft in the Southwest, such as the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas.
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Vegetables growing in the low desert Arizona garden in November
Roselle hibiscus harvest continues through November. For my five favorite ways to use roselle, read this post.
Monsoon planted tomato harvests continue during November. To learn more about growing tomatoes, read this post.
Tomatillos are often ready for harvest this month. Read this article for more information about how to grow tomatillos.
Eggplant harvests continue during November. 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 planted in late spring and early summer.
Flowers growing in the low desert Arizona garden in November
Check 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 gets 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 return 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, calamondin, 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. For ripe fruit check for soft fruit and the aroma of nectar.
Herbs in the low desert Arizona garden in November
Saffron crocus blooms this month. Learn more about how to grow saffron in this post.
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 them in a paper bag. Learn more about how to save seeds in this post.
Drying, freeze-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. 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 or freeze-dryer. Learn more about how to grow oregano in this article.
Low desert Arizona garden in November to-do list:
- If you put smaller containers away for the summer, November is an excellent time to bring them back out. Fill containers with soil and plant bulbs and other annuals.
- 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 them with something different. Queen palms are not adapted to growing in the low desert of Arizona.
Get planting dates for your favorite crops with these visual planting guides for vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers & vines.
What to plant in the Arizona garden in November:
Vegetables, Herbs & Fruit to plant in the low desert in November
(Click the link to read “How to Grow” articles on my website.)
- Artichoke (ST)
- Arugula (ST)
- Asparagus (roots S/T)
- Beet (ST)
- Bok Choy (ST)
- Borage (S)
- Broccoli (ST)
- Brussels Sprouts (T)
- Cabbage (ST)
- Carrot (S)
- Cauliflower (ST)
- Celery (T)
- Chamomile (T)
- Chives (ST)
- Cilantro (S)
- Collard Greens (ST)
- Comfrey (ST)
- Dill (S)
- Fava Bean (S)
- Fennel (S)
- Garbanzo (S)
- Garlic (clove)
- Garlic Chives (T)
- I’itoi Onion (bulb)
- Kale (ST)
- Kohlrabi (ST)
- Lavender (T)
- Leek (ST)
- Lemon Balm (T)
- Lemon Grass (T)
- Lemon Verbena (T)
- Lentil (S)
- Lettuce/Endive (ST)
- Marjoram (T)
- Mint (T)
- Mustard (ST)
- Onion (Bulb) (ST)
- Onion (Green) (S)
- Oregano (T)
- Parsley (ST)
- Parsnip (S)
- Peas (S)
- Potato (seed potato)
- Radish (S)
- Rosemary (T)
- Rutabaga (S)
- Sage (T)
- Shallot (bulb)
- Spinach (ST)
- Stevia (T)
- Strawberry (T)
- Swiss Chard (ST)
- Thyme (T)
- Turnip (S)
- Wheat (S)
SEED, TRANSPLANT, OR BOTH? S = Seed T= Transplant
Perpetual Vegetable, Fruit & Herb Calendar shows you when to plant vegetables in the low desert of Arizona and whether to plant seeds or transplants. See it in my shop.
Vegetable, herb, and fruit seeds to start indoors during November
(Click the link for seed sources.)
- Fennel
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Leek
- Lettuce/Endive
- Mustard
- Onion (Bulb)
- Parsley
- Potato (begin to chit)
- Spinach
- Swiss Chard
Flowers to plant in the low desert in November
(Click the link to read “How to Grow” articles on my website.)
- African Daisy (S)
- Ageratum (T)
- Allium (bulb)
- Alyssum (ST)
- Amaryllis (bulb)
- Anemone (corm)
- Aster (T)
- Baby’s Breath (ST)
- Begonia (T)
- Bells of Ireland (S)
- Bigelow’s Purple Aster (S)
- Calendula (ST)
- Calla Lily (rhizome)
- Carnation (T)
- Chamomile (T)
- Chrysanthemum (T)
- Clarkia (T)
- Coreopsis (ST)
- Cornflower (S)
- Crocus (bulb)
- Daffodil (bulb)
- Dara (ST)
- Delphinium (S)
- Dianthus (T)
- Echinacea (T)
- English Daisy (T)
- Evening Primrose (T)
- Flax (S)
- Forget-Me-Not (S)
- Freesia (bulb)
- Gaillardia (ST)
- Gazania (T)
- Geranium (T)
- Gladiolus (corm)
- Hollyhock (ST)
- Iris (rhizome)
- Larkspur (S)
- Linaria (S)
- Lobelia (T)
- Lupine (S)
- Nasturtium (S)
- Orn. Cabbage/Kale (T)
- Painted Daisy (S)
- Pansies (T)
- Petunia (T)
- Phlox (S)
- Poppy (S)
- Ranunculus (corm)
- Ratibida (ST)
- Rudbeckia (ST)
- Salpiglossis (T)
- Scabiosa (T)
- Shasta Daisy (ST)
- Snapdragon (T)
- Statice (T)
- Stock (T)
- Strawflower (ST)
- Sweet Peas (ST)
- Tulip (bulb)
- Verbena (T)
- Violet (T)
- Yarrow (T)
SEED, TRANSPLANT, OR BOTH? S = Seed T= Transplant
The Arizona Annual Flower Planting Calendar helps you learn when to plant flowers in Arizona and whether to plant seeds or transplants. It’s available in my shop.
Flower seeds to start indoors during November
(Click the link for seed sources.)
Want more information about gardening in Arizona? This blog post shares seven tips for how to grow a vegetable garden in Arizona.
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.
Hello from Arizona! I’m so glad the information has been helpful. I lived in Madrid for several months and loved your beautiful country.