GreenlyWhat to plant in November in California
Worked out for 11 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.
What to sow and plant in November in California, by zone: frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F (Los Angeles and Riverside): broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, lettuce and 22 more; frost-free, highs of 61–72 °F (San Diego, San Jose and 6 more): garlic, broad bean, peas, onion, spinach and 22 more; frost-free, highs of 50–61 °F (San Francisco): broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, lettuce and 20 more.
In California, November is fall.
Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: Los Angeles and Riverside
In November, on average, these cities have highs of 75 to 77 °F and lows of 51 to 52 °F, 1.4 in of rain on 3 days; the day lasts 10 h 25 min (on the 15th).
No frost in November in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Broad bean, peas, cabbage, beet, parsley, cilantro, arugula, chamomile, chickpea, dill, mustard greens | all |
| plant sets | Onion, shallot | all |
| start indoors, plant out in December | Spinach | Los Angeles |
| sow direct or start indoors, plant out in December | Lettuce, Swiss chard, kale, kohlrabi | all |
| sow direct | Carrot, parsnip | Los Angeles |
| sow direct or start indoors, plant out in January | Broccoli | all |
| start indoors, plant out in December | Cauliflower | all |
| start indoors, plant out in January | Leek | Los Angeles |
| start indoors, plant out in January | Brussels Sprouts | all |
| start indoors, plant out in February | Celeriac, celery, chayote | Riverside |
Compared with October: new — broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, lettuce, carrot, cabbage, broccoli and 18 more; no longer sown — zucchini, green beans, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, bok choy, borage and 9 more.
Not starting in November: tomato (January, started indoors), bell pepper (January, started indoors), zucchini (February, started indoors) and green beans (April, sown direct) — dates for Los Angeles.
Ready to harvest in November in Los Angeles, if sown in the right month: zucchini (September), green beans (September), watermelon (August), pumpkin (July), sweet corn (August), basil (September), bok choy (September) and borage (September).
Frost-free, highs of 61–72 °F: San Diego, San Jose, Fresno, Sacramento and 4 more
In November, on average, these cities have highs of 64 to 71 °F and lows of 44 to 54 °F, 1.3 to 4.8 in of rain on 3 to 8 days; the day lasts 9 h 57 min to 10 h 30 min (on the 15th).
No frost in November in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| plant cloves | Garlic | Fresno, Sacramento, Santa Barbara and 2 more |
| sow direct | Broad bean, peas, lettuce, carrot, cabbage, broccoli, Swiss chard, beet, parsley, cilantro, arugula, chamomile, dill, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, parsnip | all |
| plant sets | Onion, shallot | all |
| start indoors, plant out in December or sow direct | Spinach | all |
| sow direct | Radish, daikon | San Jose, Fresno, Sacramento and 3 more |
| start indoors, plant out in December | Cauliflower | all |
| start indoors, plant out in January | Leek | San Diego, San Jose, Fresno and 4 more |
| start indoors, plant out in January | Brussels Sprouts | all |
| start indoors, plant out in December | Chicory | San Jose, Fresno, Sacramento and 1 more |
| sow direct | Chickpea | San Diego and Bakersfield |
| sow direct | Turnip | Redding |
Compared with October: new — garlic, radish, daikon and turnip; no longer sown — zucchini, green beans, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, bok choy, borage and 7 more.
Not starting in November: tomato (January, started indoors), bell pepper (January, started indoors), zucchini (February, started indoors) and green beans (April, sown direct) — dates for Sacramento.
Ready to harvest in November in Sacramento, if sown in the right month: zucchini (September), green beans (September), basil (September), bok choy (September), borage (September), moringa (September), Napa cabbage (September) and soybean (September).
Frost-free, highs of 50–61 °F: San Francisco
In November, on average, San Francisco has highs of 61 °F and lows of 51 °F, 2.6 in of rain on 7 days; the day lasts 10 h 09 min (on the 15th).
No frost in November in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Broad bean, peas, spinach, lettuce, radish, carrot, cabbage, broccoli, Swiss chard, beet, parsley, cilantro, arugula, chamomile, daikon, dill, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, parsnip, turnip | San Francisco |
| plant sets | Onion, shallot | San Francisco |
| start indoors, plant out in December | Cauliflower | San Francisco |
| start indoors, plant out in January | Brussels Sprouts | San Francisco |
Compared with October: new — turnip.
Not starting in November: tomato (no month outdoors by these rules), bell pepper (no month outdoors by these rules), zucchini (no month outdoors by these rules) and green beans (no month outdoors by these rules) — dates for San Francisco.
Ready to harvest in November in San Francisco, if sown in the right month: broad bean (August), peas (September), spinach (September), lettuce (September), radish (October), carrot (September), cabbage (July) and broccoli (August).
How we work it out
For each city we use its average weather in November and the months after (highs, lows and rain for 2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo) and its average frost dates. A crop starts in November if the month's mean temperature reaches the minimum soil temperature for germination on its card (we use the mean air temperature as a stand-in for the soil's) and if, over its first months (up to three), the average highs stay within its group's range, with no frost for crops that cannot take it. Crops started indoors count from the month they are planted out.
Temperature groups from Colorado State University Extension: cool-season crops prefer 60–80 °F and lose quality in heat; hardy ones grow in days as cool as 40 °F, semi-hardy ones from 40–50 °F (we use 50 °F); warm-season crops need days above 55 °F, and the most tender (tomato, pepper, eggplant, melon, watermelon, squash) above 60 °F, up to 95 °F. Crops the guide does not name go into the stricter group by their frost hardiness. Fava (broad) beans, which the guide does not name, count as hardy: hardy varieties are sown in fall and overwinter (RHS). Garlic and bulbs: a month before the first frost, and later only while the ground is not frozen (as on each city's page).
This is a general rule from averages: your garden can be a week or two earlier or later, and a greenhouse or a cold frame brings the season forward. Greenly works out the dates for your location.
- Moon planting calendar for November 2026
- What to plant in November: all climates
- Gardening in the United States: guide by region
Other months in California
- What to plant in November in the South
- What to plant in November in Texas
- What to plant in November in Florida
- What to plant in November in the Pacific Northwest
- What to plant in November in the Southwest
- What to plant in November in the Mountain West
- What to plant in November in Canada
- What to plant in November in the UK
- What to plant in November in Ireland
