Planting veggie seeds in November

A few years ago I planted some lettuce seeds in November and they came up nicely in the Spring, but since then they haven't done so well. Has any one had success? Lettuce, green onions, or other? If volunteer tomatoes come up on their own it seems like they and others might do well. Mulch with leaves like i do with garlic ?
I would like to develope a system. I have bought some row clotches to use in the Spring.
Thanks.

Comments for Planting veggie seeds in November

Click here to add your own comments
Nov 17, 2011
 fall planting
by: Anonymous

I wish I knew. I planted squash, peas and lettuce in November (North Carolina).. All come up, but crash in the first frost.
Volunteer tomatoes do work, but I'll try some veggys to come up in Spring.
Nov 17, 2011
 Fall planting
by: hotchaiguy

I bought some row covers material, which reminds one of cheese cloth but is more durable. I will cover my Fall planted seedlings, since it is supposed help hold the heat in. Or straw on them might help hold off the frozen dew( which is what frost is).
Nov 26, 2011
 Sowing seeds late in season
by: ~ Megan

Not sure which area you are in, but I certainly couldn't plant most seeds that late in the season and expect them to survive the winter. Some lettuce varieties are better than others for cold season growing and peas usually do okay during autumn and into winter, but usually it's better to get them started earlier than November (or April in southern Hemisphere). Squash are definitely a no no at that time of the year.
The advantage of autumn/fall seed sowing is that the ground is still warm from summer and seeds will germinate easily, and often many opportunistic seedlings appear, such as tomatoes, but unless you have extremely mild winters, most young veggie seedlings will succumb to the first cold snap.

Cloches and mulching are great and will make a difference and hopefully provide you with a crop, even though the plants might just sit there for winter then burst into growth in spring.

Of course if it's cold when you plant seeds, then they may lay dormant over winter and germinate in spring, as long as they don't rot, so that is probably what happened in the first year you sowed seeds in November

I find in my temperate climate that spring planting is safer for summer growing veggies, except for mostly peas, some lettuces and cabbages.
Nov 26, 2011
 Planting veggie seeds in November
by: hotchaiguy

A couple years ago I made modular cold frame, consisting of 2" x 4" s boards,made into a 2foot by 4 foot frame. There are four suoh frames which I would stack on top of each other creating a sixteen ish inch high finished frame. As cold frame I prepared the ground so the south end was several inches lower than the north end for sun access. There is more to it, but any way I placed two of thee on top of each other over the area where I was planning on planting my seeds. The reason for this was so I could mulch it with leaves and they would stay put all Winter. I then planted some leaft over tomato seeds. some red Japanese bunching onions; leekss,,parsnips, and two different types of ledaf lettuce. I'll see how it goes. In north east Indina it gets plenty cold and a pile of snow.
Nov 26, 2011
 Planting veggie seeds in November
by: hotchaiguy

Indiana . Noth east part-zone 5. This is all experimental and for the " just trying something new". Just made a long message prior to yours popping up. Thanks for your input.
Are you in a colder area in Winter?
Nov 26, 2011
 Sowing seeds late in season
by: ~ Megan

Well you sound like an innovative handyperson; good luck and it will be interesting to hear what works and what not for you.

I live in Wellington, New Zealand and the hilly, coastal city has a nickname of 'Windy Wellington' for good reason! A lot of the wind comes in cold southerly gales - seemingly straight from Antarctica. Growing anything but wind hardy plants can be a challenge here unless sheltered spots and valleys are used or wind breaks of trees or walls are built.

Snow is an exciting rare happening here and hits the headlines every 25 years or so. Frosts in the valleys sometimes, but otherwise winter temps are about 44deg F (6.8C) and summer 70deg F (21C). My garden is mostly sheltered and in summer gets lots of sun and sometimes temps of 75deg F (24C) or more.
Nov 26, 2011
 Planting veggie seeds in November
by: hotchaiguy- Tom

Megan---My home is in Fort Wayne,Indiana. Just looked up some photos of Wellington. Seems she is beautiful. one pic was of a red cable car going up the hill, which reminded of Hong Kong. I rode in that one once. So are you located toward the sea or the harbor? And you are in your late Spring, right. We are heading into Winter. I have been to Australia back in 2000 just prior to the Olympics. We are well inland, but get our winter weather from Canada and our snow from moisture off the Great Lakes.My grand father came here in 1887 from England. Hopefully we can keep in touch a bit. I was just telling my wife today that I wish I had gadening riend near here to exchange ideas with from time -to-time.
I always plant my garlic in early to mid October and mulch it with leaves and it grows up through them for a while until it freezes too hard. In March it will start up again where they left off and I get some big bulbs. I don't want the things I planted yesterday to grow now, but just sleep. I better stop typing before I bore( you) and over use my alotted letters in this box.
Dec 07, 2011
 planting seeds in November
by: Anonymous



I've often thought I should try planting several things; peas, lettuce, onions, dill and other cool crops in the fall, to come up as soon as soon as the ground thaws/warms in the spring.

Isn't that the way nature does it??

And don't throw away those leaves! Get an old garbage can, fill it about 1/3 full and put the weed-whacker in there. In about 2 minutes you have the most beautiful mulch you could want, all for free! (If you are sensitive, wear goggles, as some of the leaves may contain mould spores.)
Dec 07, 2011
 Planting veggie seeds in November
by: hotchaiguy

Weed wacking in the garbage can sounds like fishing in barrel. I'll have to try that next time.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Vegetable Growing Problems.

Back to HOME page: No Dig Vegetable Garden

Garden Gift Hub is one of the most thoughtful and interesting places on the web to find original and useful gardening and nature inspired products.

Contact | Home