What to Plant in November in East Texas: 15 Picks

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When the pecans start dropping and the mornings finally feel crisp, most of the country is putting its garden to bed. Here in the Piney Woods, we're just getting a second wind.

If you're wondering what to plant in November in East Texas, the good news is that the list is long. Our mild winters make November one of the best months of the year to grow leafy greens, root crops, garlic and cheerful cool-weather flowers. Many of them taste even sweeter after a light frost.

Whether you're brand new to gardening or just moved to East Texas, this list will help you get the most out of your fall and winter garden.

Quick answer: In East Texas (zone 8a), November is a great month for cool-season crops. Plant garlic, onion sets, spinach, lettuce, kale, collards, mustard greens, turnips, radishes and carrots, along with herbs like cilantro and parsley. Pansies, violas, snapdragons and daffodil bulbs also go in now.

1. Know Your Zone and First Frost Date

Most of East Texas falls in USDA hardiness zone 8a, with some southern counties around Lufkin and Nacogdoches in zone 8b. That means our coldest winter nights usually bottom out between 10°F and 20°F.

Our first frost typically arrives sometime between mid-November and early December, depending on where you live. Hard freezes are usually short, and most days warm back up into the 50s and 60s. That's why cool-season crops do so well here all winter long.

Beginner tip: Look up your ZIP code on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, then call or visit your county's Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office for local frost dates.

2. 10 Vegetables to Plant in November in East Texas

1. Garlic

If you only plant one thing this month, make it garlic. Plant individual cloves pointy side up, about 2 inches deep and 6 inches apart. It grows slowly all winter and is ready to harvest in late May or June. Softneck and Creole types do best in our mild winters.

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2. Onion Sets

Onion sets planted now will give you green onions all winter. For big bulb onions, wait until January or February and plant short-day onion transplants like Texas 1015Y or Texas Legend.

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3. Spinach

Spinach loves cool weather and bolts quickly in the heat, so fall is its season to shine. Sow seeds directly in the garden, half an inch deep, and keep the soil moist until they sprout.
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4. Lettuce

Leaf lettuces like Black Seeded Simpson and Buttercrunch grow quickly in November. Transplants give you a head start, but seeds work too. Harvest the outer leaves and the plant keeps growing.
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5. Kale

Kale is one of the easiest winter crops for beginners. It shrugs off light frosts and gets sweeter in cold weather. Plant transplants 12–18 inches apart.
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6. Collard Greens

No Southern garden is complete without collards. They're tough, productive and can handle temperatures into the teens. A few plants will feed a family all winter.

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7. Turnips

Turnips give you two harvests in one: tender greens and sweet roots. Sow seeds directly and thin seedlings to 3–4 inches apart. Most varieties are ready in 40–60 days.

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8. Radishes

Radishes are perfect for kids and impatient gardeners because many are ready in under a month. Sow a short row every two weeks for a steady supply.
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9. Carrots

Carrots like loose, sandy soil, which many East Texas gardens already have. Sow the tiny seeds shallowly and keep them moist. Shorter varieties like Danvers or Chantenay do well in heavier soil.
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10. Mustard Greens

Mustard greens grow fast and add a peppery kick to winter meals. Southern Giant Curled is a classic choice for our area.
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3. 2 Herbs to Plant in November

11. Cilantro

In Texas, fall is the best time to grow cilantro. It bolts quickly once spring heats up, but it thrives through our mild winters. Sow seeds directly every few weeks.
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12. Parsley

Parsley is hardy, pretty and easy to grow. Plant transplants now for fresh parsley all winter and into spring. It's also a host plant for black swallowtail caterpillars.
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4. 3 Flowers to Plant in November

13. Pansies and Violas

Pansies and violas bloom through most of the winter here and bring color when everything else is green and brown. Bonus: violas are edible, and they make a pretty garnish.
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14. Snapdragons

In Texas, snapdragons planted in fall grow strong roots over winter and put on a big show in early spring.
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15. Daffodil Bulbs

Daffodils are deer-resistant and come back year after year. Choose varieties known to do well in the South, like Carlton, Ice Follies and jonquils. Tulips, on the other hand, usually need to be pre-chilled in the refrigerator here and are often treated as annuals.
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5. Bonus: Why November Is Perfect for Planting Trees

Fall is the best time of year to plant trees and shrubs in East Texas. The soil is still warm enough for roots to grow, the air is cool, and winter rains do much of the watering for you. By summer, your new trees will be established and better able to handle the heat.

It's a great time to plant fruit trees, blueberry bushes, figs and native shade trees.

6. How to Protect November Plantings From a Freeze

Most cool-season crops handle light frosts just fine, but a hard freeze in the teens can damage young plants. Here's how to protect them:

  • Watch the forecast. Cover plants when temperatures are expected to drop below 28°F.

  • Use frost cloth. Drape it over plants all the way to the ground, and hold the edges down with bricks or rocks.

  • Water the day before a freeze. Moist soil holds heat better than dry soil.

  • Mulch well. A thick layer of pine straw or leaves protects roots.

  • Uncover in the morning once temperatures rise above freezing, so plants get sunlight.



7. Frequently Asked Questions

What zone is East Texas?

Most of East Texas is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. Some southern areas, including parts of Angelina and Nacogdoches counties, are zone 8b.

Can I plant tomatoes in November in Texas?

Not in East Texas. Tomatoes need warm weather and are killed by frost. Start tomato seeds indoors in late January or February, and plant them outside after your last frost in spring.

Is it too late to plant garlic in November?

No. November is a great time to plant garlic in East Texas, and you can still plant it into early December. It needs the long, cool winter to grow big bulbs.

Your November Garden Is Waiting

There's something special about walking out to the garden on a frosty morning and picking fresh greens for supper. November isn't the end of the gardening year here in East Texas. In many ways, it's a fresh start.

Pick two or three things from this list, get them in the ground this week, and enjoy a winter garden full of good things.

What are you planting in your garden this month? Tell us in the comments below!


Hi, I’m Miss B!

Welcome to Little House in the Pines, where our family is learning to live simply and faithfully on our little homestead in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Here you’ll find what we’re growing in the garden, what’s happening in the chicken coop, what’s simmering on the stove, and what the Lord is teaching us through it all.

We love exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith in Yeshua, and we’re always learning, always making mistakes, and always grateful for His grace. Pull up a chair and stay a while!


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