Five agricultural products that can be reaped during November:
Novulture: Harvesting Begins on Winter's Stage
November kicks off the winter crops season, offering a selection of tough-as-nails vegetables that shine in colder climates. Here's a rundown of five piping hot picks to harvest this month, plus a few stylishly versatile garden trugs to match!
Gouging Gold: Carrots
Digging up carrots is always a rootin' tootin' treat. Snug in the ground, these colorful root wonders grow like buried treasure. Fancy squeezing every last bit of space? Here's a lowdown on how to cultivate carrots in containers.
Hungry for More?
Turn up the heat on your carrot harvest with mouthwatering recipes at BBC Good Food.
Hate 'em or Love 'em: Brussels Sprouts
These tiny cabbage cousins can divide families down the middle, but there's no doubt they're a cinch to grow. Let 'em hang out through a few frosts, and you'll be rewarded with a sweeter, nuttier flavor.
Morse Code: Celeriac
Celeriac has a knack for reminding you of a long-lost cousin of celery, with a unmistakable nutty flavor. Instead of yanking out the entire crop, leave the ones not in immediate use in the ground for later use.
Leaf it to Endive:
Endive shares a cheeky resemblance with chicory. Boasting high levels of vitamins and fiber, endive usually shines in salads, soups, or sneaked into dishes.
Hand me the Cabbage, Autumn Version:
Harvest autumn and winter cabbages, like 'Marner Large Red', in November. This versatile veggie can be noshed raw, cooked, or preserved, making it the perfect all-rounder.
Veggie Selections to Spice Up Your Plot
- Carrot 'Flyaway' - Delivers a sweet flavor along with excellent resistance against those naughty carrot flies.
- Carrot 'Rondo' - Grow bite-sized, spherical carrots with ease, even in shallow soils.
- Savoy cabbage 'January King' - Extremely hardy crop, boasting an earthy flavor and excellent cold tolerance.
- Cabbage 'F1 Kilazol' - Offers superb clubroot resistance, with large, round heads.
- Brussels sprout 'Nelson' - Said to be an early maturing fellow, generously dishing out sweet sprouts.
- Brussels sprout 'Wellington' - An ace at providing a heavy crop with a tasty, nutty flavor.
Enrichment Data:
The Winter Wonderland of Vegetables:
- Cauliflower: Plant seeds in November under full sunlight, and transplant seedlings in about a month. Typically ready for harvest in around 100-120 days after planting.
- Cabbage: Sow seeds in cool weather, then let seedlings sit for about a month before transplanting. Harvest in roughly two months, cutting at the root level.
- Beetroot: Sow seeds about 1 inch deep and 2 inches apart; harvest bulbs around a month after transplanting, before they become woody.
- Kale: Try 'Winterbor', 'Red Russian', 'Winter Bloomsdale', or 'Tyee'. These kale varieties hold up well to freezing temperatures and actually improve in flavor after frost exposure. Baby greens take about 25 days to harvest, while mature leaves are ready in 50-65 days.
- Brussels Sprouts: Perfect for cold climates, withstanding temperatures down to -10°F. The flavors really pop after frost exposure. Wait for three hard frosts for the best taste.
- Root Vegetables (Carrots, Turnips, Parsnips): These can be sown in late October-November for winter harvesting. Apply heavy mulching (6-8 inches of straw or leaves) around roots to prevent soil freezing, shield them from harsh wind, and prolong the harvest time.
- Radishes: These rapid growers can be harvested in about 4 weeks. Grow year-round in many climates, or when the soil temperature remains below 80°F.
- Winter Wheat or Rye: These grains can be sown in early November for winter survival, then harvested the following spring.
- Peas (Snow Peas): Thrive in cool weather and take about 9-11 weeks to harvest. Plant in fall, add support (such as a trellis), and provide potash feed to maximize pod production.
- Herbs: Grow chives, dill, parsley, chervil, rosemary, thyme, and mint to keep a fresh harvest throughout the winter. Use row covers or frost cloths to protect them during cold snaps, extending their survival by 15-20°F. Employ cold frames to extend the growing season by up to 6 weeks and cultivate hardy winter crops for a steady supply of fresh vegetables throughout the winter months. Select cold-tolerant cultivars such as 'Winterbor' kale, 'Winter Density' cabbage, and 'Turnips' to ensure a successful harvest.
- Incorporate carrot 'Rondo' into your cooking, as it grows bite-sized, spherical carrots with ease, even in shallow soils, making it perfect for food-and-drink recipes.
- To enhance your home-and-garden lifestyle, consider planting Savoy cabbage 'January King' in pots or containers for a versatile veggie that can be cooked, preserved, or added to recipes.
- For gardening enthusiasts, growing chives, parsley, or rosemary in pots can provide a constant supply of fresh herbs for your food-and-drink needs throughout the winter months.
