Zone 8 - What to Plant in November

Zone 8 - What to Plant in November

Zone 8 growers don't have a lot of options in November. The cold weather is here to stay for a few months. Since zone 8 growers don't get extremely cold weather in the winter you can still grow some items in November. Try the below cover crops, turnips and strawberry seeds to keep your garden going.

The Mild French garlic is a bold flavored garlic that is quick growing. This garlic variety was first bred by Porter & Sons seedhouse. The Mild French can be grown throughout the United States, even taking the stiff heat of far Southern areas. Its plants grow taller and mature more quickly than most other members of the Silverskin family. Mild French's bulbs will yield an average of 12-14 cloves. The flavor of the Mild French varies a bit based on the climate. This garlic offers a bold flavor that has greater heat the further north it’s grown! Mild French is a very long storing silverskin garlic up to a year. Approximately 12-15 garlic bulbs per pound. Approximately 12-14 cloves per bulb.

'Reine des Vallees' is grown in Europe by home gardeners and commercial fruit growers. Its name in French means "Queen of the Valleys". Its name in Italian is Regina delle Valli. Whatever the name, this cultivar is THE standard in Europe for alpine strawberries. The major fruit exporting growers in Europe grow this variety exclusively. Reine des Vallees is a clumping type (produces few to no runners) and is day neutral which means that flowering is not dependent on day length. It is very productive and produces scarlet red fruit with the distinctive wild strawberry flavor and aroma that is expected from fraises des bois.

The German Extra Hardy garlic is a prolific producer of long rooted garlic that can store in the ground throughout winter. This variety has pale white skin with dark red cloves. The German Extra Hardy has a strong raw flavor and high sugar content, making it one of the very best for roasting. Hardneck, 4-7 cloves per bulb.

The Purple Glazer is an excellent purple striped garlic. This amazing variety hails from the Republic of Georgia. Purple Glazer produces fat white cloves with deep purple streaks. The Purple Glazer has a strong flavor with no heat and a very minimal aftertaste.

'White Soul' is a white fruiting variety that has been around for several years. It is a clumping type (few to no runners) and is day neutral meaning that flowering is not day length dependent. The fruit is among the largest white fruit produced by alpines. Has the wild strawberry flavor and aroma expected from alpines and has a hint of pineapple flavor. I consider white alpine fruit to be sweeter than red alpine fruit in general. Tends to be a very strong grower and top producer. This variety will "fool the birds". They don't go after the fruit as much as they do for red fruit.

Red Wonder, aka Fraises des Bois, is a tasty Alpine Strawberry that is easy to grow from seed. Red Wonder is one of our favorites because it's considerably sweeter than most strawberries. An everbearing strawberry plant that produces all summer long.

The Montana Giant garlic has a full and robust taste that sets it apart from other garlics. It can pack a punch of high heat that quickly melts away. Montana Giant is a hardneck Rocambole that produces large cloves that are easy to peel and great to cook with. Averages 5-7 cloves per bulb.

The Susan Delafield is a dazzling hardneck Porcelain variety that produces delicious and attractive purplish-pink cloves. This garlic has a delicious spicy flavor and will store well for up to 8-9 months. This variety is perfect for northern climates and is acclimated to moist conditions. The Susan Delafield averages 4-6 cloves per bulb.

Chamisal Wild is a hot and spicy garlic with cloves that are deep red! This variety can reach up to 3" in diameter, loves cold winters and matures late in the season. The Chamisal Wild was first discovered on the creek banks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in New Mexico.

The Amish Rocambole garlic is certified with a very strong and hot flavor! Amish Rocambole (aka Amish White or Amish) has a pungently hot and lingering flavor. A lively growing cultivar, the Amish Rocambole grows better in areas that have cold winters. Approximately 10 garlic bulbs per pound. Approximately 8-10 cloves per bulb.

California Late is the most commonly used garlic in the United States. This variety produces large bulbs with 12-16 good size cloves. California Late is more on the hot side with a classic garlic flavor. California Late is later maturing than California Early, as it ripens in July. It stores for about 8-12 months. California Late is a really great all around use garlic that is also excellent for baking.

Red Toch is a certified, beautiful garlic with stripes of red and pink! The Red Toch is also know as “Tochliavri” in the small Republic of Georgia village from which it hails. This garlic variety is another vigorous member of the Artichoke family and produces 12 to 18 cloves in a typical bulb. The widely celebrated flavor of the Red Toch has been described by famed garlic symposium organizer Darrell Merrell as “not too mild, not too hot”, and having “a mellow spicy tang with a fragrant aroma.”