The Almanac
Average temperature: High 79, low 59
Rainfall: 2.32 inches
1. The moon phases
Last quarter: Nov. 5
New moon: Nov. 13
First quarter: Nov. 20
Full moon: Nov. 27
2. Moon sign planting dates
Above-ground crops: 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26
Below-ground crops: 2, 3, 7, 8, 29, 30
Control weeds and pests: 1, 18, 19, 27, 28
Prune trees and shrubs: 4, 5, 6, 14, 15, 23, 24
November plantings
3. Vegetables: Beet, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, collard, endive, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onion, pea, radicchio, radish, rhubarb, rutabaga, spinach, Swiss chard and turnip
4. Flowers: Ageratum, alyssum, baby’s breath, black-eyed Susan, bush daisy, calendula, California poppy, candytuff, carnation, cat’s whiskers, chrysanthemum, cleome, cornflower, delphinium, dianthus, dusty miller, foxglove, gaillardia, geranium, goldenrod, heliotrope, hollyhocks, Iceland poppy, impatiens, larkspur, lobelia, ornamental cabbage & kale, pansy, petunia, phlox, salvia, shasta daisy, snapdragon, stock, sweet pea, verbena, viola and wax begonias
5. Herbs: Anise, arugula, basil, borage, chive, cardamon, chervil, cilantro, coriander, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger, lavender, lemon balm, lovage, Mexican tarragon, mint, nasturtium, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, sweet marjoram, thyme and watercress
6. Bulbs: African iris, amaryllis, anemone, bulbine, crinum, day lily, rain lily, ranunculus, society garlic, spider lily and narcissus; refrigerate Dutch iris, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and similar bulbs needing a cold treatment before flowering
Vegetable & fruit gardening
7. Let’s hope for cool weather but no freezes for our fall and winter vegetable gardens.
8. Waste no time planting crops that like the cool weather into February.
9. Where there is limited space, plan plantings carefully so as not to grow too much of one thing.
10. Remove declining crops and replant immediately after amending soils.
11. Herbs like the cooler weather, too; begin new plantings and revive older ones.
12. Teach younger family members to garden by helping to plant and tend the crops.
13. Tomato and pepper planting time is over until spring.
14. Allow garden soils to dry a little; water when the surface soil begins to dry to the touch.
15. Improve sandy soils with garden soil, compost, peat moss and composted manure.
16. Feed the garden every 3 to 4 weeks with composted manure or a general garden fertilizer.
17. Stake or trellis taller growing crops to prevent wind damage and pests.
18. Maintain a mulch between plants and rows to conserve water and control weeds.
19. Caterpillars often feed in cool season gardens; hand pick or use natural controls.
20. Build raised beds to better contain plantings and make their care easier.
21. Give bananas and pineapples a final fall feeding with a general garden fertilizer.
22. Many early citrus are ready to harvest; use the taste test to tell when they are ripe.
23. Feeding time for citrus should be completed; feeding time for other fruit trees is over.
24. Water citrus trees once or twice each week during the dry times.
25. Add new citrus or other fruiting trees to the landscape, but be ready to protect from freezes.
26. Sow papaya seeds to overwinter in containers.
27. Delay pruning fruit plantings until late January or February.
Lawn care
28. Many lawns had a tough summer due to varying rains; start needed repairs.
29. Fall is a good time to sod or plug problem areas in lawns; delay Bahia seeding until spring.
30. Feeding time is over for Bahia, centipede and Zoysia lawns.
31. Give St. Augustine lawns one more feeding with a quality turf fertilizer around mid-month.
32. Brown or large patch disease can be severe in Zoysia; apply a fungicide in early November.
33. Eastern Standard Time returns Nov. 5; watering is usually limited to once a week.
34. Water lawns separately from trees and shrubs that need less moisture.
35. Repair and adjust sprinklers to water efficiently.
36. Chinch bug and caterpillar control may still be needed during warm fall weather.
37. Have lawn soil tested by the University of Florida lab to ensure proper feeding.
38. Lawns low in potassium can be given extra winter protection with a late-month application.
39. Apply herbicides for your lawn type if needed for broadleaf and sedge weed control.
40. Continue mowing at normal heights; change directions to avoid ruts.
41. Aerate hard to wet, compacted and nematode-infected soils.
42. Sow ryegrass in barren areas for a temporary lawn starting in late November.
43. Remove and compost fallen leaves.
44. Fill in shady problem spots with ornamental ground covers.
45. Service lawn care equipment during the fall and winter months.
Landscape plantings
46. Periods of dry weather caused many shrubs to decline; prune out dead and increase care.
47. Use the cool weather to add new trees, shrubs and ground covers to the landscape.
48. Check container plants for adequate drainage; roots often fill holes in pots and planters.
49. Now is a time to decide what to keep and groom; discard declining plants and replace them.
50. Keep the root balls of new plantings moist with frequent hand waterings.
51. Fall is a good time to renew mulches; only a light topping is normally needed.
52. Pruning time is over for azaleas, gardenias, hydrangeas and camellias.
53. Poinsettias have initiated the flowering process; pruning time is over, but water and fertilize.
54. Palms can still be pruned but only remove declining fronds and flowering or fruiting stalks.
55. Palm diseases may be spread by pruners; disinfect at least between palms.
56. Remove declining warm season flowers and replace them with the cool season selections.
57. Experiment with combinations of flowers and foliage in container plantings.
58. Work organic matter into flower beds and replace soil in planters before planting.
59. Slow-release fertilizers are an easy way to feed flower beds and containers.
60. Extend chrysanthemum life; remove faded flowers, keep the soil moist and feed lightly.
61. Some gingers, caladiums, achimenes and cannas normally decline; trim out dead.
62. Mealybugs have been heavy this year on shrubs and foliage plants; use a natural spray.
63. Leaf spots and die-back are normal on many trees and perennials as they prepare for winter.
64. Hurricane season ends November 30; select small, sturdy trees for new plantings
65. Remove limbs and weeds interfering with sprinklers.
66. Complete all tree, palm and shrub feedings by mid-month.
67. Collect and refrigerate your favorite flower seeds in plastic bags and store them in the refrigerator.
68. Hurry to create wildflower plantings that won’t flower until spring.
69. Reduce feedings of orchids and bromeliads in the landscape as the weather cools.
70. Divide perennials and bulbs
71. Form compost piles to recycle yard waste.
72. Clean birdbaths and prepare feeders for winter.
73. Reduce feedings of water garden plantings
Foliage and house plant care
74. Plant new narcissus and amaryllis bulbs in containers to begin growth for holiday blooms.
75. Remember, no nighttime light for holiday plants until they begin to bloom.
76. Water holiday cactus and kalanchoe when the soil dries to the touch; keep poinsettias moist.
77. Many outdoor foliage and bulbs have weeds in their containers; remove and repot if needed.
78. Check and treat outdoor plants for insects before bringing them indoors.
79. Discontinue or reduce foliage plant feedings to every other month.
80. Begin moving cold-sensitive foliage plants indoors.
81. Indoor foliage needs less water during fall and winter; water when the soil starts to dry.
82. Poinsettias start appearing at garden centers; obtain them early to last the holidays.
83. Locate holiday plants in bright light and away from drafts.
84. Trim & move chrysanthemums outdoors where they may rebloom.
85. Order gift plants for friends so they arrive before the holidays.
Tom MacCubbin is an urban horticulturist emeritus with the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Write him: Orlando Sentinel, P.O. Box 2833, Orlando, FL. 32802. Email: TomMac1996@aol.com.
