Posted on 11/01/2025 5:46:00 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
The MONTHLY Gardening Thread is a gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.
If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located.
This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.
It is impossible to hijack the Gardening Thread. Planting, Harvest to Table Recipes, Preserving, Good Living - there is no telling where it will go - and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us! Send a Private Message to Diana in Wisconsin if you'd like to be added to/removed from our New & Improved Ping List.
NOTE: This is a once a MONTH Ping List, but we DO post to the thread all throughout the month. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest to Gardeners are welcomed any time.
Second season after my rookie year. Tried peppers this time. Got seedlings from the Farmer’s Market. Really enjoyed the mini belles. Easy-peasy to give away during a bountiful harvest.
I was going to say exactly what Snoopy is saying!!
Thanks for the new thread :-)
**********
“November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.
With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.
The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring.”
- Elizabeth Coatsworth
**********
“How silently they tumble down
And come to rest upon the ground
To lay a carpet, rich and rare,
Beneath the trees without a care,
Content to sleep, their work well done,
Colors gleaming in the sun.
At other times, they wildly fly
Until they nearly reach the sky.
Twisting, turning through the air
Till all the trees stand stark and bare.
Exhausted, drop to earth below
To wait, like children, for the snow.”
- Elsie N. Brady, Leaves
“If it is true that one of the greatest pleasures of gardening lies in looking forward, then the planning of next year’s beds and borders must be one of the most agreeable occupations in the gardener’s calendar. This should make October and November particularly pleasant months, for then we may begin to clear our borders, to cut down those sodden and untidy stalks, to dig up and increase our plants, and to move them to other positions where they will show up to greater effect. People who are not gardeners always say that the bare beds of winter are uninteresting; gardeners know better, and take even a certain pleasure in the neatness of the newly dug, bare, brown earth.”
- Vita Sackville-West
I think Snoopy speaks for all of us. Many thanks for the new thread!
Morning all. I am very grateful for this thread, my friends here and FR in general. Having a garden this year and reading all your posts has really helped me this season. In May after my hubby passed I thought I would never garden again. Well that changed and while it was about half of what it usually is, I had a garden. And the only thing growing now are some new garlic shoots for next year. Always a green promise for next year. Love you guys, MWH
Thanks for making the thread.
I had another growing season of less time than I hoped to have. Did well with about 15 types of tomatoes, not so well with cucumbers, peppers. Weather was more fluctuating than some summers, and late season I didnt have time.
To my surprise, my first year growing sweet potatoes did ok. I grew them in 2 blue kid pools which I made some holes for drainage and piled up wood chip mulch real high. Planted the slips in pockets of about two handfuls of dirt in multiple places in the top of the heap of mulch. Watered a few times (they got rained on at times as well) and got 5 good sized sweet potatoes and a lot of fingerling sized. I’ll be revising next year but good to know some normal to large ones can come from container planting.
sorting through my tomato seeds because even though some were very productive, they were bland or otherwise ones I don’t care to use growing space for again.
still have some garden area to clean up for Fall, but already thinking ahead to 2026! Happy November to Everyone!
The weather is supposed to be fairly mild for another week and a half at least, according to the long range forecast.
THANK GOD for that. We still have a LOT to do before the snow flies.
Great poems!
“...and take even a certain pleasure in the neatness of the newly dug, bare, brown earth.”
I do for a bit, but my straw was delivered yesterday so soon my garden will be a pile of golden straw and fallen Maple leaves and then snow! :)
I am SO looking forward to re-vamping every aspect of my garden over winter to make it easier on myself. I reached BURN OUT this past season, though some of that was the @#$%^&! WEATHER (way too much rain and then NO rain!) and some of it was hitting a milestone birthday, though yesterday my BFF told me I’ll always be 19 to her.
I am taking THAT to heart. :)
The witch of November will come calling.
Round about the night of the 10th.
My garden is cut, pulled and raked.
Late leaf-fall this year.
Great success with the Sweet Potatoes - they are one of the harder things to grow - unless you’re a southern Sweet Potato Farmer by trade. ;)
Good morning, Mom! I love the advice and friendship this thread provides, too.
I have learned that even a small garden helps me so much. I mostly have flowers around my house, as vegetable gardens are prohibited where I live (HOA rules). However, I have been tucking in a few vegetables here and there when passersby might not notice what I’m growing. For some reason my herb garden in pots in an old metal garden cart isn’t objectionable, maybe because it’s part yard art and a very pretty piece.
That one success with herbs led me to try some other vegetables in pots. You all know now that I had great success with shishito peppers this year. What a fun addition! I have just a few of the baby potatoes I had in grow bags. While my cherry tomatoes were mostly a dud, this year was an exception to what two tomato plants usually produce. I guess that’s what happens with gardening. Trial and error.
Have a blessed and beautiful day.
I can’t believe it’s November already!
Here’s a reminder that Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend, so it’s time to Fall Back!
I looking for annual flowers that proliferate like weeds and produce a steady stream of flowers; preferably in deep saturated reds, blues, and purples.
I plant Zinna's every year which are great for attracting butterflies and bees but I want to add other flowers that last a long time with lots of buds that I don't have to replant every year.
November Gardening Tips and To-do List by Planting Zone and Region
Winter is almost upon us. Are you ready?
Gardeners miss their gardens when the weather is cool, but we also enjoy the rest. If you’re dreading the long winter, the good news is there’s still more to do.
You’ve come to the right place if you are wondering what you should be doing around your garden during November.
I’m going to share with you the gardening tasks you may need to attend to this month by zone and region.
This should help you cross-reference your needs and give the ultimate care to your garden as you’re preparing for colder months.
https://morningchores.com/november-gardening-tips/
Zone 5 (Diana in Wisconsin)
Do you enjoy growing your own garlic? November is the month to plant garlic if you live in zone 5. After planting the garlic be sure to cover the bed with 6-inches of mulch.
November is also the month to finish harvesting any remaining root veggies which are still in the ground.
You may not be aware, but some people grow their own Christmas trees. If you’re planning on doing this, be sure to go ahead and dig the holes where you plan on planting the tree or trees.
If you don’t do this now, the ground will be too frozen to dig the hole later.
Finally, take care of your perennials this month. Any perennials, which isn’t a spring flower, rose, or a grassy plant, should be cut back to only 2-3-inches tall.
However, your roses should be pruned to where they’re approximately 1-foot tall. Add compost to the base of the plant and put a rose cone around it to protect the plant from the harsh winter.
We Asked Pest Experts How to Keep Mice Out Before Winter—Here’s What Works
The last thing you want during the winter holidays is to be dealing with a mouse problem. These pesky creatures can sneak into your home and quickly reproduce, turning a minor issue into a full-blown infestation within a matter of weeks.
To avoid that stress, there are a few steps you can take to keep mice out and away from your home.
We spoke to pest control experts to learn how to mouse-proof your home before the cold weather hits for a peaceful, rodent-free winter.
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-mouse-proof-your-home-before-cold-weather-11836588
Diana here: They never mentioned having house CATS? That’s the only reason we have the two freeloaders that live here, LOL!
I posted this because I have found some ‘mouse evidence’ in a lower pantry area, but now that the cats have moved back in for the winter, that shouldn’t be a problem for long. I do put those ‘chew baits’ in the backs of all the kitchen drawers and Beau is vigilant about placing peanut butter traps in the basement rafters. They haven’t gotten to be a problem, but I sure don’t want to invite anyone in for the entire winter!
PERKINS'S GARDEN SALAD CLONE
Secret ing: "Ken" brand dressing. Also good w/ French, Ranch, or Blue Cheese dressing.
Iceberg cut bite-size, leaf lettuce cut bite-size, 2 chp vine-ripened garden tomatoes, 1/2 med red onion, halved/thin-sliced 1 carrot, peeled/julienned 4-6 oz shredded Cheddar large-cut seasoned croutons Ken’s Honey Mustard salad dressing
In salad server, combine lettuces, tomatoes, onion, carrot, cheese.
Add croutons and dressing, to taste, just prior to serving.
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