Pima County Gardening Seasonal Reminder - November

• The first frost sometimes occurs in mid-to-late November. Prepare by obtaining frost cloth, sheets, utility lights or re-use
  incandescent C-7 or C-9 Christmas lights (not miniatures or LED). Be sure to protect any light bulbs from accidental
  damage and do not allow contact with cloth coverings. Protect plants as needed; some portions of your yard may be
  colder than others.
• Do general garden cleanup. Pull weeds before they go to seed.
• Remove dead or dying plants and rake up fallen leaves to compost them if not diseased.
• Replenish organic mulches to a depth of 3-4 inches for soil temperature and moisture control as well as weed prevention.
  Refresh any decorative stone landscape materials.
• If prickly pear cacti have a cottony substance on them known as cochineal scale, a strong spray of water from a garden
  hose will remove most of it. Heavily infested pads should be cut off at the joint and discarded; do not compost.
• Remove spent blooms of flowers such as petunias to increase flower production.
• Move adenium (desert roses) and other cold-sensitive succulents such as pachypodium and certain euphorbia to a
  protected area or move them indoors for the winter. Provide them with a sunny spot until outdoor nighttime temperatures
  return to the mid-50’s.
• Protect young vegetable and flower transplants and seedlings from cutworms by placing a ring cut from a paper or
  Styrofoam cup around the transplant at the soil line to protect the stem. The rings can be removed after a week or 10 days.
• Plan and implement hardscaping & water harvesting projects while the temperatures are cooler and rain is minimal.

• Early in the month, sow seeds directly into the ground for beets, carrots, peas, onions, chard, spinach, kale, endive, and
  turnips. Space them appropriately to allow for plant and root growth.
• Transplant broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower starts into the ground or raised beds.
• Early in the month sow seeds directly into the ground for spring-flowering wildflowers such as California and Mexican
  poppies, cowpen daisy, desert blue bells, desert marigold, tidy tips, and white chicory; keep the area moist but not damp
  until seeds germinate. Be sure the chosen location will not be too shaded when Spring comes; they love sun.
• Plant flowering perennials such as gaura and angelita daisy.
• Plant spring-flowering bulbs such as bearded iris, hyacinth, crocus, daffodils, and narcissus for a burst of color after
  Winter.
• This is a good month to plant trees, shrubs, ground covers, vines, herbs, and winter vegetables purchased from nurseries
  before the first frost.

• Vegetables require light fertilization throughout the growing season. There are various fertilizer options, including organic
  and chemical fertilizers. When using organic fertilizers, it's important to apply them early to allow sufficient time for
  breakdown, ensuring a steady nutrient supply as plants grow. 
• Do not fertilize citrus, roses, or frost-tender plants, as this may encourage tender new growth susceptible to damage.
• Fertilize winter lawns monthly to retain good color.

• Adjust your irrigation frequencies (not length of time) for November.
• Continue to water your fall wildflowers.
• If you brought potted succulents indoors to protect them, water these very sparingly during this time.
• If you see fungus or mushrooms, cut back on watering in that area.
• Irrigate in preparation for cold nights except for cacti/succulents. Moist soil will store heat from the sun’s energy and
  release it at night, keeping these plants warmer.
• Importantly, if a freeze is predicted, do not water cacti or other succulents

Small Scale Composting in the Low Desert

Flower Planting Guide for the Low Desert

Landscape management practices for passive water harvesting

Harvesting rainwater

Ten Steps to a Successful Vegetable Garden

Organic Fertilizer

Fertilizing Home Gardens in Arizona

Spring Flowering Bulbs

Container trees and shrubs

Training and pruning fruit trees

Planting and staking trees

Problems and Pests of Agave, Aloe, Cactus and Yucca

For more information on any of these topics, search our database of Extension publications going back more than 100 years housed in the University of Arizona Campus Repository.