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Avid stargazers will know that we’ve got a full moon coming up this week. Peaking on Wednesday, November 5, November’s full moon is traditionally called the “Beaver moon.” Its nickname nods to the fact that beavers hide out from the cold in late fall and, many moons ago, used to be trapped for their cozy pelts during this season. This year’s Beaver moon also happens to be the biggest supermoon of 2025, meaning it will be impossible to miss when it lights up the night sky.
Wondering what the Old Farmer’s Almanac has to say about the Beaver moon? This popular guidebook contains a wealth of information about gardening, including helpful timing tips like when you should plant certain vegetables. If you’re looking to harvest any plants in your garden this month, then you’re in luck: The Farmer’s Almanac recommends targeting November 13 or 14 for plants that grow below ground, and November 4, 5, 23, or 24 for ones that grow above ground. Here’s why.
Why the Farmer’s Almanac suggests harvesting certain plants on these dates & how to do it
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For the uninitiated: The Farmer’s Almanac is a guidebook for farmers and gardeners that’s published annually in the fall and has been around since the 1700s. Every edition includes predictions for your garden in winter and the best days to tackle specific gardening tasks for optimal results, based on the current position and phase of the moon. (That may sound a bit woo-woo to you, but, hey, people have grown crops this way for centuries all around the world.) In the weeks surrounding November’s Beaver moon, the Farmer’s Almanac suggests harvesting crops that grow below ground — think flowering bulbs or hearty vegetables like carrots and potatoes — in the middle of the month, when the moon is waning. Meanwhile, plants that grow above ground should be plucked on November 4, 5, 23, or 24 — that is, close to this week’s Beaver full moon, or when the moon is in its waxing crescent phase later this month.
Regardless of when you decide to harvest your plants this month, your technique should be the same. If you’ve grown a fall vegetable garden full of root veggies, simply dig them up and pull them out of the soil. Clean off the crop itself, trim its leaves, and store it somewhere cool and dry until you’re ready to cook with it. Harvesting autumnal plants that grow above ground, like kale, may require a more delicate hand. You can gently twist and pluck the plant’s leaves or fruits, or you can use pruning shears to carefully cut off the parts you want without damaging the rest of the plant.
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