November brings shorter days, colder nights and a definite slowing down in the garden. There's still plenty growing, plenty to harvest and even a few seeds you can sow. And, of course, there are those bits and bobs worth doing before winter really gets going.
Whether you've got an afternoon to spare or just half an hour to potter, we've pulled together some ideas for making the most of November in your garden, along with a few thoughts on giving wildlife a helping hand.
🥕 Vegetable Highlights
Sow outside: broad beans and hardy peas (if the weather is mild and the soil isn’t waterlogged).
Sow under cover (cloches, cold frame or unheated greenhouse): winter lettuce, corn salad (lamb’s lettuce), rocket, and hardy oriental greens.
Plant out: spring cabbage.
Plant: overwintering onions sets and garlic cloves.
Tip: plant garlic cloves in well-drained soil or raised beds so they don’t rot in wet winter weather.
For more ideas, head to All Vegetables and filter by ‘Sow in November’
Veggie jobs this November…
• Clear away crops that have finished and add the healthy remains to your compost heap.
• Give bare soil a covering of compost, well-rotted manure or mulch to help protect it through winter.
• Check that fleece and cloches are securely tucked in before winter winds arrive.
• If your rhubarb has become overcrowded, you can lift and divide it once it's dormant.
• Cut down asparagus stems once they've turned yellow or brown.
• Keep an eye on your brassicas, removing dead leaves and making sure the netting is still keeping those hungry pigeons out!
• Pick leeks, parsnips and Brussels sprouts as you need them. They're generally happy standing in the ground through the colder weather.
🪴 Herby Highlights & Things to Do
There's still fresh flavour to be found in the herb garden! Parsley, thyme, sage, rosemary, bay and winter savory can all provide a little something for the kitchen. You might still find some mint, marjoram or hyssop to pick too, depending on the weather. And if you've kept your basil somewhere warm and sheltered, you may be enjoying that for a little longer.
• Pot up a clump of mint and a clump of chives and pop it in the greenhouse for a little fresh growth through winter.
• Give established perennial herbs a mulch of leaf mould or compost where they would benefit from a little extra protection.
• Move tender herbs such as lemon verbena somewhere sheltered before hard frosts arrive.
• Try sowing parsley and coriander under cover for some fresh leaves during the colder months.
• Try sowing some Sweet Cicely in a tray and leave it in a cold frame to experience the winter chill. Its seeds benefit from a period of cold before germinating.
• Ease back on watering potted herbs as growth slows, and tidy away any dead or damaged foliage.
• Keep an eye out for slugs, particularly in those sheltered corners where they can still be active during milder weather
For more ideas, head to All Herbs and filter by ‘Sow in November'
🌻 November Flower Power
• Cut back collapsed perennial stems where needed, but leave a few standing for wildlife and winter interest.
• November is a great time to plant tulips. You can still tuck in other spring bulbs if you have some waiting to be planted.
• Once frost has blackened your dahlias, lift and store the tubers if they need winter protection.
• Pull out any troublesome weeds and give bare patches of soil a little mulch. No need to make everything too tidy!
• Sow sweet peas in deep pots or root trainers under cover for an early start next year.
For more ideas, head to All Flowers and filter by ‘Sow in November’
🍓 Fruity Actions
• November is a good time to start planting bare-root fruit trees, bushes and canes, provided the ground isn't frozen or waterlogged.
• Once the leaves have fallen, you can start winter pruning apple and pear trees. Leave any trained forms that need summer pruning until the appropriate season.
• Give gooseberries and currants a little attention if needed. An open centre makes gooseberries easier to pick next year, and you can take hardwood cuttings from currants too.
• Check ties and stakes on young trees, ;oosemomg or replacing any that are getting a bit tight or worn.
• Spread some compost or leaf mould around fruit bushes, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Clear away fallen or rotting fruit from beneath trees, along with any diseased leaves, to help reduce problems next year.
🧹 General Bits and Bobs
• Gather up fallen leaves to make some lovely leaf mould. It takes a little longer than a year to break down fully, but it's well worth the wait!
• Give outdoor taps some insulation and protect water butts before hard frosts arrive.
• Got any old growbags? Spread the spent compost over your beds as a mulch.
• Gather up canes, stakes and netting as crops finish, ready to store somewhere dry.
• Give greenhouse glass a clean to make the most of those shorter daylight hours.
• On milder days, open up the greenhouse for a little fresh air to help keep condensation and mould at bay.
• Have a quick check through stored crops, removing anything that's going soft or showing signs of rot.
• Give your tools a clean and a little oil before putting them away. They'll be ready and waiting when you need them again!
🦔 Wildlife-Friendly Corners
As the garden slows down for winter, it's worth remembering that we're not the only ones making use of it! All sorts of creatures are looking for somewhere to shelter, and a few untidy corners can be just what they need.
• Leave a small pile of leaves, twigs or small logs in a quiet corner. You never know who might move in!
• Keep some hollow stems and seed heads standing. Insects can shelter amongst them, and birds will appreciate any seeds left behind.
• Give bird feeders a good clean and keep them topped up as natural food becomes harder to find.
• If your bird boxes are empty, now's a good time to clear out old nesting material ready for next year.
• Put out some fresh water for birds and other garden visitors, remembering to break the ice or replace frozen water on frosty mornings.
• Resist the temptation to tidy every last corner. A little garden clutter can be a very good thing for wildlife!
Giving wildlife a helping hand through winter is well worth doing. And come spring, many of those garden visitors will be busy pollinating flowers or helping to keep pests in check.
🍂 Make the Most of Those November Moments!
Whether you've managed a good tidy-up, planted a few seeds or simply enjoyed being outside for a while, it's all part of gardening. There's no need to get everything done before winter arrives. The garden will still be there when the next fine day comes along!
Not sure what you could be sowing? Our Easy Seed Planner is a handy place to see what's ready for sowing now and what you can look forward to growing next.
