What to do in the garden by month: November

November is the time of the year where you're pulling up the last of your squash and brassicas, the days are getting shorter and the fire is calling your name. But don't forget about the crops you can still grow, the jobs that need doing and the harvests that are still coming.  

What to grow direct into the ground

Garlic

Now is the time to get your garlic in. Make sure you drop some sand or fine gravel in the hole before putting your garlic in, this will improve drainage and stop water from building up and rotting the gloves.

Fruit

Although it doesn't feel like there's much to plant right now, you can definitely get new fruit trees, grape vines and bushes in! Make sure the ground isn't frozen when you do this though. 

Beans and peas

Broad beans and hardy peas can go into the ground now, although if you're in a wetter climate be aware that success rate is lowered compared to drier regions. 

Natural green manures

Most green manures need to be plated earlier in the year to give them a head start, but you can sow grazing rye now to keep the nutrients in the soil for better crop next year. 

What to grow  in the greenhouse

You can still be harvesting winter salads, even in a cold greenhouse, they will grow much slower than summer lettuces and greens but they are still great. Pick off any yellowing or mouldy leaves, keep the soil moist and use fleece where possible; you could be eating salad leaves right up until spring.

Remember to clean off any algae build up on your greenhouse or polytunnel to allow more light in. 

Greens

You can try some mizuna and mustard greens to give you some greens in the colder months. Make sure to plant them close to shelter to reduce the effects of winds. 

Harvest

Leeks and spring onions

Your leeks and spring onions should be ready to harvest now, this needs to be done before the frost of they will become tough.

Brassicas

Brassicas such as kale, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli should be towards the end of it's growing season now; make sure you pick it before it bolts or the frost comes! Although, remember you still have a good month of frostless days. Leave your Brussels Sprouts in until you have a frost, they will be sweeter then.

Root vegetables

Carrots and beets should be picked before the frost, so start picking them steadily now as to not spoil them. Carrots can be stored in a cool place in sand, so no need to worry about them going bad! But make sure you leave your parsnips in until the first frost has been, they will taste 100% better, trust me.

What to transplant

You can start planting out rooted canes or young fruit trees now.

What jobs needs doing

Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums will be in full bloom during September to November. Once they have finished they will need overwintering. Most hardy Chrysanthemums will survive down to -5˚C (23˚F); however in the UK it is always better to lift and store them in frost free conditions. Soilless Grower Baskets are great for moving crops inside over winter. 

Once finished flowering you want to cut the stems down to 20cm, prune them back to a bare stem (cut leaves and green shoots off) and bring inside. You can store them in a frost-free place such as greenhouses / pollytunnels / conservatories etc in a shallow tray of damp compost throughout the winter. Just remember to keep the compost moist. 

Pruning

Don't forget to prune back the dead berry bushes, this will ensure that they produce far better the next year than they would if you leave them. You're allowing them to put all their energy in the spring when they come out of dormancy into new growth rather than trying to repair old growth. 

Preparation 

As you start clearing beds ready for the winter it's a brilliant idea to prepare the beds ready for next year. Don't use compost now, you'll waste the nutrients over winter; but use manures to give them time to break down for spring planting. Cover unused beds to keep the goodness in and reduce weeding. 

At this time of year there is a huge amount of fallen leaves on the ground, if you collect this up you can start making a leaf mulch - pile the leaves into a cage (normally made out of chicken wire) and they will break down into leaf mould, which is brilliant for the compost or to use as mulch in the garden. 

At this time of year all trees, bushes and shrubs need a good mulching around the base, this will keep the soil warm, moist and fill it full of nutrients that your fruit trees will thank you for! 

The biggest challenges 

Larger amounts of wind

At this time of the year there is more wind than in the warmer seasons. For this reason we make sure that we stake or tie all of our current crops such as our brussels sprouts and broad beans, to reduce the risk of them falling over or the stems snapping.

Products we recommend

	Winter reusable plant cover Brilliant for keeping your crop / the ground warmer than ambient temperatures and extending your growing season or stopping freeze.
	Soilless Grower Baskets Used widely for growing and transplanting bulbs to reduce the risks of them being ruined in the colder months.
	Eco friendly slug and snail trap Make sure the slugs stay off your crop, they're out in force at this time of year!
	Hollow hoe Make your gardening experience easier and more enjoyable by saving energy & effort.