Preparing and Sowing Seeds in November Garden for a Prosperous Harvest Come Springtime
November Gardening: A Guide to Year-Round Planting
November is a perfect time to transform your garden and bring it to life with a variety of plants, trees, and shrubs that can provide colour, fragrance, and seasonal interest throughout the year.
Trees and Shrubs
Evergreen shrubs like the Goshiki Osmanthus (Japanese false holly) are great choices for hedges or accents, offering year-round colourful foliage. For those seeking vibrant fall colours, the Smoketree (Cotinus obovatus) is an excellent option, with coral-orange, lemon yellow, and raspberry tones.
Spirea japonica ‘Little Princess’ is another versatile shrub, boasting pink flowers in late spring and burnt orange foliage in the autumn. For year-round interest, consider planting Camellias, Mountain Laurel, Weigela, Mock Orange, and Butterfly Bush.
Edible and wildlife-friendly shrubs such as sumac, elderberry, flowering currant, and mock orange are also excellent choices, providing food and shelter for birds.
Bulbs and Perennials
November is the ideal time to plant spring-flowering bulbs like tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses. Garlic can also be planted in November for a summer harvest next year. For those growing indoors, lettuces, chives, and parsley can be sown in a window garden.
Additional Tips
Planting trees and shrubs in November allows the roots to establish before spring, as the soil is still workable. It's essential to water deeply every 6-8 weeks if the soil is dry and not frozen to support root development, especially in cooler regions.
When sowing seeds, low light levels and short days make November less suitable for many seeds. Cold frames can protect plants from excessive rainfall and offer night protection. Alternatively, planting in a sheltered spot near the house or a shed can also be beneficial.
Vegetables
Broad beans can be sown directly, with individual planting sites marked with sturdy stakes. They can also be planted in late autumn and early spring for an extended season. Mixed seed packets for various beets, brassicas, mustards, and herbs are available. If growing strawberries in the open ground, place each plant on a mound of soil to help drainage. Strawberry plants will do well with a good, rich compost and regular feeding.
Strawberry plants can be expected to last for two to three seasons before needing replacement. 'Aquadulce Claudia' and 'Crimson Flowered' are cultivars of broad beans mentioned. A double row with a gap of about 20cm in between the supports can be created for broad bean planting.
Indoor Growing
Micro greens and cut-and-come-again salad leaves can be sown indoors for growth on a windowsill or greenhouse shelf. These indoor-sown plants are packed with flavour and nutrients.
Strawberries can be grown in pots in the kitchen yard or in the open ground.
Expert Advice
Benjamin Pope and Aaron Bertelsen, head gardener and gardener and writer, respectively, recommend these practices for a year-round garden that balances ornamental value, seasonal interest, and wildlife benefits, creating a garden with flowers, fragrance, bird food, and structure through all seasons.
- Incorporate edible and wildlife-friendly shrubs like mock orange, sumac, elderberry, and flowering currant into your garden to provide food and shelter for birds, creating a garden that offers a balance of ornamental value, seasonal interest, and wildlife benefits.
- Transform your indoor gardening lifestyle by sowing micro greens, cut-and-come-again salad leaves, and even strawberries in pots on a windowsill or greenhouse shelf, enhancing the flavour and nutrients in your home-and-garden life.
- To keep gardening year-round, plant garlic in November for a summer harvest next year, and sow spring-flowering bulbs like tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses in the same month, ensuring that your garden continues to bloom and bring colour throughout the seasons.
