What to sow and grow in November

Plant hellebores now in time for Christmas blooms
Image: Hellebore x sahinii 'Winterbells' from Thompson & Morgan

Things are slowing down in the garden come November, but there are still plenty of plants that need sowing and growing in time for spring. Here are the flowers, vegetables and fruits that can be sown and grown this month.

Here are our top picks of seasonal things to sow and grow in the garden this month:

Flowers to sow and grow

Start lupins indoors for beautiful displays for years to come
Image: Lupin 'The Governor' from Thompson & Morgan

In the greenhouse/indoors

• Sow sweet peas in a cool greenhouse or cold frame for an early display next year.
• Try growing perennials such as laurentia, delphinium, verbascum, foxglove and lupin from seed in the greenhouse this month.

Plant outdoors

Plant daffodil bulbs in preparation for spring
Image: Narcissus 'Sweet Aroma Mixed' from Thompson & Morgan

• Plant spring flowering bulbs. Consider investing in a bulb planter to speed up the process or to naturalise bulbs into grassed areas of your garden.
• Plant tulip bulbs this month, remembering to avoid shallow planting as this can reduce the winter cold period that tulip bulbs need to produce flowers in spring.
• Plant Christmas roses (hellebores) now for beautiful winter flowers.
• Continue to plant daffodil bulbs.
• Plant up a terracotta pot of hyacinth bulbs for a simple but stunning display next spring.
• Plant a magnolia tree now for a beautiful spring display.
• Start to plant bare-root roses — they can be planted any time between now and March.
• Plant heathers, grasses and trailing ivy in pots for winter colour.
• Plant out spring bedding displays of pansies, violas and primulas.

Vegetables & herbs to sow and grow

Sow hardy pea varieties to bulk out your first harvest of the new year
Image: Pea 'Meteor' (First Early) seeds from Thompson & Morgan

In the greenhouse/indoors

• Sow pots of herbs in a heated greenhouse or on a bright windowsill indoors. Try basil, dill, chives and parsley.

In the cold frame/under cloches

• Sow spring onion 'Performer' under cloches.
• Sow pak choi under cloches outdoors.
• Sow winter salads under glass, protected by cloches or on a bright window sill indoors. Choose types that won't require extra heat such as 'Winter Gem', winter land cress, purslane, and corn salad.

Direct sow outdoors

• Sow hardy broad bean 'Aquadulce Claudia' outdoors.
• Sow pea 'Meteor' outdoors for an early crop next year.

Plant outdoors

• Plant overwintering onion sets and garlic. For something different this year, try the massive elephant garlic.
• Plant asparagus crowns now for tasty homegrown spears.
• Plant out spring cabbage plants at the beginning of the month.

Fruit to sow and grow

Put in a support system for raspberry canes before planting
Image: Raspberry 'Autumn Bliss' (Autumn fruiting) from Thompson & Morgan

Plant outdoors

• Plant rhubarb crowns now in well-prepared soil. Add plenty of organic matter — they are hungry feeders!
• Plant out strawberry runners and plants.
• Plant raspberry canes and blackberries now, and remember to put a support system in place for the canes before planting.
• Plant gooseberries and currants now for a vigorous start to next season.
• Plant blueberry plants this month. Blueberries prefer a slightly acidic soil, but do very well in patio containers if your garden soil is not acidic.

Keep one step ahead — what to order this month

Order geranium seeds now for December sowing
Image: Geranium 'Border Supreme' F2 Hybrid from Thompson & Morgan

• Order geranium seeds, which like cooler temperatures, ready to sow from December to March.
• Buy gooseberries and currants ready to go out next month.
• Order hardy Broad Bean 'Aquadulce Claudia' to sow outdoors in December.