What Foods to Plant in November (Vegetables, Fruit & Herbs)

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November might not seem like a major month in the gardening calendar.  And truthfully, a lot of what you do will probably take place indoors or on those brighter days.  But it is the home of some important tasks.  Let’s look at what foods to plant in November including fruit, vegetables and herbs.

What vegetables to plant in November

With the time it takes many crops to grow, November is the logical time to plant them to get a harvest in the warmer months of the year.  So there are a few jobs to do, depending on what you plan to grow for next year.

Direct sow outdoors

There’s not as much to do directly into the ground in November but there are a few tasks.

You can sow hard broad beans such as ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ outdoors to get them started.

Similarly, pea crops such as ‘Meteor’ are designed to grow outdoors over winter and this is the time to sow them.

You can also plant overwintering garlic and onion sets or even try something a little different such as elephant garlic.

Asparagus crowns go into the ground in November for later crops and it is also the window for planing spring cabbage.

Sow in the greenhouse or indoors

In the cold frame or under cloches, you can sow spring onions and pak choi.

Winter salads can work under cloches or on a bright windowsill in the kitchen.  Aim for ones that don’t need extra heat – ‘Winter Gem’ is an example along with corn salad and winter land cress.

What fruit to plant in November

There are a few crops to plant in November to get spring fruit.  These include:

• Rhubarb crowns – well-prepared soil, lots of organic matter
• Strawberry runners and plants
• Raspberry and blackberry canes with a support system for growth
• Gooseberries and currants
• Blueberry plants – slightly acidic soil or work well in patio containers

Avoid planting if the ground is frosted or too wet so wait for one of those bright November days to do the job.

What herbs to plant in November

Herbs will generally be planted indoors at this time of the year as many aren’t winter hardy or won’t really get started in the cold weather.

But you can plant things like basil, dill, parsley and chives in a bright windowsill such as in the kitchen or in a heated greenhouse to get early spring crops.

Other jobs to do

There are a few jobs to do when you get the right day for it during the month.

Vegetable jobs

Parsnips taste best when they’ve had some frost so leave them in the ground or buried in a shallow trench to get them easily.

Celeriac can be treated similarly but give them a layer of mulch or straw on top to give them a little extra protection.

If any Brussel Sprouts look leggy or are vulnerable to wind rock, then stake them.

Prepare any seedbeds for asparagus ready for the spring.

Fruit jobs

With fruit trees, thin out the congested spurs and make sure you tie in new tiers of espaliers.

Prune a variety of plants including apples, pears, quince, red and white currants and gooseberries.