What to sow in November in the UK
November is a quiet month, not a dead one. In the UK you can sow hardy broad beans in mild areas, plant garlic and overwintering onion sets, sow hardy peas and winter salads under cover, and plant bare-root fruit. Most of the plot is about harvesting roots and leeks and protecting what’s left. Here’s what the RHS and BBC Gardeners’ World suggest.
Sowing dates are typical UK guidance, not promises. Your soil, your region and this year’s weather matter more than the calendar, so check your seed packet too.
Sow outdoors (if you’re mild and well drained)
Broad beans
The RHS says to sow overwintering broad beans outside or under cloches in mild areas only, where the soil is well drained. In cold areas, sow them in pots of peat-free compost in an unheated greenhouse instead (RHS: jobs to do in November). Use a hardy variety, and protect young plants with cloches or fleece in cold spells. The RHS says late-autumn sowings in mild regions or very sheltered sites can crop as early as May (RHS: broad beans).
Peas
BBC Gardeners’ World suggests sowing first early peas such as ‘Meteor’ and ‘Kelvedon Wonder’ in autumn to overwinter for early summer harvests, in covered containers to keep slugs, birds and mice off (Gardeners’ World: what to plant in November). The RHS also says you can sow peas in autumn and keep the plants in a greenhouse or cold frame over winter, for planting out in early spring (RHS: peas).
Plant out
Garlic
Garlic is the classic November job. The RHS says most varieties need a cold spell, one to two months at 0 to 10°C, for good bulbs, which is why it’s usually planted from mid-autumn to early winter (RHS: garlic). For November, the RHS suggests planting cloves in modules of peat-free compost in a cold frame, or outdoors in their final position in mild areas, on free-draining soil in low-rainfall areas only (RHS). In the ground, space cloves 15cm apart in rows 30cm apart. Buy named varieties from a garden centre or supplier; the RHS doesn’t recommend planting supermarket garlic.
Onion and shallot sets
Overwintering (Japanese) onion sets can be planted in autumn for harvesting in June and July, but the RHS says to avoid autumn planting if your soil is heavy and prone to waterlogging, as the sets are likely to rot (RHS: onions). Gardeners’ World says onion sets can go in between September and November, 10 to 15cm apart with 30cm between rows, and shallots 15 to 20cm apart, up until December. Cover them with fleece or netting to stop birds pulling them up (Gardeners’ World).
Fruit and rhubarb
The RHS says November is perfect for planting new fruit trees and bushes, as long as the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged (RHS). Bare-root rhubarb crowns are generally available from November to March and should be planted soon after they arrive (RHS: rhubarb).
Sow indoors or under cover
- Salad leaves. Gardeners’ World suggests mizuna, mustard and spinach on a bright windowsill or in a greenhouse for winter pickings.
- Hardy spring onions. Varieties such as ‘Performer’ can be sown in autumn in pots, protected in a greenhouse or under cloches.
- Pak choi. Under cloches or in the greenhouse, for young salad leaves in late winter.
All three are from Gardeners’ World’s November list (Gardeners’ World).
Harvest
- Parsnips. The RHS says they can stay in the ground until needed and taste better when frosted. They’re hard to dig from frozen ground, so it may be worth lifting a few extra in November (RHS: parsnips).
- Leeks. Mid-season varieties can be lifted in winter and late ones into spring (RHS: leeks).
- Brussels sprouts. Early varieties crop from autumn; the RHS says the flavour is sweeter once they’ve been frosted (RHS: Brussels sprouts).
- Kale and celeriac. Kale is ready to pick from autumn through to spring (RHS: kale), and celeriac can be harvested from October to March, with a thick mulch of straw to protect it from cold (RHS: celeriac; RHS).
Other November jobs
- Dig up chicory roots for forcing. The RHS says to cut the leaves back to 2.5cm above the crown, pot them up and keep them somewhere dark and warm; chicons should appear in three to six weeks.
- Protect new sowings from mice and brassicas from pigeons, and pick yellowing leaves off sprouts and other brassicas to help prevent grey mould and downy mildew.
- Stake leggy sprout stalks against wind rock.
- Cover empty beds with a double layer of cardboard, tape and staples removed, topped with homemade compost.
- Clean and store bamboo canes somewhere dry, and order next year’s seeds on a rainy day.
All from the RHS November jobs list (RHS: jobs to do in November). For more on getting the plot through the cold months, see our guide to allotment jobs in winter.
Keep track of what went where
Garlic planted in November is easy to forget by June. I made Fork Handles for my own allotment: it shows what to sow indoors, sow outdoors, plant out and harvest each month, lets you log what went in which bed, and reminds you before each crop should be ready. It’s free on the App Store, with one optional one-off purchase.
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Questions
Can I still plant garlic in November?
Yes. The RHS says garlic is usually planted from mid-autumn to early winter because most varieties need one to two months at 0 to 10°C. In November it suggests modules in a cold frame, or outdoors in mild, free-draining, low-rainfall areas.
Can I sow broad beans in November?
In mild areas with well-drained soil, the RHS says you can sow overwintering broad beans outside or under cloches. In cold areas, sow them in pots in an unheated greenhouse instead.
Can I plant onion sets in November?
Overwintering (Japanese) onion sets can be planted in autumn for a June and July harvest. The RHS says to avoid autumn planting on heavy soil that gets waterlogged, as the sets are likely to rot.
What can I harvest in November?
Parsnips, leeks, Brussels sprouts, kale and celeriac are all winter crops, according to the RHS. Parsnips can stay in the ground and taste better after frost.