What jobs need doing in the garden in November?

It may surprise anyone new to gardening but November can be a very busy month in the garden and it's not just all about raking up leaves; that said, you will be raking up leaves!

November is a great time to be planting Tulip bulbs ready for a display next year. I have usually have Tulips in pots allowing me to change displays each year and in truth very few of them come back year after year and those that do often disappoint coming back smaller and not flowering as well. You can get away with it, and I have had bulbs in borders for two or three years in the past but generally you're better off planting new bulbs this time of year in pots for late spring, early summer next year. I often sow Sweet Peas at this time of year in pots, keep them indoors until germinated and then over winter in the greenhouse. This way you get a head start on spring sown seeds and get your first flowers earlier in the season. As yet I haven't actually done either of these jobs, I may not, but probably will at some time over the next week or two time allowing. 

On the veg patch if you have Spring Greens seedlings now is a good time to get them in the ground where they are to overwinter if not done already. It is a crop I have grown a few times down the years, it's great to be able to pick a few leaves in March and April, but I won't be growing them this winter as I want to concentrate on getting as much goodness into the soil on the veg patch as I can over the coming months so I want it bare to add manure. 

If you want to try growing Garlic now is the time to get you cloves in the ground as they actually benefit from being in the soil during a cold snap. Now is also a good time to plant out any bare root soft fruit plants you may have, Blackberries, Blackberries, Raspberries etc...............

Five jobs to be done in the garden in November:

• Rake up leaves! Even if you don't have a tree in your garden or veg patch you can be sure leaves will make their way onto it. If you have space make a leaf mould bin, it can be as simple as some chicken wire wrapped around four posts to form a square container and chuck the leaves in. In a few months you'll have your own supply of leaf mould to use around the garden. 
• If like my lawn yours is still growing well on a dry day give it a cut. Don't go too low but low enough to tidy it up and keep it healthy and looking well over the coming weeks. 
• Spread manure (horse, farmyard, chicken manure pellets) on vegetable beds or sow green manure seeds if choosing to grow them and leave to work it's magic adding nutrients back into your soil. You could also throw on some blood, fish and bone mix if you have it. 
• Tidy up your Strawberry plants, removing old and dying leaves and either cut of runners, or as I do in most cases, pin them into pots to create new plants! It's a simple task of placing the plantlet forming on the runner (nearest one to the mother plant) in a pot, do not separate from the mother plant leave it attached vis the runner. Peg it into place using a bent piece of wire or an old fencing staple for example and leave to root. Once rooted cut the plantlet from the runner and hey presto you have a new strawberry plant in a pot. 
• In some areas you may get away with it but as a rule of thumb now is the time to lift and store Dahlia and Begonia tubers. In the case of my Begonia I simply pop the tuber into an old pot full of used compost, just covering the tuber, and leave in the corner of the shed until needed next spring. Remember to label it so you know what is what come next March.

Cheers 🍺