Jobs to do in November

This month is perfect for planting new fruit trees and bushes if the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged. 
 

Sowing and planting

Fruit

• Buy and plant new fruit trees and bushes. Don’t plant if the ground is frozen or waterlogged.

Vegetables

• Sow overwintering broad beans (mild areas only) outside or under cloches where the soil is well drained, or in pots in an unheated greenhouse in cold areas.

• Dig up chicory roots to be forced. Pot them up after removing foliage and position them in a dark, warm place. The tasty chicons will appear in three to six weeks.

• Plant garlic cloves in modules inside a cold frame, or outdoors in mild areas in their final position (free-draining soils and low rainfall areas only).

Pruning and training

Fruit

• Thin out congested spurs on trained apple and pear trees.

• Tie in new tiers of espaliers.

• Prune apples, pears, quinces and medlars.

• Prune red and white currants and gooseberries.

Prevention

• Protect new sowings and crops still in the ground from mice.

• Protect brassicas from pigeons using cloches or re-used netting/fleece.

• Remove any yellowed leaves on Brussels sprouts and other brassicas. This will prevent the development of grey mould and brassica downy mildew.

• Remove and compost all remaining plant debris from the vegetable plot. 

• Remove any rotten or damaged stored fruit and add to the compost heap.

• Use stored apples with bitter pit first, cutting out affected parts.

• Prune out any areas of canker when pruning apples and pears.

General care

Vegetables

• Parsnips can be left in the ground until needed, or lifted and then buried in a shallow trench for easy access when needed. They taste better when frosted.

• Celeriac can also be left in the ground for a bit, but do protect them from the cold with a thick mulch of straw, bracken, or other suitable material.

• Stake any Brussels sprout stalks that look leggy and vulnerable to wind rock.

• Clean and store bamboo canes in the shed or other dry place to ensure they’re still in good condition for next year.

• Now is a good time to get ahead and prepare new asparagus beds for planting up in the spring.

• Any empty beds can be covered with double layer of cardboard (make sure to remove any tape and staples first) and cover with homemade garden compost.

• When you have time such as on a rainy day, look forward to next year and order your seeds.

Learn the basics of growing fruit and vegetables: Watch Get Set, Grow!