Vegetable planting calendar from The-Gardeners-Calendar.co.uk.

What needs doing in the garden in November

Mid-Autumn

I have a tip for leaf collection and disposal this month. We use the lawn mower to collect the leaves. We set it on a high setting so as not to get too much grass, and then it hoovers up the leaves as we go. Not only will it collect the leaves it will chop them into small pieces as it goes along. It used to save many hours of leaf collection. Empty the lawn mower collection bag into old fertiliser bags and keep them for a year or so. Make sure the bags you use thin bags that let the light in or things will start to grow. From time to time check the contents and if the leaves are dry add a small amount of water to keep them moist. This year I am going to try a few paper animal feed bags to see if the bag will decompose with the leaves.

More traditionally you can make a leaf bin using chicken wire. Simply hammer four wooden stakes into the ground and wrap the chicken wire around them to form a box. Adjust the size of the bin for the quantity of leaves you have.

Mid-Autumn is the perfect time to start a new compost heap. Take a drive around your local industrial estate and look for sources of free pallets. Many businesses will be happy to give the pallets away for free, just try asking. Five pallets are enough for a basic, but sturdy compost heap. Have a look at our plans for a luxury compost heap.

Want a more detailed list of jobs to do each week? Join the mailing list and every Thursday at around 3:00pm you will receive a list of jobs to do for the weekend.

The Vegetable garden in November

After the Beans and Peas have been harvested, turn the ground and leave it for the winter. Legumes have bacteria around their roots which store Nitrogen and by using the frosts of winter to break up the soil the nitrogen can be absorbed into the surrounding ground. It is also time to lift root vegetables, and store them for later use. Thin Onions and Turnips if required. Plant out late crops such as Cauliflower.

Plant Garlic cloves
Plant early varieties of veg in the greenhouse

The Greenhouse in November

Prune cane fruits when they have finished fruiting
Take any hardwood cuttings from fruit bushes

Planting Season

It's catalogue time in the fruit garden. Time to make the selection for next year and get them posted for planting in late Autumn. It is also a good time to start moving fruit trees to new locations. If you still have any Apples and Pears then get them harvested and stored. Cuttings from Apricots, Cherries and Gooseberries should be burnt to prevent any infections.

Wrap grease bands around fruit trees to prevent pests from climbing the trunks.

The Fruit garden in November

Hoe weeds
Plant spring bulbs
Sow spring flowers
Repair lawns
Take rose cuttings
Trim lavender to promote new growth
Remove fallen leaves from the borders

If you have some large trees in your garden then this month most of your time will be spent collecting up the leaves for leaf mould. In any spare time you have after that prepare beds for planting by clearing out any dead plants. While removing any plants collect seeds for next years plants.

Lawns and pathways should be prepared now before the frost damages them any more.

Spring bulbs should now be in the ground, so get the last ones in as soon as you can.

Herbaceous plants can be lifted and divided, and shrubs and bushes should be moved now.

If you have not had any frost yet continue to take cuttings

The Flower garden in November

Clean the greenhouse glass inside and out, then insulate the whole greenhouse using bubble wrap. Check plants weekly to make sure they are not rotting or infected with any diseases. Also keep an eye on the guttering and remove leaves as required.