November is the quiet gear-change. The vegetable plot is largely cleared, the leaves are down, and the real gardening jobs shift from sowing to planting. This is the month to get garlic in the ground, start the bare-root season for fruit trees and roses, and finish tulip bulbs before the soil locks up. Everything you plant now is paying forward to spring and summer next year.
Here is what to plant, sow and do in November across the UK, with specific cultivars that handle British winters.
Vegetables to Plant in November
Garlic
November is the best planting month for garlic across most of the UK. Garlic needs a cold spell (around six weeks below 10°C) to split into proper cloves, so planting now gives the bulbs a long, steady winter to establish roots.
For reliable UK performance, stick to named seed garlic from a supplier rather than supermarket bulbs. ‘Solent Wight’ (RHS AGM, H4) is the classic softneck for British conditions — productive, good storage life, and tolerant of wet winters. ‘Germidour’ (RHS AGM, H4) is another softneck that performs consistently in average UK gardens. For something with more punch on the plate, ‘Cristo’ (RHS AGM, H4) produces medium-large bulbs with strong flavour.
Plant individual cloves, pointed end up, 15cm apart and 5cm deep in well-drained soil. Heavy clay? Either dig in grit and compost, or grow in deep containers — garlic sitting in winter wet is one of the most common reasons crops fail.
Broad Beans (Overwintering)
Early November is the last sensible window for overwintering broad beans. The traditional UK choice is ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ (RHS AGM, H5) — specifically bred for autumn sowing and the hardiest broad bean on the AGM list. It will crop three to four weeks earlier than anything sown in spring.
Sow seeds 20cm apart and 5cm deep in a sheltered spot. Young plants should be 5–8cm tall before the coldest weather arrives — any smaller and they are vulnerable, any taller and they are wind-rocked. Cover with horticultural fleece if temperatures drop below minus 5°C.
Onions and Shallots (Overwintering Sets)
Japanese-type overwintering onion sets can still go in during early November in milder parts of the country. They sit through winter and give you harvestable onions in June, ahead of spring-planted crops. Choose sets sold specifically as autumn-planting. Plant sets 10cm apart with the tip just showing above the soil, and expect some losses if winter is severe. For variety choices and supplier tips, see our guide to the best onion sets for autumn planting.
Winter Salads Under Cover
Cold frames, polytunnels, and unheated greenhouses keep producing right through winter with the right varieties. ‘Winter Density’ (RHS AGM, H2) is the standout winter lettuce — a cos-butterhead cross that stays crisp through frost. Sow thinly into modules now for transplanting in December. ‘Ishikura’ (RHS AGM, H5) salad onions also go in now under cover for spring pulling.
Fruit to Plant in November
The bare-root season starts this month and runs through to March. Bare-root stock is cheaper than potted, establishes faster (the roots go straight into living soil rather than adjusting from compost), and is how most UK fruit trees and soft fruit have always been planted.
Fruit Trees
Apples, pears, plums, and cherries all go in as bare-root trees from November onwards. Order from a specialist nursery and plant as soon as they arrive — roots should not dry out. Dig a square hole roughly 60cm wide, the depth of the roots, and loosen the base. Plant to the soil mark on the stem (not deeper), firm in gently, stake if exposed, and water well even if rain is forecast.
For container growing, look for trees on dwarfing rootstocks (M27 or M9 for apples, Quince C for pears, Pixy for plums). A 40cm pot minimum, topped up with loam-based compost, will carry a tree for six to eight years before it needs potting on or planting out.
Soft Fruit
Bare-root raspberry canes, blackcurrants, gooseberries, and redcurrants go in now. For raspberries, ‘Glen Ample’ (RHS AGM, H6) is the reliable summer-fruiting choice — heavy cropping and thornless. For autumn-fruiting, ‘Polka’ (RHS AGM, H6) picks from August right into the first frosts. Plant canes 40cm apart in rows, with 1.8m between rows, and cut canes back to 25cm above soil level after planting.
Gooseberries to look for: ‘Invicta’ (RHS AGM, H6) is the classic cooker with good mildew resistance. ‘Careless’ (RHS AGM, H6) is another mildew-resistant choice that eats well ripe. For blackcurrants, ‘Ben Connan’ (RHS AGM, H6) crops heavily on compact bushes and is a good choice for smaller gardens.
Strawberries
New strawberry beds can still go in early November if the soil is workable and not waterlogged. ‘Cambridge Favourite’ (RHS AGM, H6) is the dependable main-season cropper. ‘Honeoye’ (RHS AGM, H6) is early and acidic-sharp in flavour. Plant runners 30cm apart in rows 75cm apart, with the crown sitting at soil level — buried crowns rot, exposed crowns dry out.
Rhubarb
November through March is rhubarb-crown planting season. ‘Timperley Early’ (RHS AGM, H5) is the variety to choose if you want to force an early crop — it is naturally earlier than most and responds well to covering. ‘Raspberry Red’ (RHS AGM, H5) is a newer AGM with particularly bright stems and good flavour. Plant crowns with the top just at soil level, in a spot you are willing to commit to for at least five years.
Bulbs and Ornamentals
Tulips
This is the month for tulips. Planting now — six weeks later than daffodils and crocuses — reduces the risk of tulip fire (a fungal disease that attacks bulbs in warm, damp soil). Plant tulip bulbs three times their own depth, pointed end up, in free-draining soil or containers. In heavy soil, sit each bulb on a handful of grit to keep its base dry.
Bare-root Roses
Bare-root roses arrive this month and through winter. They establish faster and cost a fraction of potted roses. Plant with the graft union (the knobbly bit where the stems join the roots) at soil level, in a spot with at least six hours of direct sun.
Spring Bedding
Wallflowers, forget-me-nots, and sweet williams can still be planted out in early November for a spring display. Buy as small plugs or bare-root from garden centres.
Tasks for November
Clearing and Composting
- Pull up spent bean, pea, and courgette plants. Shred tough stems before adding to the compost heap.
- Remove yellowing leaves from brassicas to reduce slug and whitefly hideouts over winter.
- Collect fallen leaves into a separate leaf-mould bin — a wire cage or a bin bag with holes both work. Leaf mould takes 18–24 months to break down but produces superb seed compost. Clearing leaves off the lawn promptly matters too — see our autumn lawn maintenance routine.
Protecting Overwintering Crops
- Cover winter lettuces, oriental greens, and overwintering brassicas with horticultural fleece once temperatures regularly drop below 2°C at night.
- Earth up the stems of Brussels sprouts and purple sprouting broccoli to stop them rocking in the wind.
- Mulch around rhubarb crowns, strawberry plants, and perennial herbs with a 5cm layer of compost or well-rotted manure.
Infrastructure Jobs
- Clean and sharpen tools before storing. A rub of oil on blades prevents rust over winter.
- Drain and pack away hosepipes, irrigation timers, and outside taps before the first hard frost.
- Check greenhouse glazing, shed roofs, and cold-frame hinges — winter winds will find any weakness.
- Prune apple and pear trees any time from late November to late February while dormant. Stone fruit (plums, cherries) should wait until summer to avoid silver leaf disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it too late to plant garlic in November?
No — November is the best month for garlic across most of the UK. You can plant up to late November in southern England and into December in very mild areas, though results drop off the later you leave it. The cloves need time to establish roots before winter cold stalls them.
Can I still sow anything outdoors in November?
Only overwintering broad beans (‘Aquadulce Claudia’) and autumn-sowing onion sets. Everything else waits until spring. Under cover (cold frame, polytunnel), you can still sow winter lettuce, spinach, and oriental greens.
Should I prune my fruit trees in November?
Apples and pears, yes — any time between leaf-fall in November and bud-break in February. Avoid pruning plums, cherries, and other stone fruit until summer, as winter cuts leave them open to silver leaf disease.
Do I need to lift my dahlias before planting tulips?
In most of the UK, yes — dahlia tubers rot in cold, wet winter soil. Lift after the first frost blackens the foliage, cut stems back to 10cm, dry the tubers for a week, and store somewhere frost-free until spring. The same bed can then take tulip bulbs straight away.
Is it too late to plant strawberry runners?
Early November is the last practical window for autumn planting. Any later and the crowns struggle to root before winter sets in. If you miss November, wait until March for spring planting — you will lose one season’s cropping but the plants will be stronger.
What bare-root plants are cheapest this month?
Bare-root hedge whips (hawthorn, blackthorn, hornbeam, beech) are the biggest bargain — often 50–70% cheaper than potted equivalents. Order from a specialist hedge supplier in units of 25 or 50 plants.
What Next?
Pick one job from this month’s list and actually get it done this week — bare-root stock waits for no one, and tulip bulbs still sitting in the shed will not flower next spring. If you are planning a bigger overhaul, work out your crop rotation before ordering seeds in January, and start a notebook for what worked and what flopped this season. Future-you will thank present-you.
Have a question about something on this list, or want to share what you are planting this month? Drop a comment below — we read every one and answer as many as we can.
For the full UK bulb-planting calendar and authoritative cultivar guidance, the Royal Horticultural Society remains the best reference for British growers.
Related Guides
- What to Plant in October UK — the planting month before this one, with autumn crop and bulb detail.
- What to Plant in April UK — the spring opposite, when most sowing starts again.
- Best Compost for Container Gardening — for potting up bare-root fruit trees and overwintering containers.
- Seasonal Gardening Hub — full UK planting calendar by month.
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