“It was the best kind of November day"
What seeds to sow in November.
November has begun dreary and overcast, rainy spells interrupt the shortening days. My thoughts are turning to snuggling under blankets, sipping mulled wine or hot chocolate. However it is mild so still possible to make sowings of my favourite varieties for advance spring flowering. Tubs of sweet peas sown last month are peeking through so I need to protect the emerging seedlings from mice, slugs and birds. Likewise if you sow early peas such as Meteor or Kelvedon Wonder they too will need protection.
I always sow some broad beans direct in November, the sturdier The Sutton rather than more popular Aquadulce Claudia. If they don’t survive the winter then I shall re-sow in early spring. I have looked out some chilli peppers that can be sown anytime of year to grow on my windowsill. I will grow a selection of culinary herbs inside too. When sowing this time of year they require additional warmth and light, I am lucky to have a small windowsill propagator and LED grow light.
Depending on the space in your garden or under cover in greenhouse or polytunnel you have more options. Salad leaves, mizuna, mustard and spinach, land cress and hardy spring onions. Outside if the ground is not waterlogged, plant garlic, onions, shallots and asparagus crowns.
Flowers to sow include eryngiums and alliums which need stratification (cold period) to stimulate germination. Others to try are Bugle (ajuga reptans), clarkia, corydalis solida, hellebores, lupins, foxglove, scabious and verbascum. Sow in trays, pots or modules and leave outside under cover. Spring flowering bulbs are readily available for planting, November is promoted as the month for planting tulips to avoid viruses such as Tulip Fire. More commonly known as amaryllis, Hippeastrum planted up now may be in full bloom for Christmas. JustSeed Ltd has a lovely range selling fast. Here's a peek at some boxed ready to go out.
“It was the best kind of November day. Cold and crisp, but not quite freezing, not icy.” Rainbow Rowell