November in the Garden

[gardenman]

November is the best time to be planting tulips. This later planting helps prevent a disease called Tulip Fire. Mix and match the colours or combine colours that will deliberately clash to give real impact to your display.

It’s not too late to plant daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs. Late planting just means later flowering.

Sow baby leaves and herbs on a sunny windowsill for salads, stir-fries and sandwiches.

If you haven’t already done so, then sow some sweet peas in early November and your reward will be strong plants bearing early blooms. Much better than sowing seeds in the spring I find.

Rake leaves from the lawn and put them somewhere to rot down for 12 to 18 months. The result will be valuable leaf mould, a great soil improver and superb potting compost.

Bonfire season starts now but please always remember to do a hedgehog check before lighting.

Plant garlic and then cover with fleece to stop the birds pulling up the cloves. I did hear an old wives' tale that the correct day to plant garlic was 21 December though.

Soft fruit, including rhubarb, can be planted now. Choose an open, sunny spot and dig in plenty of garden compost.

Secure grease bands around fruit trees to fend off the winter moth.

A wet November day is the perfect time to give pots and seed trays a good clean ready for next season’s sowings.