Autumn and wintertime gardening can still be most rewarding, with some edible plants still able to thrive in chillier conditions. It’s also exactly the right time to get some bulbs in the ground (or into containers) to be ready for next spring, and crocuses and snowdrops, as well as some daffodils, will reward you with beautiful blooms as early as February.
There are varieties of salad leaves such as Mustard ‘Green Frills’ and Salad Rocket ‘Dentata’ that grow well even in the coldest weather, and these types do well in pots. So even if you only have a windowsill, you can happily sow some edible winter mix salad and watch it spring up ready for your dinner plate. Experts at GardenersWorld.com also suggest that “one of the best flowers to sow in November is sweet peas, as they’ll flower earlier than spring-sown sweet peas”, but there are a few easy tips to follow to ensure success.
Gardening professionals Simply Seed gave expert advice on sowing sweet peas in November, including choosing the right type for autumn planting, which should flower in spring 2026 with much vigour.
Simply Seed advised: “Autumn sowing of sweet pea seeds is simple but essential for blooming. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of choosing the right seeds, the sowing process and the germination conditions.
“A good garden starts with the right sweet pea seeds. Look for varieties that are suitable for autumn sowing and have a nice fragrance.
“One such variety is ‘Sweet Pea Air Warden’ with its stunning scarlet-cerise flowers. Fragrance is a big factor, so look for varieties labelled ‘highly scented’ or ‘perfumed variety’, such as Sweet Pea High Scent or Sweet Pea King Size, so your garden is filled with lovely scents.
“Choosing varieties bred for autumn sowing will make a big difference to your success. These varieties are more tolerant of cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours, so they are perfect for autumn planting.”
When it comes to bulbs, GardenersWorld.com advises gardeners to plant some spring bulbs in November, including tulips and alliums.
It’s really just a matter of making a hole in the earth about 10cm for the bulb, popping it in and then covering it with soil. You can also put bulbs in a pot, just be sure not to overcrowd the container.
GardenersWorld.com also advises planting bare-root fruit trees in November, such as apples, pears, cherries, plums, blackcurrants, raspberries, and gooseberries.
The reason November is the perfect month to plant bare-root trees is that they’re dormant when planted, which means they will begin to grow as soon as temperatures start to rise in spring.
Gathering fallen leaves, protecting garden furniture and other items from frost damage, and shielding border plants from colder weather are all top tips from gardening experts for this time of year.
It’s also worth protecting plants that are “borderline hardy, such as agapanthus, with a thick mulch of straw or garden compost”.
The experts also advised putting up “stem protection guards around young trees and shrubs, if rabbits are a problem,” and sowing seeds from berry-laden trees or shrubs that are already in your garden or growing nearby.
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