To follow on from last month’s suggestion on bulb planting, let’s keep the optimism and forward thinking going.  November is a great month for looking forwards. The days may be getting shorter and colder, but you can still be planting and harvesting.

November is tulip planting time. It’s important that tulip bulbs go in the ground after a cold snap as this helps to kill off tulip fire spores in the soil which could infect your new bulbs. You can also keep on planting all the other spring flowering bulbs.  The widest choice of bulbs will be available earlier in the year, but you can always pick up bargains at the end of the season, when retailers are looking to clear stock. Just make sure that the bulbs you buy are still nice and firm and all should be OK.

While thinking about planting, bare root plants, including roses become available in November and unless the soil is waterlogged or frozen getting bare root plants into the ground as soon as possible will give more time for root development and better displays next year.

Bare root roses soaking prior to planting

In the kitchen garden you can plant onion sets and garlic and divide or plant rhubarb crowns

The first frost hit Cookham at the end of October and after one night the dahlias are essentially finished.  The blooms drooped and the foliage has blackened.  They can now be cut back and the tubers either dug up for storage or left in situ.

Blackened Dahlias

As we get more prolonged spells of colder weather as the month wears on many herbaceous perennials will start to die back and the dead foliage can be cleared.  However, there will also be plants that have spectacular seed heads that are both ornamental and provide food for wildlife.  Examples include teasels, ornamental grasses and sunflowers.

The summer showstoppers in the vegetable garden like tomatoes and beans have given up by now, but with carrots, parsnips, cabbages, cauliflowers and the first Brussels sprouts, there is still plenty of fresh produce that you can be harvesting right now.

If you’re lucky enough to have a pond, then try to clear fallen leaves from the water.