November Planting Guidance

Step-By-Step Video Guide for November coming soon

Dwarf Iris: These little irises pop up toward the end of February, promising that winter is nearly over and spring is on its way - I wouldn’t be without them.  They’re frost hardy and will push their way up however cold it gets, though they do need well-drained soil: they don’t like to sit in the wet.

I grow them outside, but you could keep them on a sunny windowsill as long as it’s not too warm.  They look lovely crowded into a pot and set on a table outside and they’re happy even in a shallow container.

Mix bulb fibre and horticultural grit - about two-thirds bulb fibre to one-third grit.  Add a layer to the bottom of your pot, leaving about 5cm(2") at the top (depending how shallow your pot is).  They’ll cope if they’re not quite that deep.  Push the blunt end of the bulbs into the compost, then top up with more compost and a final layer of horticultural grit.  You can do without the grit, but it helps suppress weeds, retains moisture, and once the leaves emerge, it stops water splashing up onto them when you water.  It looks nice too.

Pop them somewhere sunny and keep the compost moist but not waterlogged. 

You can also plant these bulbs at the front of your borders.  Plant them at least twice the depth of the bulb.  For a naturalistic look, toss a handful onto the soil and plant them where they land.

Or try naturalising them in grass – at RHS Wisley they plant swathes of dwarf iris beneath broad oak trees.  Use a sharp spade to cut a capital H shape in the turf, roll it back, push the bottoms of the bulb into the soil underneath and just roll the grass back on top. 

Tulips: Three magnificent tulip varieties that go beautifully together to create a luxurious, eye-catching display.  Plant them all in one generous sized pot for a burst of rich gold, luminous tangerine and plum-purple in April and May.  Or you could split them between two or more pots (perhaps to go either side of a doorway), or plant them out in your borders.

If you go for a single pot – choose a large container, between 30cm(12”)–45cm(18”) wide, and at least as deep.  Fill with bulb fibre or a good multi-purpose compost, leaving around 20cm(8”) at the top. 

Depending on the size of the pot you can plant the bulbs in a single layer (blunt end down, pointy end up), or in two or three layers.  To plant in layers, simply add compost to cover the first layer of bulbs, then push in the next.  Finish with a final layer of compost and top with horticultural grit, just as you did for the irises.  Place the pot somewhere sunny.   Give them a water and then check weekly to make sure the compost is still damp but not waterlogged.

Tulips also thrive in borders.  Plant them15-20cm(6-8”) deep and 10-15cm(4-6”) apart in fertile, well-drained soil.

Garlic: Garlic was my ‘gateway’ food crop – I couldn’t believe how easy it was to grow, and now I plant it every year.   In your November box, you’ve got an improved version of Solent Wight which produces larger, high-quality bulbs.  It’s a softneck garlic: easier to grow than hardneck, stores well and (I think) tastes better too.

Raised beds are ideal if you have them.  Split the garlic bulb into individual cloves and plant in rows, spacing each clove with 10-15cm(4-6”) apart.  Leave about 30cm(12”) between rows if you’ve got the space – or use a grid pattern with 15cm(6”) spacing, or even a bit less if space is tight.  Make holes with your finger or a dibber and plant each clove 2.5-3cm (1”) deep.  Water only if the ground is particularly dry - otherwise, just leave them be. 

No raised beds?  No problem.  You can plant directly into the soil (as long as it’s quite sunny and not too wet or heavy), or fill a large container with multi-purpose compost and follow the same planting instructions.

Water only during dry spells in spring and early summer.  When the leaves turn yellow, it’s time to harvest.  Choose a dry day and gently loosen the roots with a fork before lifting – try not pull them up by the stem.

This garlic is ready to eat as soon as you harvest it.  You can plait the bulbs together and hang them in your kitchen so your home-grown garlic is always within reach.