What to do in the vegetable garden in November? The month's jobs guide

In November the vegetable garden shifts into winter mode: it is THE month for planting bare-root fruit trees and roses, for the last harvests before frost, and for putting winter protection in place. Sowing becomes rare — only a few remain possible, under cover only.

Planting: the bare-root month

November is the great month for planting bare-root fruit trees and shrubs, as long as the soil is not frozen. Gardening guides see it as the ideal window: the plant roots in over winter and bursts away in spring.

• Fruit trees and bushes: apple, pear, plum and soft fruit bare-root — now is the time.
• Fig: planting can be done in November, or preferably in spring after the frosts.
• Strawberries: the very end of the window — early planting, from September to November, gives the best plants.
• Shallots: autumn planting is a mild-climate practice, especially Mediterranean. Elsewhere, wait for March.
• Bare-root roses: from mid-October to late March; remember the light mounding that protects them from cold.
• Ornamental shrubs, conifers, ericaceous plants and climbers: November is also their planting month.
• Spring-flowering bulbs: tulips, daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths — finish planting.

Sowing: under cover only

The only sowing clearly established in November: coastal peas (Michaux type) — glazed frame or tunnel — sown around 20 November for an early late-May harvest. For the rest — lamb's lettuce, spinach, broad beans — autumn sowings are already over: they happen in late summer. The next cold-frame sowings resume in January-February.

November harvests

• Last late apples and pears, plus kiwifruit.
• Salsify — harvest runs October to January.
• Spinach sown in late September: November-December harvest.
• Endives and chicons from late forcing: pull as needed, or bring the roots into the cellar for forcing.

Winter protection to put in place

• Globe artichokes: clean the plants, tie the foliage and mound the clumps up to 20 cm without putting soil in the heart, then cover with long straw in case of hard frost.
• Perennials: cut back, clean and cover with straw or dead leaves — the most tender (Gunnera, peonies) first.
• Roses: cut back dwarf bushes to 30-40 cm from the collar and mound exposed feet.
• Geraniums, chrysanthemums, last dahlias: bring under cover (greenhouse or lit cellar); lift dahlia tubers after the first frosts, until mid-November.
• Cold frames: stuff with straw, close and cover with mats on cold nights — reopen on bright sunny days.

In the orchard: plant yes, prune no

Planting is in full swing (see above). However, fruit-tree pruning is not a November job: it belongs to the heart of winter, from January. Just inspect and prepare.

Soil and tools

The guides devote November to digging and manuring empty beds, and to tool maintenance. It is also the right time to know your soil's pH before any amendment — quick as lightning with a test kit or a soil analyser.

And if you follow the lunar calendar

November 2026 offers a fine root-day window from the 5th to the 8th (descending moon) for your bare-root plantings, then an ascending moon from the 12th for covered sowings. Watch the end of the month: full moon on the 24th and perigee on the 25th. Day-by-day detail: our biodynamic garden calendar guide.