What to Plant in November: A Garden Guide for Chilly Days

November might feel like the month when the garden wants to curl up under a blanket and snooze—but there’s still plenty you can plant to set yourself up for a gorgeous spring and a tasty harvest next year. With the right seeds and bulbs, you can keep your green fingers busy even as the evenings draw in. Here’s your friendly guide to what’s still perfect for planting across Ireland this month!

1. Garlic – A Cold-Weather Superstar

If you plant just one thing this November, make it garlic. These hardy little cloves love the cold and need a chilly spell to develop those lovely big bulbs. Pop them into well-drained soil, pointy end up, and let winter work its magic. By next summer, you’ll be harvesting homegrown garlic that tastes miles better than supermarket bulbs.

Onion and Garlic to plant now

Plant now and enjoy a wonderful harvest next Spring!

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2. Broad Beans – For an Early Start

Broad beans are another cold-loving crop that thrive when sown now. Planting in November gives them a head start, meaning you’ll enjoy earlier harvests and sturdier plants come spring. Choose outdoor-hardy varieties and sow directly where they’ll grow. A little effort now = delicious beans later.

3. Spring-Flowering Bulbs – Last Call!

If you’ve been meaning to plant bulbs but time has slipped away… you’re not alone! The good news: November is still perfect for tulips, and you can often squeeze in daffodils, hyacinths and crocuses early in the month if the ground isn’t frozen.

• Tulips especially prefer being planted in November—they’re less likely to suffer from fungal issues in the cooler soil.
• Plant bulbs three times their height deep, in clusters for the biggest wow-factor next spring.

4. Onions & Shallots – Slow and Steady Growers

Autumn-planted onion sets and shallots establish roots during winter and burst into growth as soon as temperatures rise again. They’re low effort, reliable, and brilliant for filling veg beds over winter. Plant in firm soil, spaced well apart, and let them settle in for the long haul.