November To Do list

Plant spring bulbs

There is still time to put in the ground those spring bulbs you love! Plant bulbs now for a spring showcase or force them to have a beautiful holiday display in your home. 

Best bulbs to force: Paperwhites Narcissus and Amaryllis.

Best bulbs to plant: Anemones, Ranunculus, Daffodils, Crocus and Freesias. These last two will respond better if you keep them in the refrigerator for 4-6 weeks, keeping them away from apples! or they will inhibit their sprouting. Plant them the same day you remove them from the refrigerator.

Plant strawberries
If the Fall season where you are located is mild enough now is the best time to plant strawberries. Ideally, you should be planting bare roots crowns. Choose between: Spring, Everbearing, Day-neutral bearing fruit varieties.

Keep planting onions, shallots, leeks and garlic. (Read about selecting the right onion varieties for the Bay Area here)

Continue to sow cool season crops like Brassicas (coles, arugula, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflowers, kale, etc), lettuces, carrots, beets and radishes.

Plant herbs in pots or in your raised beds: Thyme, chives, oregano, tarragon, chervil, epazote, lovage to name a few.

Amend your soil
Replenish those nutrients that the summer veggies extracted adding  compost, worm castings and organic fertilizer.

Sow cover crops
If you have decided you wouldn’t want to plant any crops during the Fall season, cover crops might be the solution for you. Cover crops protect the soil from the rain and wind erosions. Some species promote the incorporation of Nitrogen into the soil. Some of the seeds you can sow are: Vetch, rye, buckwheat, clover and fava beans. The key when growing cover crops is to incorporate them back into the soil just before they flower. In this way they don’t go to seed and don’t become a weed while you are growing other crops.

Protect your crops
Stay alert! Check the forecast and be on the lookout for frosts as they start happening in November in our area. Be ready to protect your most tender crops with cloches, fleece cloth, bring tender crops inside the greenhouse, keep them inside cold frames or move pots and containers closer to the walls.

Plant native plans
Autumn is the perfect time to design and plant natives in your gardens. The best time to replace the lawn and install a native garden with low water requirements is now! Find out more about why creating a native garden is so important. If you would like held designing your front or backyard, feel free to contact us: bayareagardendesign@gmail.com or visit our website.

Keep gardening!