What to Grow, Sow and Know This Month: November

November is when the garden really starts to accelerate. With summer approaching, Keith and Elizabeth cover the jobs worth tackling now — from watering and mulching to planting, pruning, harvesting and getting ready for heat.

Prepare for summer

• Consider installing a water tank, including slimline tanks that can be connected together.
• Get irrigation systems set up before the heat arrives.
• Mulch garden beds to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
• Aerate compacted soil with a garden fork.
• Consider shade cloth for plants vulnerable to summer burn.

Weeds & mulch

• Firehawk is discussed as an organic weed-control option, including for suckers and unwanted growth.
• Fine pine bark is recommended as a garden-bed mulch.
• Granitic sand is another option, particularly as a fine top mulch.
• Avoid poor-quality green-waste mulch that may introduce weeds.

What to plant now

November is a great time for:

• Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)
• Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus)
• Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo)
• Capsicum (Capsicum annuum)
• Chillies (Capsicum annuum)
• Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)
• Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)

For herbs, try growing them in pots using a quality potting mix:

• Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
• Vietnamese mint (Persicaria odorata)

Summer colour & beneficial insects

Plant potted colour en masse to create summer impact and attract beneficial insects:

• Marigolds (Tagetes spp.)
• Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
• Roses (Rosa spp.)

Hoverflies are already active in the garden and their larvae can help control aphids naturally.

Pruning & maintenance

After spring flowering, consider deadheading:

• Camellias (Camellia spp.)
• Rhododendrons (Rhododendron spp.)
• Gardenias (Gardenia spp.)
• Leucadendrons (Leucadendron spp.)
• Leucospermums (Leucospermum spp.)

When pruning leucadendrons and leucospermums, leave 6–8 leaves behind the cut so the plant can recover.

Keep an eye on pests

Fruit fly is a major concern as the weather warms, particularly around:

• Lemons (Citrus × limon)
• Limes (Citrus spp.)
• Oranges (Citrus × sinensis)

The episode discusses Wild May Fruit Fly Attractant, along with physical exclusion netting for fruit trees and tomatoes.

For tomatoes and other crops, 2 mm insect exclusion netting is recommended.

Other pest-management tips include physical barriers for codling moth and elm leaf beetle, and Eco-Neem for chewing pests.

Other plants mentioned

• Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
• Elm (Ulmus spp.)
• Verbena (Verbena spp.)

The three big jobs before summer

1. Get your water sorted.2. Get irrigation in place.3. Get the mulch down.

And, importantly, don't forget to enjoy the garden!

Products & resources

MycoGold – BioStimUsed when planting or around established plants to support root development and plant establishment.BioStim MycoGold

Wild May Fruit Fly AttractantDiscussed for managing Queensland fruit fly.Wild May – Sage Horticultural

Clyde CompostFor quality compos