In The Greenhouse This November

Here are the top greenhouse and polytunnel jobs for November, when shorter days and lower temperatures mean the focus shifts from growing to protecting, tidying, and planning ahead.

🌡️ Keep Frost at Bay 

1. Check insulation: 

• Line the inside of your greenhouse with bubble wrap (use special UV-stable horticultural wrap).
• Seal gaps and vents with tape or draught excluders to keep warmth in.

2. Use a frost guard or heater: 

• A small thermostatically controlled heater or even soil-warming cables can prevent freezing on very cold nights.
• Place a max-min thermometer inside to track temperature swings.

3. Move tender plants inside: 

• Overwinter geraniums, fuchsias, citrus, pelargoniums, and succulents in the greenhouse if it’s frost-free.

💧 Manage Water and Humidity 

4. Water sparingly: 

• Growth is minimal now, so only water when the compost is dry to the touch.
• Too much moisture encourages grey mould (Botrytis).

5. Ventilate on mild days: 

• Open vents or doors for a few hours to reduce condensation and keep air circulating.

6. Clean up debris: 

• Remove dead leaves and old compost — they harbour pests and diseases. 

🌱 Keep Growing (Slowly!) 

7. Winter salads under cover: 

• Sow or harvest lamb’s lettuce, mizuna, rocket, mustard greens, spinach, and winter lettuce.
• Use cloches or fleece for extra warmth.

8. Herbs: 

• Parsley, chives, and coriander will keep growing slowly in pots.
• You can also pot up mint, thyme, or oregano from outside for use indoors. 

9. Microgreens: 

• Perfect for windowsills or greenhouse benches — sow pea shoots, radish, or cress for quick harvests.

🍅 Clear Out Summer Crops 

10. Remove spent tomato, cucumber, and pepper plants. 

• Clear roots, wires, and supports, and disinfect surfaces to prevent disease carryover. 
• Wash and sterilise pots and seed trays before storing or reusing. 

🌼 Prepare for Early Spring 

11. Sow early crops under heat: 

• If you have a heated propagator, you can start sweet peas, broad beans, or onions from seed late in the month.

12. Check stored bulbs and tubers: 

• Inspect dahlias, cannas, and gladioli for rot or dryness; store them somewhere cool and frost-free.
• Prepare seed trays and compost ready for early sowing in January–February.

🪴 Care for Overwintering Plants 

13. Inspect regularly for pests: 

• Check undersides of leaves for aphids, whitefly, and red spider mite.
• Use sticky traps or organic sprays if needed.

14. Reduce feeding: 

• Stop feeding most plants now — let them rest until growth resumes in spring. 

15. Group pots together: 

• Clustering helps retain warmth and humidity. 

🧽 Clean and Organise 

16. Wash the glass: 

• Clean inside and out with mild detergent to maximise winter light. 

17. Disinfect surfaces and staging: 

• Use a greenhouse cleaner or diluted Jeyes Fluid to kill algae and spores. 

🐝 Encourage Light & Life 

18. Keep it bright: 

• Prune back overhanging shrubs or trees outside that block winter sun.

19. Encourage beneficial insects: 

• Keep a few flowering plants (like alyssum or calendula) if temperatures allow — they help sustain pollinators and predatory insects.