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Gardening in the UK?→ November’s almanac for the British climate
ALMANAC · ITALIAN CLIMATE

The garden in November — Italy

November is the heart of the bare-root planting season and, in the centre and south, of the olive harvest. It's the last really good month for planting before winter, and the one in which frost protection becomes routine in the north.

The garden is quieter, but this is when you do the jobs that make next year easier: planting, mulching, cleaning tools and giving houseplants the winter conditions they need.

Italy, from the Po valley and pre-Alps to the south and islands. In the north frosts are now regular; in the centre they occur inland; on the coasts and in the south they remain rare. In the mountains and inland valleys, winter conditions set in 2–4 weeks earlier.

AT A GLANCE

Spotlight: planting a bare-root rose or tree

Bare-root plants are lifted from the nursery while dormant and sent without soil. They cost less than potted plants and, planted between November and March, usually establish better. In the centre and south November is the ideal month; in the north, plant on frost-free days right through to March.

As soon as they arrive, soak the roots in a bucket of water for an hour or two. Dig a hole wider than the roots but no deeper: the soil mark on the stem should sit at ground level. Roses are the exception, planted with the graft union just below the surface. Loosen the base and sides of the hole, spread the roots out and backfill gradually, giving the plant a little shake so the soil fills the gaps. Firm with your foot, water well even in winter, and mulch.

Trees need a short stake on the side of the prevailing wind, with a tie that doesn't bite into the bark. If the ground is frozen when they arrive, heel them into a trench temporarily or keep them for a few days in a bucket of moist compost.

RoseCrab applePearOlive Bare-root planting ›

In your area

NORTH

Protect potted plants: raise them off the ground, wrap the pots and cover with horticultural fleece on the coldest nights. Plant bare-root stock on frost-free days.

CENTRAL

Olive harvest, and a tidy-up prune of hedges and shrubs. Plant trees, roses and soft fruit. Potted citrus should go under cover in inland areas.

SOUTH AND ISLANDS

Olive and citrus harvest. Sow broad beans, peas and spinach; plant out cabbages and lettuces. An ideal month for planting fruit and ornamental trees.

Jobs this month

Bare-root planting

Bare-root plants are cheaper, come in more varieties and establish better than potted ones. Plant them as soon as you can; if the ground is frozen, heel them in temporarily in a spare corner or a bucket of compost.

Plant bare-root roses after soaking the roots for an hour. Bare-root planting › Rose
Plant fruit trees and soft fruit. Bare-root planting › Crab applePearFlowering currant
Plant hedges of privet, cherry laurel and, in mild areas, pittosporum and escallonia. Bare-root planting › PrivetPittosporumEscallonia

Olives and olive trees

From late October to December, depending on area and variety, the olives are picked. After the harvest you can lightly tidy the canopy, but the real pruning waits until late winter.

Pick olives for oil once most have changed colour, and get them pressed within a few days. Olive
Gather up and dispose of fallen leaves affected by peacock spot. Olive
In the north, protect young and potted olives on nights below -5°C. Protecting plants from frost › Olive

Winter protection

Borderline-hardy plants tolerate cold much better with dry roots. Protect the crown and keep pots raised off the ground.

Tie cordyline leaves up over the crown and cover young plants in exposed gardens. Protecting plants from frost › Cordyline
Cover the crown of cycads growing in the ground and keep it dry. Protecting plants from frost › Sago palm
Mulch the crowns of white arum lilies and agapanthus in cold areas. Protecting plants from frost › Arum lilyAfrican lily
In the north, move potted oleanders and bottlebrush to a cool, bright, frost-free spot. Overwintering tender plants › OleanderBottlebrush

Houseplants in winter mode

Some houseplants only flower if they get a cool, dry rest in winter. Others just need less water and more light.

Give clivia a cool (around 10°C), fairly dry rest for about eight weeks. Clivia
Keep Dendrobium nobile cool and almost dry until the flower buds appear. Watering plants in pots › Dendrobium
Water palms, yuccas and aspidistras much less. Watering plants in pots › Kentia palmAreca palmYuccaCast iron plant
Keep crotons and prayer plants warm, away from draughts and radiators. CrotonPrayer plant

Sow and plant

Sow
  • Broad beans and peas (centre and south)
  • Spinach and cut-and-come-again lettuce under a tunnel cloche
  • Sweet peas (last chance for autumn sowing)
Plant out
  • Bare-root trees, roses, soft fruit and hedges
  • Tulips (until December)
  • Garlic
  • Amaryllis indoors

Watch out for

Frost damageBorderline plants in pots are most at risk: their roots freeze long before those in the ground.WaterloggingWinter wet kills lavender, yucca, oregano and succulents more often than cold does.Mealybug indoorsOn houseplants in warm, dry rooms and on citrus under cover: check the leaf joints and undersides.

Questions

Can I plant in November?

Yes — it's one of the best months for bare-root trees, roses, soft fruit and hedges, as long as the ground isn't frozen or waterlogged. In the south it's the ideal month.

How do I protect potted plants from frost?

Raise pots off the ground, group them against a sheltered wall, wrap the pot in hessian or bubble wrap and cover the plant with fleece on the coldest nights.

When are olives harvested?

From late October to December, depending on area and variety. For oil, pick when most have changed colour; for green brined olives, before they start to turn.