London in November: what to plant
Over the last 5 years, November in London has run 5.8–11.3°C with about 76 mm of rain across the month. Here is what weather like that will carry to harvest.
Everything above is a five-year average. In the game it is this — the weather London is actually having, today.
Grow one in London's weather right now →❄️ In 4 of the last 5 years, London saw at least one night at or below 0°C in November (record low -2.8°C). Cold-sensitive crops need cover.
🗓️ This month sits inside the frost-free window. Average last spring frost around Mar 9, first autumn frost around Nov 21 — roughly 257 frost-free days. Sow tender crops after the last frost date and make sure they finish before the first.
☀️ About 4.5 h of sunshine a day this month. Within the month it cools by about 4.2°C from the first ten days to the last — the window for autumn sowings is opening.
Sow this month — when would you harvest?
Assuming you sow in mid-November, then adding up the warmth London usually gets, one day at a time — which is why some of these run past the end of the month.
| Crop | Days | Harvest around |
|---|---|---|
| 🌿 Rocket | 134 | Mar 28 |
| 🌿 Spinach | 142 | Apr 5 |
| 🌱 Microgreens | 8 | Nov 22 |
| ⚪ Turnip | 173 | May 6 |
| 🧄 Garlic | 159 | Apr 22 |
| 🫘 Broad bean | 186 | May 19 |
| 🍃 Mint | 30 | Dec 14 |
⏳ Too late this month: Cherry Radish, Coriander, Peas, Beetroot, Strawberry would still be in the ground when the first frost arrives (around Nov 21). Sow them earlier in the year, or grow them under cover.
🌡️ Cucumber, Tomato, Chili Pepper, Yardlong bean, Bitter melon, Luffa, Winter melon, Aubergine, Okra never accumulate enough heat outdoors in London — not in any month. Locally these need a greenhouse or a warm windowsill.
Best crops to sow now
- 🌿 Rocket Ideal about 82 days to harvest Recent mean 8.5°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🌿 Spinach Ideal about 100 days to harvest Recent mean 8.5°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🍒 Cherry Radish Ideal about 85 days to harvest Recent mean 8.5°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🌱 Microgreens Ideal about 8 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🌿 Coriander Ideal about 116 days to harvest Recent mean 8.5°C — right in the sweet spot
- ⚪ Turnip Ideal about 136 days to harvest Recent mean 8.5°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🧄 Garlic Ideal about 134 days to harvest Recent mean 8.5°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🫛 Peas Good about 155 days to harvest Recent mean 8.5°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🟣 Beetroot Good about 155 days to harvest Recent mean 8.5°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🫘 Broad bean Good about 173 days to harvest Recent mean 8.5°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🍓 Strawberry Marginal about 167 days to harvest Recent mean 8.5°C is too cold (ideal 10–27°C)
- 🍃 Mint Ideal about 30 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
Leave these for another month
- 🌶️ Okra — Recent mean 8.5°C is too cold (ideal 20–33°C)
- 🍆 Aubergine — Recent mean 8.5°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
- 🍈 Winter melon — Recent mean 8.5°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
Other months in London
📍 Somewhere else? Look up your own city →
Temperature and rainfall come from Open-Meteo's historical observations for London, averaged day by day over the last 5 years. Whether a crop finishes in time is worked out from its own starting temperature and heat requirement — those numbers are listed on each crop page if you want to check them.