What Seeds to Sow in November in Mediterranean Climates
November is a productive sowing month in mild Mediterranean gardens. Shorter days and cooler soil favour spinach, salad leaves, peas, roots and winter herbs, while hardy annual flowers can establish for spring. Timing varies: coastal Cyprus, Malta and southern Italy may remain mild, while inland and higher-altitude sites can experience frost.
Shop November Sowing Seeds
Flowers to Sow Directly in November
Hardy annuals are the centrepiece of November flower sowing in frost-free or mild-winter Mediterranean regions. In colder sites sow in protected pots or wait until spring.
Calendula
Easy, cheerful flowers for sunny winter borders and containers; sow where plants can develop without waterlogging. Available varieties: Fiesta Gitana Mix, Ivory Princess, Funky Stuff.
Browse calendula seeds →California Poppies
Best direct-sown in sunny, free-draining soil; particularly useful in mild coastal gardens. Avoid disturbing the taproots. Available varieties: Thai Silk Formula Mix, Thai Silk Rose Chiffon, Thai Silk Pink Champagne, Apricot Chiffon, Appleblossom Chiffon, XL Jelly Beans.
Browse california poppies seeds →Annual Poppies
Direct sow in a permanent position for spring bloom; scatter thinly and protect the seedbed from heavy rain. Available varieties: Amazing Grey, Lauren's Grape, Breadseed, Dawn Chorus, Black Peony, Frosted Salmon Peony, Purple Peony, Flemish Antique Peony, Rose Feathers, Crimson Feathers.
Browse annual poppies seeds →Cornflowers
Hardy annuals for spring flowers, pollinators and cutting; sow in sunny beds. Available varieties: Blue Boy, Black Ball, Mix.
Browse cornflowers seeds →Nigella
A reliable cool-season annual for delicate flowers and decorative seed pods. Sow in place. Available varieties: Nigella Miss Jekyll Skyblue.
Browse nigella seeds →Cerinthe
Blue-purple bracts and attractive foliage; best in well-drained soil where winters are mild. Available varieties: Cerinthe Pride of Gibraltar.
Browse cerinthe seeds →Daucus
Airy, lacy cutting flower. Sow into a final position or deep modules to limit root disturbance. Available varieties: Daucus Carota Dara.
View seeds →Linum
A light, naturalistic annual for spring colour in sunny borders. Available varieties: Linum Grandiflorum Mix.
Browse linum seeds →Night-Scented Stock
A compact fragrant choice for pots and paths, especially where evenings are spent outdoors. Available varieties: Night Scented Stock ‘Starlight’ Seeds.
Browse night-scented stock seeds →Bells of Ireland
Distinctive green bells for cut flower arrangements; best sown in cool, sheltered conditions. Available varieties: Bells of Ireland Pixie Bells.
View seeds →Iberis (Candytuft)
Low-growing spring flowers suitable for borders and containers; sow into free-draining soil. Available varieties: Iberis Umbellata Rose Cardinal.
View seeds →Sweet Peas
Sow in deep pots or directly in mild locations; provide support and protect young growth from slugs and hard frost. Available varieties: Odoratus Cupid Pink, King Size Coronation Mix (Sweet Pea).
Browse sweet peas seeds →Flowers to Start in Trays or Modules
These flowers benefit from controlled moisture, good drainage and protection against heavy winter rain. The last two groups are more conditional in November.
Snapdragons
Start on the surface of fine compost in bright, protected conditions; transplant when established. Available varieties: Twinny Peach, Night & Day, Grandiflorum Large-Flowered Mix, Snapshot Coral Bicolor.
View seeds →Pansies
Cool germination conditions and shelter from heavy rain help produce plants for winter and spring colour. Available varieties: Back to Black, Frizzle Sizzle Raspberry, Swiss Giants Mix, Inspire Plus Marina, Inspire Plus White.
Browse pansies seeds →Scabiosa
Start in modules for spring cut flowers in mild climates; protect seedlings in cold inland gardens. Available varieties: Black Knight, Oxford Blue, Salmon Queen, Summer Fruits, Fire King, Mix.
Browse scabiosa seeds →Phlox
Start in small modules for spring flowering; keep seedlings cool and bright. Available varieties: Phlox Cherry Caramel.
View seeds →Painted Tongue (Salpiglossis)
A conditional option for frost-free areas with protected propagation; not for unprotected winter sowing. Available varieties: Painted Tongue Kew Blue, Painted Tongue Cafe au Lait.
Browse painted tongue (salpiglossis) seeds →Bunny Tails
Start in trays under protection for decorative, soft grass heads; avoid frost and stagnant wet compost. Available varieties: Bunny Tails.
View seeds →Flowers to Establish for Future Seasons
These biennials and perennials are slower projects. For November sowings, use sheltered trays and expect flowering to depend on plant maturity and local conditions.
Hollyhocks
Sow in protected modules to raise sturdy plants; flowering timing depends on variety and plant development. Available varieties: Chater's Double Mix, Chater's Maroon, Chater's White, Chater's Scarlet, Alcea rosea 'Nigra'.
Browse hollyhocks seeds →Lunaria (Honesty)
Biennial plants valued for spring flowers and silvery seedpods; November is a conditional protected start. Available varieties: Lunaria Violet (Honesty), Lunaria White (Honesty).
Browse lunaria (honesty) seeds →Delphinium
Cool-season germination in sheltered trays; avoid warm, damp conditions and allow time for establishment. Available varieties: Delphinium Blue Cloud, Delphinium Mixed Colors.
Browse delphinium seeds →Eryngium
A longer-term perennial project; germination can be slow and cold treatment may help. Available varieties: Eryngium Blue Hobbit.
Browse eryngium seeds →Oriental Poppy
A perennial poppy to start for future seasons, not immediate winter flowers. Available varieties: Oriental Brilliant.
Browse oriental poppy seeds →Vegetables to Sow Directly in November
Cool-weather salads and leafy crops are some of the most rewarding November sowings. Root crops remain possible in mild regions but take longer as days shorten.
Spinach
A top choice for cool weather. Sow directly in short rows or containers for tender winter leaves. Available varieties: Spinach Renegade.
View seeds →Rocket
Fast-growing peppery leaves; repeat small sowings for continuous harvest. Available varieties: Rocket Esmee.
View seeds →Lettuce
Mild cut-and-come-again leaves suited to the cooler growing season. Available varieties: Lettuce Oakleaf 'Salad Bowl'.
View seeds →Mesclun Salad Mixes
Quick baby-leaf salads; sow little and often, and harvest before plants become crowded. Available varieties: Mesclun Salad Leaves, Mesclun Asian Mix.
View seeds →Radish
A quick crop for cool conditions. Even watering helps roots stay crisp. Available varieties: Radish Cherry Belle.
View seeds →Carrots
Sow directly in fine, loose soil; emergence slows as ground temperatures fall. Available varieties: Carrot Nantes.
View seeds →Beetroot
A useful mild-winter root and leaf crop; thin carefully for good root size. Available varieties: Red Beetroot Boro F1.
View seeds →Chard
Colourful leaves and stems that can be harvested repeatedly through mild winters. Available varieties: Chard Fireworks.
View seeds →Pak Choi
Grows well in cool conditions; keep moisture consistent for tender stems. Available varieties: Pak Choi 'Taisai'.
View seeds →Welsh Onion
Long-season salad onion for beds and larger containers. Available varieties: Welsh Onion Ishikura Long White.
View seeds →Parsnip
Long-season root crop for deep soil; best in milder districts where ground remains workable. Available varieties: Parsnip 'Tender and True'.
View seeds →Black Salsify
A long-season root crop to sow directly in deep, stone-free soil in mild locations. Available varieties: Black Salsify (Scorzonera).
View seeds →Peas & Snow Peas
November is a strong sowing month for peas in many mild Mediterranean locations. Soil drainage and protection from birds or slugs matter more than extra warmth.
Garden Pea
Cool-season peas for direct sowing; provide support and avoid waterlogged beds. Available varieties: Pea First Early May.
View seeds →Snow Pea Sweet Horizon
Climbing snow pea for crisp edible pods and cooler growing weather. Available varieties: Snow Pea Sweet Horizon.
View seeds →Snow Pea Norli
More compact snow pea, practical for smaller beds and larger pots with support. Available varieties: Snow Pea 'Norli'.
View seeds →Vegetables to Start in Trays or Modules
Kale is the strongest choice here. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Romanesco and celery are conditional sowings: seedlings need protection, and harvests will generally be later than with earlier autumn starts.
Kale
These leafy brassicas are the most reliable November choices; plant out once strong. Available varieties: Kale Nero Di Toscana, Curly Kale Westland Winter, Red Curly Kale 'Roter Grünkohl'.
View seeds →Broccoli
Possible in mild winter areas, but growth and head formation can be delayed if started this late. Available varieties: Broccoli Belstar, Broccoli Bobby.
View seeds →Cauliflower
A conditional sowing in mild locations; protect young plants and expect a long crop. Available varieties: Cauliflower Flora Blanca.
View seeds →White Cabbage
Better started earlier for winter heads; November is an option mainly for protected seedlings and later harvest. Available varieties: White Cabbage 'Langedijker Bewaar'.
View seeds →Romanesco
A slower crop; in most locations earlier autumn sowing is more reliable. Available varieties: Romanesco Veronica.
View seeds →Celery
Start in sheltered trays only if you can provide adequate light and a long, mild growing period. Available varieties: Celery Tango.
View seeds →
Herbs to Sow in November
Parsley is the main recommendation in the current available catalogue. Perennial herbs can be started under shelter, but grow slowly in winter.
Parsley
An excellent cool-season herb. Germination is slow; maintain consistent moisture. Available varieties: Parsley Italian Giant.
View seeds →Thyme
Start in protected trays with free-draining compost and plenty of light. Available varieties: Thyme German Winter.
View seeds →Sage
A protected perennial-herb start; avoid saturated compost. Available varieties: Sage.
View seeds →Lavender
Optional for patient gardeners; germination is variable and may benefit from pre-treatment. Available varieties: Lavender.
View seeds →Easy to Grow, Small Spaces & Seed Collections
November is a useful month to start a balcony kitchen garden or plan spring flowers. Choose well-drained containers with enough depth for roots.
Best Flowers for Pots
Calendula Fiesta Gitana Mix, Pansy Swiss Giants Mix, Night Scented Stock ‘Starlight’ Seeds, Snapdragon Twinny Peach and Lathyrus Odoratus Cupid Pink.
Quick Vegetable Choices
Organic Rocket Esmee, Organic Radish Cherry Belle, Organic Lettuce Oakleaf 'Salad Bowl', Organic Mesclun Salad Leaves and Organic Pak Choi 'Taisai'.
Autumn Flower Collections
Mediterranean Flowers – Autumn-Sown Garden Mix and Mediterranean Balcony Flowers – Autumn-Sown Collection bring several varieties together for Mediterranean gardens.
Autumn Salad Garden Collection
A five-variety salad garden collection now using parsley in place of coriander.
View Autumn Salad Garden →Mediterranean Balcony Harvest
A compact autumn kitchen garden collection now using Mesclun Salad Leaves in place of coriander.
View Autumn Balcony Harvest →November Gardening Tips
Good drainage, appropriate crop selection and timing are especially important as Mediterranean autumn moves into winter.
A frost-free coast is different from an inland valley or mountain garden. Adjust November sowing to your local night temperatures.
Cornflowers, calendula, poppies and nigella can establish through mild winters for earlier flowers.
Rainfall can be intense. Use well-drained seedbeds and containers with drainage holes.
Sow rocket, spinach, mesclun and radish in small batches rather than all at once.
Reduced winter daylight can extend the time to harvest; keep realistic expectations for roots and heading brassicas.
Shop Seeds for November Gardening
Explore available hardy flowers, winter vegetables and herbs for mild Mediterranean gardens.