Planning and Ordering Seeds for Next Year in November

As the garden winds down in November, it’s the perfect time to plan next year’s crops and secure your seeds before spring’s rush. Early planning gives you the widest variety, the healthiest stock, and an inspiring head start for winter dreaming and organizing. Here’s your step-by-step guide to smart seed planning and ordering this month.

1. Reflect on This Year’s Results

• Review your garden journal, notes, or photos.
• Which varieties performed best—and which disappointed?
• What got eaten up, what was overplanted, and where were the gaps or gluts?
• Was there a new heirloom you want to retry, or a pest problem that calls for a tougher variety?

2. List Must-Grow Favorites and New Experiments

• Mark must-grow staples (core salad, root, and fruit crops).
• List new varieties: colors, shapes, or flavors you want to explore.
• Note succession and companion planting options for a more continuous harvest and pest control.

3. Sketch Next Year’s Crop Layout

• Rotate plant families to prevent disease and soil exhaustion.
• Plan succession crops, autumn-sown beds, and spots for green manure or wildflowers.
• Space in pollinator-friendly flowers and wildlife areas.

4. Scan Catalogues and Online Suppliers

• Order early! Popular and rare varieties can sell out quickly.
• Compare catalogs/suppliers for price, seed count, and shipping.
• Prefer organic or untreated seed for eco-friendly gardens.
• Look for varieties resistant to last year’s worst pests or weather.

5. Organize and Inventory Existing Seeds

• Gather saved and leftover packets. Discard any that are damaged or far out of date.
• Store in a cool, dry place, organized by timing or crop group.

6. Make and Place Your Order

• Double-check your plan—balance key crops, fun extras, and realistic space.
• Place your order in November for bonus perks (some suppliers offer early-bird discounts or free gifts now).
• Share an order with friends/allotment neighbors for extra savings and to try more varieties.

7. Dream a Little

• Use November’s quiet evenings to browse, plot, and build your ideal garden wishlist.
• Mark up varieties to research for disease resistance, flavor, or drought tolerance.
• Leave room for surprise—nature always throws something unexpected!

Smart seed ordering in November takes the stress out of spring, and brightens winter with anticipation and ideas. When those packets arrive on your doorstep, next year’s best harvest has already begun.