November - Alans Almanac

November the month of mists and chills, as days end early and endless nights begin

November’s sky is chill and drear,
November’s leaf is red and sear.
Sir Walter Scott

View of Dyrham Park house over the lake. — Dyrham Park

Ipsum text

Dates, events, holidays and festivals.

November 2021

Mid-September to November (TBC) – Matlock Bath Illuminations

4th November – New Moon

5th November – Bonfire Night

5th November – The tar barrels of Ottery St. Mary

TBA November – Longleat Festival of Light

6th November – Bridgewater Carnival

19th November – Micro Full Moon

20-21st November – ChocFest

30th November – St Andrew’s Day

Find more events and notable dates throughout the year

November Seasonal Foods

What foods are seasonal in November.

Greens and leaves: Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Kohlrabi, Kale, Lamb’s lettuce, Lettuce, Pak choi, Radicchio, Salsify, Swiss chard.

Roots and other veg: Beetroot, Celeriac, Celery, Globe artichoke, Jerusalem artichoke, Leek, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Pumpkin, Quince, Runner bean, Spring onion, Swede, Sweet potato, Turnip.

Meat: Beef, Chicken, Duck, Grouse, Goose, Guinea fowl, Lamb, Pork, Venison.

Fruit: Chestnut, Cranberry, Pear.

Seafood: Crab, Mussels, Oyster.

Exotics: Banana, Clementine, Date, Pomegranate.

Find out more about seasonal foods throughout the year by getting yourself in the know about what is seasonal

In nature

Getting ready for winter

On the Farm in November

Grass deteriorates in quality and will stop growing soon.

Tup sales.

House cows. Feed livestock. Male calves castrated before the onset of frost.

Ploughing and continued late drilling of wheat and barley.

Find out more about what is happening in the Year on the farm

Fungi growing out of a tree trunk — Fungi

Things to do in November

Out and about

Also see the Out and about Blogs

Days and nights draw even.

Plant seed head covered in frost. — Frosty seeds

Recipe of the month.

Vegi Toad in the hole

I love toad in the hole. I do like sausages and Yorkshire pudding. IT is nice to have a vegetarian option: vegi sausages can work but can often run dry or tough – or have an unsatisfactory texture. This seems to work better for a Vegetarian option.

Ingredients

180g plain flour

3 large free-range eggs

280ml whole milk

2 tbsp wholegrain mustard

300g baby heritage carrots

2 red onions

1 red chilli

1 tsp paprika

4 tbsp Vegetable (Canola) oil

Salt

Equipment.

Deep 30cm x 20cm roasting tin

Mixing bowl (for the batter)

Preparation

Heat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6.

Peel Carrots.

Peels and cut onions into wedges.

Finely slice chilies (seeds for more heat)

Cooking

I think this goes very well with some carrots, (roast spuds if you are making them, or a bit of mash – potato or root), and lots of greens: depending on how the season is and your taste, Sprouts, Winter cabbage, Kale, Calibrase or if lucky sprouting broccoli.

For more inspiration see the Food Blogs

November Jobs in the vegetable garden or allotment

General Jobs

Clear old vegetation and compost. Cut down old blackberries. Remove plant supports and store.

Digging. Spreading compost and manure. Lime soil where needed.

Net brassicas (stop pigeons).

Planting trees, shrubs and bushes.

Remove rotten fruit and destroy (burn). Start winter pruning of fruits and trees. Shred and compost healthy, burn any diseased items.

Cloche late crops.

General repairs to fencing and structures.

Sowing and Planting

outdoors: Sow – Broad Beans.

Plant: Garlic, Fruit trees and bushes.

Harvest

Brussels sprouts, Cabbages, Carrots, Cauliflowers, Cranberries, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Endive, French beans, Jerusalem artichokes, Kale, Kohl rabi, Leeks, Lettuces, Oriental leaves, Parsnips, Raspberries, Spinach, Sprouting broccoli, Swede, Swiss chard, Turnips, Winter radishes.

Find out more about what is happening in the allotment or vegetable garden

Frost covered plants in the foreground with a sunny distant view — First frosts

Activities, things to see and do in November

With lengthening days arise more opportunities to get out and about. To see what is happening in nature and the countryside. There is also a lot more to see as they year really starts to get going.

Thinking about getting out and about, then perhaps Buy OS Landranger maps direct from Ordnance Survey to discover new places or see the latest handheld GPS devices with bundled mapping from Ordnance Survey.