What to Plant in November and December: A Winter Vegetable Guide for Istanbul

In November and December, around Istanbul and the Marmara region, cool-season vegetables such as garlic, broad beans, peas, onion sets and spinach are sown or planted in most years; on balconies, greens such as rocket, cress and parsley go into pots. Which week to do what depends on where you are, your altitude and the weather that year. This post covers sowing and planting times only.

Is this calendar the same everywhere?

No. Places near the coast differ from inland and higher parts of the Marmara region, and even within one district a windy slope and a sheltered garden do not behave alike. Years differ too: one November is mild, another year the cold arrives early. Read the lists below as a pattern commonly seen in the area, not as fixed dates, and adjust them by keeping notes in your own garden.

What is sown in the garden in November?

While the soil is workable, neither muddy nor hard, the following are usually sown or planted in garden beds:

• Garlic: The bulb is split into cloves, and the cloves are planted one by one with the pointed end up.
• Broad beans: The seed is sown directly in the soil.
• Peas: The seed is sown directly; climbing varieties need a support.
• Onion sets: The small bulbs are planted in rows.
• Spinach: The seed is sown in rows or scattered.
• Radish: The seed is sown directly.
• Lettuce: Planted as seedlings; in exposed spots it is kept under cover.

Where the cold arrives early, some of these jobs are already finished in October. If you think you are late, check the sowing window on the seed packet and ask people who have been growing in your area for years.

Can you sow in December?

In some places and in some years, yes. In sheltered gardens near the coast, garlic and broad bean planting can run into December in mild years. If the soil is waterlogged or frozen, it is better to wait; working wet soil can damage its structure. In colder areas December is mostly a month of preparation, not of sowing: beds are covered, compost matures and the spring plan is made.

What can go into balcony pots in November and December?

A balcony can be more sheltered than a garden, but the soil in a pot cools faster. In the cool season, pots are usually sown with shallow-rooted leafy plants:

• Rocket
• Cress
• Parsley
• Lettuce (as seedlings or from seed)
• Spinach
• Onion sets, for spring onions
• Garlic cloves, for their green leaves

When choosing and placing pots, these points are checked:

• The pot should have a drainage hole; in winter, too much water is a common problem.
• The side that gets the most winter sun is preferred.
• Pots are moved to a corner out of the direct wind, against a wall if possible.
• Watering is done when the top of the soil has dried, and at a mild time of day.

Growth slows as the days shorten. Germination and leaf growth take longer than in spring; this is to be expected.

How is the soil prepared before frost?

• Remains of summer crops are cleared; those that look diseased are kept out of the compost.
• Soil is not dug or walked on while it is wet.
• Mature compost is spread over the beds.
• Where water collects, beds are raised slightly or a channel is opened for the water.
• Beds that will stay empty are not left bare; they are covered with a mulch such as dry leaves or straw.
• Space is set aside in advance for garlic, onions and broad beans, and the rows are marked.

How are seedlings protected from frost and cold?

No single method suits every garden; several are often used together:

• Frost cover: A light cover is laid over seedlings on nights when cold is expected and removed when the day warms up.
• Low tunnel: Hoops are placed over the bed and a cover is stretched across them.
• Mulch: Dry leaves or straw are spread around the roots. The aim is to slow down sudden cooling of the soil.
• Moving pots: On cold nights pots are pulled against a wall or into a sheltered corner.
• Watering time: Water in the morning or around noon, and take care that leaves do not go into the night wet.
• Weather forecast: When a cold spell is announced, covers are prepared a day ahead.

These measures are meant to reduce losses; in a hard winter some seedlings may still be damaged.

How do you adjust sowing times to your own garden?

• Read the sowing window on the seed packet.
• Ask people who have grown in your area for years which week they wait for.
• Each year, write down the sowing date, the weather and the result.
• Sow the same vegetable in two batches a few weeks apart and see which one takes.

If you would like to plan together, Merve Tüfekçi’s Permaculture and Herbal Farming consultancy covers soil, water, seed and seasonal planning according to your space: a balcony, a garden or a field. How much you harvest depends on the soil, the season and the work put in; no promise is made about it.

In short, November is the month of garlic, broad beans and greens for most gardens in the Marmara region; December is either late sowing or preparation, depending on the place. The calendar that counts is the notes you keep in your own garden.

This post is for general information only; it is not medical or legal advice.

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Frequently asked questions

Which vegetables are sown in the garden in November?

Around Istanbul and the Marmara region, garlic, broad beans, peas, onion sets, spinach and radish are sown or planted in most years. The date depends on the place, the altitude and the weather that year.

Can garlic be planted in December?

In sheltered gardens near the coast, planting can run into December in mild years. If the soil is waterlogged or frozen, it is better to wait. In colder areas December is mostly a month of preparation.

What can be grown in balcony pots in winter?

In the cool season pots are usually sown with rocket, cress, parsley, lettuce, spinach and onion sets for spring onions. The pot needs a drainage hole and a sunny spot sheltered from the wind.

How are seedlings protected from frost?

On cold nights a frost cover or low tunnel is used, mulch is spread around the roots and pots are pulled against a wall. These measures aim to reduce losses; damage is still possible in a hard winter.

Does this post cover harvest times as well?

No, it covers sowing and planting times only. You can find which vegetable grows in which month in the post “Seasonal Vegetables in Turkey Month by Month”.

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