The short version: November is still spring in cool and alpine gardens, so coriander, chervil, dill and parsley go in there. Warmer gardens switch to heat lovers: basil once nights stay above 10°C, tulsi above 15°C, then lemongrass, culantro, shiso and purslane. Give soft herbs afternoon shade and moist soil, and pick tips often. A 1 November sowing has 54 days before Christmas: enough for cress, usually dill, and at best a first basil pinch.
The season's first 30°C afternoon sorts out a herb bed. Parsley and the last coriander wilt by mid-afternoon, while basil that sat still through October starts to grow.
November sowing means matching each herb to the summer ahead.
Count back from Christmas
Christmas Day is 54 days from 1 November. First-pick times come from our guides.
| Herb | First pick | By Christmas from 1 November? |
|---|---|---|
| Garden cress in a tray | 2 to 3 weeks | Yes, several trays |
| Mustard as microgreens | 1 to 3 weeks | Yes |
| Dill | 6 to 8 weeks | Usually, in temperate, cool and Adelaide gardens |
| Coriander and chervil | 5 to 10 weeks; chervil 6 to 8 | Often, in cool and alpine gardens |
| Basil | 6 to 12 weeks | A first pinch at best; October seedlings are surer |
| Chives and parsley | 8 to 12 weeks; parsley 10 to 12 | Rarely; cut an established clump |
Mustard and cress bolt fast in a hot bed, and our chart gives mustard greens no November window. A windowsill tray out of afternoon sun crops in any month: sow untreated microgreen seed thickly and snip at 2 to 6 cm, as in growing microgreens on a windowsill.
Coriander, chervil and dill: cool districts and shaded corners
On our chart, coriander and chervil carry on into November only in cool and alpine gardens, while dill also suits temperate gardens and the Adelaide plains. Heat, long days and dry soil push all three to flower, coriander once temperatures pass about 25 to 30°C. Sow them direct, because their taproots resent moving: coriander 6 to 10 mm deep, chervil 3 to 5 mm, dill 2 to 6 mm, then thin to 15 to 20 cm, 20 to 25 cm and 20 to 30 cm. Give them morning sun and afternoon shade, keep the soil evenly moist, mulching once seedlings are up, and sow a short row every 2 to 3 weeks.
Elsewhere, grow culantro: its saw-edged leaves taste of strong coriander, and with shade and moist soil it keeps cropping through humid heat. More on the triggers in why coriander bolts.
Basil, tulsi and the other heat lovers
Sow basil 2 to 6 mm deep into soil of at least 18°C. It goes out when nights stay above 10°C: in early November in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, during November in Mildura, and from December in cool districts, or January in Ballarat. In the humid north the risk is wet leaves, so water the soil in the morning and space plants 20 to 30 cm apart.
- Tulsi: press the seed onto damp mix uncovered, keep it at 20 to 25°C, and plant out once nights hold above 15°C.
- Lemongrass: sow barely covered at 20 to 30°C, and space clumps 60 to 90 cm apart or pot them where winters frost.
- Shiso and purslane: surface sow, shiso into soil of 20 to 25°C and purslane from 18°C. Pinch shiso tips, and water purslane deeply for tender leaves.
Perennials and tea herbs from a late-spring sowing
Warm mix speeds the slow perennials, giving them a summer to root. Sage, oregano, rosemary, lavender, Russian or Mexican tarragon (French grows from cuttings), lovage, lemon balm, mint, chives and garlic chives all have a November window in temperate, Mediterranean and cool gardens.
Traditional tea herbs fit too: lemon balm, lemon bergamot (sold as lemon mint), tulsi and lemongrass, plus German chamomile in temperate and cool gardens. So do cottage and traditional herbs such as borage, feverfew, yarrow, nettle, plantain, salad burnet, evening primrose and tansy, which in November are temperate and cool-zone sowings. Evening primrose seed cannot be sent to Western Australia. For planting scented herbs by a path, see a sensory garden from seed.
Settle tray seedlings in their final spot while mild days remain: harden off for a week, plant on an overcast afternoon, water in with seaweed solution and cover with white insect mesh for a week, as planting out seedlings shows.
Keeping soft herbs leafy through the heat
- Shade and water: soft herbs want afternoon shade in hot districts and evenly moist soil, roughly 25 mm a week including rain, more in hot wind, at the base each morning under 5 cm of straw kept off stems. In a heatwave, rig 50% shade cloth above them. Water thyme, sage, oregano and rosemary once the top dries.
- Pinch: once basil reaches 15 to 25 cm, nip the main stem just above the second leaf pair, then keep taking tips above a pair, as in pinching basil to stop it flowering. Tulsi, shiso, mint and oregano branch the same way. The same idea works on flowers, as pinching out and the Chelsea chop explains. Tip prune thyme, rosemary, sage and lavender lightly, within green growth.
- Pick often: take up to a third at a time, cutting parsley, coriander, dill and chives at the base, and dry or freeze the surplus, as harvesting and drying herbs explains.
Herbs to sow in November, zone by zone
What to Sow Now shows what each zone can sow, month by month. The six zones are broad groupings, so between two, lean on local cues such as your last frost.
Tropical
Darwin in the Northern Territory, Cairns and Townsville in Queensland, Broome in Western Australia. The build-up suits basil, tulsi, culantro, lemongrass and purslane. Raise tulsi and culantro in covered trays, safe from storms, and basil in pots that can move under cover.
Subtropical
Brisbane and south-east Queensland, northern New South Wales. Sow basil, tulsi, shiso, culantro, lemongrass, purslane and anise. November is the last month for mint and tarragon; choose Mexican tarragon there. Free-draining raised beds or pots help oregano and sage through summer rain.
Arid and semi-arid
Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, Broken Hill in New South Wales, Mildura in Victoria, Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. Sow basil, tulsi, shiso, lemongrass and purslane, and finish spring sowings of lavender, anise, sorrel, lovage and culantro, giving the last two deep afternoon shade. Sorrel seed cannot be sent to Western Australia.
Temperate
Sydney and the New South Wales coast, Melbourne and Geelong in Victoria. Sow basil, dill, parsley, tulsi, shiso, culantro, purslane and the perennials above. November is the last month for chamomile, lemongrass and summer savory.
Mediterranean
Perth and southern Western Australia, Adelaide in South Australia. Sow basil, parsley, tulsi, shiso, purslane and the perennials above, plus dill on the Adelaide plains and culantro under shade cloth. Lemongrass and most perennials end their spring window in November, so mulch and water them steadily.
Cool and alpine
Tasmania, Canberra in the ACT, Ballarat in Victoria, Orange and Armidale in New South Wales, Stanthorpe in Queensland. Still spring: sow coriander, chervil, dill and parsley direct, and raise thyme, chamomile, valerian and the perennials above under cover to plant out after frost. Start basil, tulsi and culantro indoors. Florence fennel suits too, though we do not send fennel seed to Tasmania or Victoria.
A caution before you brew
We sell these herbs as seed for growing, not as remedies. Tansy is poisonous if eaten, including as tea, and can irritate skin, so wear gloves and grow it in a pot away from kitchen herbs. Keep borage flowers to an occasional garnish and do not eat or brew the leaves. Wear gloves for nettle and cook the young tops. Ask a qualified health practitioner before using any plant medicinally, especially if pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medicines. If a plant is swallowed by mistake, healthdirect Australia advises calling the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 at any hour, before symptoms appear, or triple zero (000) if someone collapses or struggles to breathe.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still sow coriander in November?
Yes in cool and alpine gardens, in short rows with afternoon shade. Elsewhere, wait for autumn or grow culantro.
Is November too late to plant basil?
No. Across much of the south it is planting-out month, once nights stay above 10°C. Cool districts wait until December.
Why has my herb seed not come up?
Tulsi, oregano, thyme, shiso and lemon balm need light to germinate, so buried seed often fails. Culantro can take a month to appear.
Can I grow tea herbs from seed?
Yes. German chamomile flowers from about 9 to 10 weeks and lemon balm gives leaves from 8 to 10 weeks. Check each guide's safety notes before brewing.
Sow for the summer coming, not the spring just gone, and the herb bed will keep giving until autumn.
Related growing guides
- Pinching out, the Chelsea chop and the summer cut-back
- A sensory garden from seed
- Herbs to sow in December, zone by zone
- What to sow in November: vegetables for every zone
- Flowers to sow in November, zone by zone
- Herbs to sow in October
- Herbs for pots, by pot size
- What to sow in October for a Christmas harvest
Browse all herb seeds, or start with basil seeds.