VEGETABLE PATCH : A leaf day with the Last Quarter arriving this evening — a steady, grounded energy that suits transplanting and nurturing leafy crops. Set out kale plants 50 cm apart in rows 60 cm wide; their thick leaves will stand up to frost and keep producing well into winter. Chicory transplants go in at 30 cm in the row, rows 35 cm wide — firm the soil around each crown to anchor them before the ground stiffens. Chives can be divided and replanted at 15 cm apart in rows 25 cm wide; a cloche or fleece overhead will extend the harvest. Trim any yellowing outer leaves from brussels sprout plants and add a good layer of compost around their stems to feed the soil as temperatures drop. On heavier soils, work in a little coarse grit before planting to improve drainage through wet November weather.
LANDSCAPING : Bare-root planting season is quietly opening its doors. Hazel goes in well now — dig a generous hole, spread the roots, and backfill with soil mixed with compost; space plants 1.5 m apart for a loose, wildlife-friendly hedge. Currant bushes and blackcurrant plants can go in at 1.2 m apart; they establish without fuss and reward you handsomely come summer. Mulch the base of all newly planted shrubs with a 5–7 cm layer of leaf mould or bark to buffer temperature swings overnight.