INDOORS : November has quietly arrived, and the descending Waning Gibbous moon — reaching its Last Quarter at 20h28 (UTC) tonight — makes this a fine day to focus on leafy growth indoors and under cover. Pot up young lamb’s lettuce (Valerianella locusta) seedlings into 8 cm modules filled with a peat-free multipurpose compost, spacing them 5 cm apart; they thrive in cool, bright windowsills and need very little fuss / Sow a pinch of mizuna (Brassica rapa var. japonica) and mustard ‘Red Frills’ (Brassica juncea) in a shallow seed tray under glass — scatter thinly, cover with 5 mm of fine compost and keep at 12–15 °C for germination within 5–7 days / Check overwintering basil (Ocimum basilicum) and lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) kept indoors: remove any yellowing leaves promptly and water sparingly at the base only, as stagnant moisture at the roots is the main culprit for winter losses.
VEGETABLE PATCH : A good moment to turn attention to leafy brassicas still standing in the garden. Strip any yellowed outer leaves from Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera) — this improves air circulation and reduces the risk of downy mildew spreading up the stem / Net kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica ‘Nero di Toscana’ or ‘Redbor’) with a fine 4 mm mesh to keep wood pigeons at bay through winter; secure the edges firmly at soil level / Tuck a 5 cm layer of well-rotted leaf mould around the base of perpetual spinach (Beta vulgaris var. cicla) and sorrel (Rumex acetosa): the mulch insulates roots and keeps foliage cleaner after heavy rain — a small effort that pays off at harvest / In mild or Mediterranean climates, sow a short row of winter purslane (Claytonia perfoliata) directly in a sheltered bed; germination is reliable down to 5 °C and the crop will be ready to pick in 6–8 weeks.
ORCHARD : Before the Last Quarter settles in fully this evening, run a quick check through the orchard. Gather any remaining windfalls from quince (Cydonia oblonga) and medlar (Mespilus germanica) — medlars actually benefit from a few weeks of bletting indoors at room temperature before they soften to eating ripeness, so bring them in now and line them on a slatted tray / Scrub algae and lichen from the bark of apple (Malus domestica) and pear (Pyrus communis) trunks using a stiff brush and diluted copper-based wash; this disrupts overwintering canker spores without harming the tree / Fix grease bands at 45 cm above soil level on fruit tree trunks to intercept winter moths climbing up to lay eggs — check and replace any bands already saturated after recent rain.