VEGETABLE PATCH : A root day through and through — the waning crescent is nearing its final sliver, and the soil feels quietly receptive. Under cover, try sowing parsnip seeds 1 cm deep with seeds 3 cm apart in modules; they germinate slowly, so starting early gives them a real head start / Celeriac is another candidate for a warm windowsill tray: sow at just 0.3 cm depth, seeds 2 cm apart / If you have established black salsify or skirret, lift a few roots carefully with a fork for immediate use — avoid snapping the long taproots / Black radish and turnip seeds can go in under a cold frame at 1 cm deep, 3 cm apart.
LANDSCAPING : Frost-lit mornings remind you how much bare ground benefits from a protective layer. Spread a 5–7 cm mulch of composted bark around hellebore clumps and rhododendron roots to buffer the last hard frosts / Camellia buds are quietly swelling — keep the root zone consistently moist and top up any ericaceous mulch that has thinned / Winter jasmine stems can be tied in and lightly trimmed now to encourage strong shoots for next season.