VEGETABLE PATCH : The waning gibbous moon descends through a root day — earthy work suits this moment well. Turn your attention to parsnip, celeriac, and Hamburg parsley: lift any remaining roots still in the ground before a hard frost locks the soil, brushing off excess earth and storing them in wooden crates layered with slightly damp sand in a cool shed. For those sowing under cover, press fine carrot seed (try ‘Nantes 2’ or ‘Chantenay Red Core’) into trays of pre-moistened seed compost at a depth of 5 mm, spacing rows 8 cm apart; the descending moon favours root formation, making germination more vigorous. Salsify and scorzonera can also be sown now in deep modules — their taproots need at least 20 cm of loose, stone-free compost to develop cleanly. In Mediterranean climates, direct sowing of radish ‘French Breakfast’ and turnip ‘Milan White’ outdoors is perfectly reasonable on a sheltered bed.
INDOORS : Windowsill root crops deserve a little attention today. Check pots of forced chicory (‘Witloof’ varieties) for chicons ready to harvest — snap them off cleanly at the base when they reach 12–15 cm, leaving the root in place for a possible second flush. If you started sweet potato slips in a heated propagator, ensure the compost stays just barely moist; overwatering at this stage causes collar rot before roots even form. A gentle feed with a low-nitrogen liquid fertiliser (high potassium, such as tomato feed diluted to half strength) encourages sturdy root development rather than soft leafy growth.
LANDSCAPING : Bare borders in winter reveal their bones — take a good look around and note where gaps appear. Divide established clumps of bergenia and ajuga now while the soil is cool and workable; replant sections 25–30 cm apart and firm in well with your boot. Around ornamental grasses like Pennisetum or Miscanthus, scratch in a handful of slow-release balanced granules (25 g per plant) to feed the root zone ahead of spring growth. On heavy soils, fork lightly between shrubs to break any surface pan and improve drainage before late-winter rain saturates the ground.