VEGETABLE PATCH : New Moon and a solar eclipse today — a convergence that calls for stepping back rather than digging in. The ascending node arrives later this evening, compounding the unfavourable character of the day. Harvest corn salad leaves for the table, handling the crowns gently to avoid bruising / Take a moment to check leek stems still standing in the ground: loosen any soil that has crusted around the base and apply a thin layer of straw mulch to protect roots from overnight frost / Inspect stored cabbages for signs of rot at the outer leaves; peel away damaged layers and improve ventilation in your storage space.
LANDSCAPING : A quiet morning in the garden is a good time to sharpen your secateurs and loppers — a few strokes with a whetstone make a real difference when pruning season arrives. Check ties on hellebore stems bent by winter wind, and ease any that are cutting into the stalks / Snowdrops are likely in bloom now: admire them, but leave the clumps undisturbed; dividing in the green works best after flowering / Camellia and rhododendron both appreciate a fresh top-dressing of ericaceous mulch around their root zones — 5 cm of bark chips holds moisture and gradually acidifies the soil / Winter jasmine stems sprawling loose from their support can be gently re-tied today without any cutting.
ORCHARD : Walk your apple, pear, and quince trees with a notebook rather than a saw. Sketch which crossing branches need to come out once conditions improve, and mark congested spurs with a twist of coloured twine as a reminder / Check grapevine ties and remove any old shredded bark from the trunk base — it can harbour overwintering pests / Currant bushes and blackcurrants benefit from a mulch of well-rotted compost around the crown today; keep it a few centimetres clear of the main stems.