ORCHARD : Before the morning sign change, a brief leaf window — worth using to check bare-root trees still waiting to go in. A quince tree or hazel planted now in well-prepared ground will have weeks to anchor before spring stirs. Dig a hole wide enough to spread the roots without bending them, backfill with loose soil, firm gently and water in. Space hazel at least 3 m from its neighbour to give it room to spread.
VEGETABLE PATCH : Once the day shifts to a fruit day, the focus moves to fruiting crops under cover. Drop a few tomato seeds into a tray of fine compost, 0.5 cm deep and 3 cm apart — they need warmth to germinate, so a propagator set to 20–22 °C makes a real difference / Aubergine seeds started now in a module tray, also 0.5 cm deep with seeds 3 cm apart, will have time to build strong plants before transplanting at 50 cm in the row / Chili pepper is worth starting alongside them: same depth, same spacing in the tray, and they appreciate a little bottom heat even more than tomatoes.
LANDSCAPING : A waning crescent moon with the New Moon just a day away — a quiet moment to plan rather than rush. Check on any winter jasmine already in flower: once blooms fade, prune back the flowered stems and tie in new green shoots to the support. Camellia and rhododendron in containers benefit from a top-up of lime-free water if the compost has dried out in the cold.