ORCHARD : A sign change happened in the early hours, and from morning onward the day settles firmly into a fruit day — one of the better autumn windows for orchard work on a descending moon. If you have a quince tree to establish, get it in the ground now: dig a generous hole, work in a bucket of well-rotted compost, and plant at the same depth it sat in the nursery pot. Raspberry canes planted today at 50 cm apart will anchor well before winter; water in thoroughly and mulch with straw to hold moisture. Currant bushes and blackcurrants can also go in at 1.2 m spacing — their roots will quietly spread through October while the soil stays workable.
VEGETABLE PATCH : Squash and pumpkins still on the vine deserve a close look today. If the skin resists a thumbnail and the stem has started to cork over, harvest them and cure in a warm, airy spot for ten days before moving to cool storage. Leek transplants can go in at 12 cm in the row, rows 30 cm apart — firm each one in well so autumn rains don’t heave them.
LANDSCAPING : Fruit day energy also suits roses and climbing plants with fruiting interest. A grapevine planted in autumn establishes its root system over winter; choose a sheltered, sunny wall and plant at the same depth as the nursery container. If you have a wisteria, check its support structure now — the woody stems grow heavy and a loose fixing will cause damage over winter.