VEGETABLE PATCH : The apogee falls today, and with New Moon arriving this evening, this is a day to step back and observe rather than intervene. Walk through your covered beds and check on leeks and corn salad — remove any damaged outer leaves, loosen ties on any supported plants, and clear away debris that could harbour disease over winter / Harvest corn salad and cabbage outer leaves for immediate use; cut cleanly with a sharp knife to avoid bruising the remaining plant / Check soil moisture under mulch without disturbing roots — a finger pressed 3 cm deep tells you more than any gadget.
LANDSCAPING : A good moment to assess your winter structure. Look over hellebores for yellowing leaves at the base — removing them now improves air circulation and lets the emerging buds take centre stage / Check ties on winter jasmine and raspberry canes; a loose tie in winter wind can cause real damage over weeks / Inspect camellia and rhododendron foliage for any signs of stress — in cold snaps, a thick mulch of bark chippings 8–10 cm deep at the base keeps roots insulated without smothering the crown.
ORCHARD : Sharpen and clean your pruning tools today — a whetstone on the blade and a wipe with linseed oil on wooden handles takes twenty minutes and pays dividends all season / Check apple tree, pear tree and quince tree ties and stakes; winter storms can shift even well-anchored bare-root trees / Sketch out plans for currant bush or blackcurrant while the ground is too hard or wet to work — note 1.2 m spacing and an open sunny position, so you are ready to act the moment conditions improve.