LANDSCAPING : Before 12h00 (UTC), a flower day under the descending Last Quarter moon — a quiet, focused energy that suits ornamental work beautifully. Prune winter-flowering shrubs like Viburnum x bodnantense and Chimonanthus praecox once their blooms begin to fade, cutting stems back by one third to encourage vigorous new growth; use clean, sharp secateurs and seal larger cuts with wound paste. Divide established clumps of hellebores (‘Harvington Pink’, ‘Double Ellen White’) carefully with a garden fork, replanting sections 30–40 cm apart in humus-rich, well-drained soil. On milder days, sow sweet peas (‘Matucana’, ‘Cupani’) in deep root trainers filled with peat-free seed compost, pressing seeds 2 cm deep; place on a cool windowsill at 10–13 °C to build sturdy stems. In Mediterranean climates, anemones and ranunculus can be planted directly outdoors now, 5 cm deep and 15 cm apart, in a sunny, sheltered bed.
VEGETABLE PATCH : After 12h00 (UTC), the moon shifts to a leaf day — a welcome change that turns attention above ground. Sow spinach (‘Medania’), lamb’s lettuce (‘Vit’) and claytonia in module trays or shallow seed trays under a cold frame, scattering seeds thinly and covering with 5 mm of fine compost; these hardy greens germinate reliably at 8–12 °C and will bulk up quickly once light improves. Mizuna and pak choi can follow the same treatment, spaced 10 cm apart once pricked out. Check overwintering Swiss chard and kale (‘Nero di Toscana’) for aphid colonies sheltering in the leaf axils — remove affected leaves and water the base with a diluted seaweed solution (5 ml per litre) to strengthen plant immunity. On heavy soils, avoid treading on beds; work from a plank to preserve soil structure.
INDOORS : A still winter morning is a good moment to assess your propagation setup. Prick out any aubergine (‘Listada de Gandia’) or pepper (‘Corno di Toro’) seedlings started in January into 7 cm pots filled with a peat-free multipurpose compost mixed with 20% perlite, handling each seedling by a leaf rather than the fragile stem. Feed young tomato seedlings (‘Costoluto Fiorentino’, ‘Tigerella’) with a half-strength balanced liquid fertiliser (2.5 ml per litre) to sustain growth without forcing leggy stems. Keep propagator temperatures steady at 18–20 °C and ensure trays sit away from cold draughts near windows.