VEGETABLE PATCH : Firm soil underfoot, a thin waxing crescent above — a root day invites you to focus below the surface. Under cover, drop beetroot seeds 2 cm deep with 5 cm between seeds in a tray of loose compost / Black salsify rewards patient gardeners: sow 2 cm deep, seeds 3 cm apart, in deep stone-free soil / Harvest black radish or celeriac still in the ground — roots pulled on a root day have better keeping quality and firmer texture.
LANDSCAPING : Check on hellebores sheltered beneath walls — clear away yellowing leaves at the base to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure / A light top-dressing of pine bark mulch around heather locks in moisture without smothering the crown.
ORCHARD : Quince trees and hazel benefit from a winter inspection: note any crossing branches before pruning season arrives / Mulch currant bushes and blackcurrants now with a 5 cm layer of well-rotted compost to feed roots through the cold weeks ahead.