ORCHARD : The Waxing Crescent rises quietly after yesterday’s New Moon — ascending sap is already stirring, directing energy toward fruiting wood and buds. Inspect dormant apple (Malus domestica), pear (Pyrus communis) and quince (Cydonia oblonga) trees for signs of canker: scrape back any sunken, discoloured bark with a clean knife, then seal the wound with a copper-based paste to prevent spore spread over winter / Prune out crossing branches on established plum (Prunus domestica) trees, keeping cuts at a 45° angle just above an outward-facing bud — ascending sap will encourage strong callus formation / In mild-climate gardens, apply a thick layer of well-rotted compost (5–8 cm) around the base of fig (Ficus carica) trees, staying 10 cm clear of the trunk to avoid collar rot; this slowly releases nutrients as temperatures rise / Check stored quince and medlar (Mespilus germanica) fruits: remove any showing soft spots before they contaminate neighbours.
VEGETABLE PATCH : A sharp morning frost often leaves the soil surface crumbly and workable once it thaws — worth watching. Harvest any remaining outdoor leeks (Allium porrum) before the ground freezes solid, cutting at soil level and storing upright in a cool shed / Top-dress overwintered garlic (Allium sativum) rows with a thin scatter of wood ash (one small handful per metre) to supply potassium and discourage onion fly larvae in the soil / Under cover, sow radish (Raphanus sativus ‘French Breakfast’) in a heated propagator at 15°C, pressing seeds 1 cm deep in rows 10 cm apart — they’ll germinate in 5–7 days and crop within three weeks, bridging the winter gap / In Mediterranean or mild-coastal plots, direct-sow broad beans (Vicia faba ‘Aquadulce Claudia’) 5 cm deep, 20 cm apart: the ascending moon supports root anchoring and early shoot development.
INDOORS : Windowsill strawberry runners (Fragaria × ananassa) potted up in autumn are worth checking now — remove any yellowing leaves and water sparingly to prevent crown rot in the low-light weeks ahead / Pot on young citrus plants (lemon, Citrus limon; kumquat, Fortunella japonica) into containers one size larger, using a free-draining citrus compost mix; the ascending moon encourages uptake of nutrients through newly active roots / Inspect stored dahlia (Dahlia) tubers and canna (Canna) rhizomes: dust any dry rot patches with powdered sulphur and return to a frost-free, ventilated space at 5–8°C.