VEGETABLE PATCH : New Moon at 15h50 (UTC) — the sky is dark, the soil quietly receptive, and root crops are exactly where the energy wants to settle today. Sow overwintering scorzonera (Scorzonera hispanica) directly in place, 1 cm deep, in rows 30 cm apart with seeds spaced 10 cm apart; they’ll bulk up slowly through the cold months and deliver tender, nutty roots by late winter / Lift the last celeriac (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum ‘Monarch’) before the ground hardens: trim the roots to 5 cm, remove outer leaves, and store in slightly damp sand in a frost-free shed at 3–5 °C — this keeps the flesh firm and prevents hollow centres / Divide and replant skirret (Sium sisarum) clumps now, setting divisions 20 cm apart at 10 cm depth; the descending moon encourages anchoring rather than top growth, which is exactly what transplants need at this stage / On heavier soils, work in a 5 cm layer of well-rotted compost around turnip (Brassica rapa ‘Purple Top Milan’) and swede (Brassica napus ‘Marian’) rows to improve drainage before winter rains compact the surface.
ORCHARD : Check stored quinces (Cydonia oblonga) laid on slatted trays — their heady fragrance fills the store when they’re at their best, but any soft spot spreads fast, so remove blemished fruits straight away / Under the new moon, roots absorb well: plant bare-root crab apple (Malus ‘John Downie’) and medlar (Mespilus germanica) whips now, digging holes 40 cm wide and 30 cm deep, mixing in a handful of bone meal at the base to encourage root establishment before the first hard frost / Inspect the bark of young pear (Pyrus communis ‘Conference’, ‘Williams’) trees for signs of canker — clean affected areas with a sharp knife, cutting back to healthy wood, and seal with wound paste to prevent fungal entry over winter.
LANDSCAPING : Autumn-planted bulbs anchor themselves best under a descending moon, so get tulip (Tulipa ‘Queen of Night’, ‘Apeldoorn’) and allium (Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’) bulbs into the ground today: plant tulips 15 cm deep and 12 cm apart, alliums 10 cm deep and 15 cm apart, in well-drained soil amended with coarse grit on heavy ground / Divide ornamental grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis and Pennisetum alopecuroides that have outgrown their space — split clumps with two forks back-to-back and replant sections immediately, watering in with 5 litres per division to settle the roots / In Mediterranean climates or sheltered spots, this is a reliable window to set out wallflower (Erysimum cheiri) transplants for spring colour: space them 25 cm apart and firm the soil well around the roots.