INDOORS : A leaf day under the descending Waning Crescent — sap moves quietly downward, concentrating energy in foliage tissues and making this a particularly productive moment for indoor greens. Sow kale (‘Nero di Toscana’, ‘Red Russian’) in 7 cm modules filled with peat-free multipurpose compost, pressing seeds 5 mm deep and keeping trays at 15–18 °C for germination within 5–7 days / Pot on young lettuce seedlings (‘Merveille des Quatre Saisons’, ‘Winter Density’) into 9 cm pots once roots show at the base — a 50/50 mix of multipurpose and perlite keeps drainage sharp and reduces damping off / Check overwintering endive (‘Cornet de Bordeaux’) and mâche (corn salad) under glass: remove yellowing outer leaves cleanly with scissors, then water sparingly at the base to avoid crown rot / In a Mediterranean climate or heated greenhouse, you can sow a first tray of basil (‘Genovese’) at 20 °C — a small early gamble that pays off by April.
VEGETABLE PATCH : Frosty mornings are still very much on the cards, so focus on soil preparation rather than direct sowing outdoors. Work a 3–4 cm layer of well-rotted manure into beds earmarked for brassicas — Brussels sprouts (‘Trafalgar’), spring cabbage (‘Hispi’) — using a border fork to incorporate it 15 cm deep without disturbing soil structure / If you have a cold frame free, rake a fine seedbed and sow a short row of early turnip (‘Milan Purple Top’) 1 cm deep, 10 cm between rows; the descending moon suits root-adjacent leaf crops well / Inspect any overwintering chard (‘Perpetual Spinach’) and remove damaged stems at ground level to prevent botrytis spreading into the crown as temperatures begin to fluctuate / On heavy soils, avoid walking on beds; lay a plank to distribute weight and protect the structure you have built up over winter.
LANDSCAPING : Yesterday’s ornamental work may have left some beds tidied — today, turn attention to climbing and wall-trained plants. Tie in new shoots of winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) loosely with soft twine before they thicken and become brittle / Trim back any wind-damaged stems on Garrya elliptica and Clematis cirrhosa, cutting just above a healthy bud with clean secateurs / Spread a 5 cm mulch of composted bark around the base of Camellia japonica and Skimmia japonica, keeping it 10 cm clear of the stems — this retains soil moisture and moderates root temperature through the remaining cold weeks / If snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) are finishing their display, divide congested clumps now while still ‘in the green’, replanting at 8–10 cm depth and 10 cm spacing in humus-rich, lightly shaded soil for stronger flowering next year.