VEGETABLE PATCH : Before the morning sign change, a brief fruit day opens the session — check stored apples and pears for soft spots, removing any suspect fruit before rot spreads to neighbours. After the sign change, the day settles into root day energy for the rest of the afternoon, and that is where the real work begins. Under cover or in a cold frame, sow carrots 1 cm deep with seeds 2 cm apart in rows 25 cm apart — a fleece layer over the tray will hold just enough warmth to coax germination in these short days. Radish can follow in the same session: sow 1 cm deep, seeds 2 cm apart, rows 15 cm. Beetroot is another solid choice — push seeds 2 cm deep, 5 cm apart, in rows 30 cm. In sandy or well-drained soil, parsnip rewards an early indoor sowing: 1 cm deep, seeds 3 cm apart, rows 30 cm.
LANDSCAPING : Dig your fingers into the soil near a rose or currant bush — if it feels open and crumbly, it will accept bare-root planting well. December suits blackcurrant cuttings too: cut healthy stems of 20–25 cm, push two-thirds into loose, moist soil and mark them clearly. A mulch of well-rotted compost around the base of hazel or quince tree planted this autumn will protect roots from the first hard frosts and feed the soil slowly through winter.
INDOORS : Lemon tree in a pot deserves a careful check now — water sparingly, only when the top 3 cm of compost feels dry, and keep it in a frost-free, bright spot. Wipe the leaves gently with a damp cloth to clear dust and help the plant make the most of the low winter light.