LANDSCAPING : Fingers in the soil, you can feel autumn settling in — and the waxing gibbous moon in a flower day makes this a rewarding moment for ornamental plantings. Set out chrysanthemum plants from pots now, pinching any remaining soft shoot tips to encourage bushy growth. Heather establishes well this month: plant in acid, well-drained soil and trim lightly after flowering. Cyclamen tubers deserve a shaded corner — lay them almost at the surface in cool, humus-rich soil for delicate winter blooms. Crocus bulbs can go in now at 8 cm deep, spaced 8–10 cm apart in informal drifts under a tree or along a path.
VEGETABLE PATCH : A flower day suits cauliflower and broccoli perfectly. Sow cauliflower under cover at 1 cm deep, seeds 3 cm apart; transplant later at 60 cm in the row, rows 70 cm. Broccoli follows the same approach: 1 cm deep, 3 cm between seeds, then out at 50 cm spacing, rows 60 cm. In milder regions, leek plants can still go into prepared beds — set them 12 cm apart in rows 30 cm, dropping each into a dibber hole and watering in well.