VEGETABLE PATCH : The moon shifts into a root day for most of the day — a fine stretch to focus on underground crops. Sow carrots 1 cm deep, seeds 2 cm apart, in a light, stone-free bed; cover with fleece to keep the soil from crusting in autumn rain. Black radish goes in at 1 cm deep, seeds 3 cm apart — a robust winter keeper with a pleasantly sharp bite. Turnips are quick to germinate even now: sow 1 cm deep, seeds 3 cm apart, in rows 25 cm wide under a polytunnel. Beetroot appreciates a slightly richer soil: sow 2 cm deep, seeds 5 cm apart. In heavy or clay soils, work in a little sharp sand first to help young taproots push straight down without forking.
LANDSCAPING : Think of your ornamental bulbs while the root energy is high. Tulip bulbs go in 15 cm deep, 10 cm apart — press each one firmly so no air pocket sits beneath it. Daffodils can still be planted at 15 cm deep; a handful of grit at the base of each bulb helps in wetter spots. Hyacinths settle well at 12 cm deep, and their roots will quietly develop through the cold weeks ahead. A mulch of bark or leaf mould over the bed will regulate soil temperature and discourage mice from sniffing out your bulbs.