VEGETABLE PATCH : The descending moon keeps energy close to the ground — a steady, grounded day that suits leafy crops particularly well. Sow lamb’s lettuce (Valerianella locusta ‘Verte de Cambrai’) in shallow drills 1 cm deep, rows 15 cm apart; thin to 8 cm once seedlings establish for sturdy, dense rosettes / Direct-sow winter purslane (Claytonia perfoliata) in a sheltered bed or cold frame, scattering seed thinly over raked soil and covering with no more than 0.5 cm of compost — its succulent leaves will be ready to harvest from December onwards / Transplant chicory (Cichorium intybus ‘Pain de Sucre’) heads at 30 cm spacing; firm the soil around each plant with your knuckles and water in well, as good root-to-soil contact accelerates establishment before cold sets in / In mild or Mediterranean gardens, set out young kale (Brassica oleracea ‘Nero di Toscana’) plants at 45 cm intervals — their dark, crinkled leaves will keep producing well into winter with minimal attention.
INDOORS : A damp morning is a good reminder to check on tender plants brought under cover. Inspect pots of basil (Ocimum basilicum) and lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) for signs of grey mould at the base; remove any yellowing leaves with clean scissors and ensure good air circulation between pots — stagnant air is their worst enemy at this time of year / Water indoor herbs such as chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) and flat-leaf parsley (Petroselinum crispum) sparingly, only when the top 2 cm of compost feels dry to the touch; overwatering in low-light conditions leads to root rot far faster than neglect / If you have pots of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla ‘Bright Lights’) growing on a windowsill or in a cool greenhouse, pinch off the outer leaves at the stem base to encourage a continuous flush of fresh growth through autumn.