ORCHARD : A waxing crescent climbing steadily — sap is on the move, and fruit trees are ready to respond. Finish harvesting any remaining late-season apples (Malus domestica ‘Reinette Grise du Canada’, ‘Blenheim Orange’) before night temperatures dip below 4 °C; twist each fruit gently upward rather than pulling to avoid tearing the spur / Check stored pears (Pyrus communis ‘Conférence’, ‘Williams’) for firmness — any that yield slightly to thumb pressure near the stalk are ready to eat; remove them from storage before they turn mealy / On fig trees (Ficus carica), cut back any frost-damaged or crossing shoots to a clean lateral bud; in Mediterranean climates, leave the embryo figs (bourrons) intact as they will develop next spring / Scatter a balanced organic fertiliser (around 80 g/m²) in a ring beneath quince (Cydonia oblonga) and medlar (Mespilus germanica) trees, keeping it 20 cm clear of the trunk; the rising moon encourages nutrient uptake toward fruiting wood before dormancy sets in.
VEGETABLE PATCH : Autumn tomatoes still clinging to the vine deserve one last push. Gather any remaining outdoor tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Marmande’, ‘Black Krim’) — even those showing a blush of colour will ripen perfectly indoors on a warm windowsill, away from direct light / If you have a polytunnel or cold greenhouse, sow a final row of winter radish (Raphanus sativus ‘Black Spanish Round’) at 1 cm depth, rows 20 cm apart; they bulk up quickly and store well in sand through December / Harvest the last outdoor aubergines (Solanum melongena) and sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum) before any forecast frost; slice and dry thin rounds of pepper in a low oven (60 °C, 4–5 hours) for a simple winter store / Clear spent tomato and courgette (Cucurbita pepo) plants completely, roots included, to prevent overwintering of blight spores — add healthy material to the compost heap in layers with dry leaves.
LANDSCAPING : Ornamental crab apples (Malus ‘Evereste’, ‘Red Sentinel’) are at their most vivid right now — a good moment to assess which shrubs earn their space through autumn. Plant bare-root dog rose (Rosa canina) and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) hedging whips at 30–40 cm spacing; the ascending moon supports root development, helping new plants anchor before the ground hardens / Divide and replant overgrown clumps of Michaelmas daisy (Aster amellus) and helenium, spacing divisions 40 cm apart in refreshed, compost-enriched soil — this reinvigorates flowering for next autumn / Deadhead the last cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) and collect seed heads from dry, papery specimens; store in labelled paper envelopes in a cool, dry place for sowing next May.