VEGETABLE PATCH : The descending Waxing Crescent settles energy into leaves today — a reliable cue to focus on leafy crops that thrive with this kind of quiet, steady support. Transplant winter lettuce seedlings (‘Valdor’, ‘Arctic King’, ‘Rouge d’Hiver’) at 25 cm spacing into a sheltered bed, firming the soil gently around each collar to eliminate air pockets / Direct-sow corn salad (mâche) at 0.5 cm depth in rows 10 cm apart — its cold-hardiness makes it one of autumn’s most forgiving choices, and you’ll be harvesting tender rosettes well into December / Under a cold frame or cloche, sow mizuna and mustard greens (‘Red Frills’, ‘Golden Streaks’) thinly in short rows; the protection bumps germination rates significantly when nights begin to dip / In heavier soils, work a light dressing of sharp sand into the seedbed before sowing to improve drainage and prevent damping-off over the wetter months ahead.
INDOORS : A handful of herbs worth saving before the first frost — pot up a few stems of basil (‘Genovese’, ‘Purple Ruffles’) into 12 cm pots using a free-draining compost mix, and move them to a bright, draught-free windowsill / Divide a clump of chives and re-pot into a 15 cm container; kept at 15–18 °C, they’ll keep producing fresh growth through autumn / Check stored onions and shallots today — firm them up by removing any with soft spots before rot spreads to neighbouring bulbs / Parsley (‘Gigante d’Italia’, ‘Moss Curled’) lifted and potted now will extend your harvest indoors by six to eight weeks.