Before the change (morning), fruit day :
ORCHARD : The early hours carry good fruit-day energy — worth seizing if you’re an early riser. Check your apple and pear trees for any crossing or damaged branches and remove them cleanly with a sharp saw; a tidy framework now means better light distribution come summer / Currant bushes and blackcurrant plants can be lightly shaped, removing weak stems at the base and keeping five or six strong uprights / On a waxing gibbous moon, the sap is rising steadily, which makes this a good moment to inspect grafted trees for any signs of dieback around the union.
After the change, root day :
VEGETABLE PATCH : Once the day shifts to root energy, the vegetable patch takes centre stage. Under cover, sow carrot seeds 1 cm deep, spacing seeds 2 cm apart in rows 25 cm apart — they will germinate slowly in January warmth and be ready to thin to 5 cm once the seedlings are established / Black radish is another excellent candidate: sow 1 cm deep, seeds 3 cm apart, rows 30 cm apart; these sturdy roots store well and add real bite to winter salads / Parsnip seed can be started under glass now, 1 cm deep, 3 cm apart — germination is slow, so sowing early gives you a head start / If you have a cloche free in the garden, garlic cloves pushed 3 cm deep, tip up, 12 cm apart, will quietly settle in through the cold weeks ahead.