VEGETABLE PATCH : A root day with a waxing moon — a strong moment for underground crops. Under cover or in a cold frame, sow black radish 1 cm deep with seeds 3 cm apart, and tuberous chervil at the same depth. Carrot seeds can go in under fleece: 1 cm deep, seeds 2 cm apart in rows 25 cm wide. Water gently after sowing to settle seeds without compacting the surface.
LANDSCAPING : Autumn bulb planting suits a root day well. Tuck crocus corms 8 cm deep and hyacinth bulbs 12 cm down while the soil still holds a little warmth. Tulip bulbs go in at 15 cm, spaced 10 cm apart; daffodils at 15 cm in a well-drained spot. A handful of grit beneath each bulb on heavy soils helps prevent winter rot.
ORCHARD : Any remaining hazelnuts or walnuts on the ground should be gathered before damp sets in. Quince trees can be planted now in a sheltered, sunny position; currant bushes and blackcurrants go in 1.2 m apart, giving roots time to anchor before hard frosts arrive.