LANDSCAPING : Damp autumn air and a flower day — a fine combination for ornamental planting. Tuck tulip bulbs 15 cm deep and 10 cm apart in a well-drained bed; on heavy soils, drop a pinch of coarse grit beneath each one to prevent winter waterlogging. Hyacinth bulbs go in at 12 cm, crocus corms at 8 cm — interplanting them creates a staggered spring display. Chrysanthemums still performing deserve a gentle once-over: snip spent stems cleanly above a leaf node to keep the flush going a little longer.
VEGETABLE PATCH : Flower days suit cauliflower and broccoli well — both produce generous flowering heads. Check spacing on transplants started under cover: cauliflower needs 60 cm between plants in rows 70 cm apart, broccoli 50 cm with rows 60 cm. Firm the soil around each stem with your knuckles, then water in gently to close air pockets around the roots. Artichoke crowns still in the ground benefit from a light tidy — remove yellowing outer leaves and mulch the base with 5 cm of straw against early frosts.