VEGETABLE PATCH : Think of today as a root day — draw shallow drills 1 cm deep and sow carrot seeds 2 cm apart in rows 25 cm across; once seedlings are established, thin to 5 cm in the row. Black radish and turnip are equally at home: sow both 1 cm deep, seeds 3 cm apart, in rows 30 cm and 25 cm respectively. Thinning root seedlings already in the ground is also worth doing — give beetroot and parsnip the space they need, aiming for 10 cm between plants in the row.
LANDSCAPING : A root day suits crocus perfectly. Plant crocus corms 8 cm deep in well-drained soil, spacing them 8–10 cm apart in informal clusters for a natural look come spring. Daffodil bulbs can go in too, 15 cm deep, in a spot that will not be waterlogged over winter. Water newly placed bulbs gently to settle the soil around them.