VEGETABLE PATCH : A root day with the waxing gibbous moon almost full — the soil is quietly charged and ready for work under cover. Sow turnips at 1 cm deep, seeds 3 cm apart in trays or a cold frame kept above 5 °C; their peppery bite is worth the patience. Parsnip follows the same depth, seeds 3 cm apart — a slow starter, but the sweetness that develops after frost is unmatched. Sow beetroot at 2 cm deep, seeds 5 cm apart; a module tray on a cool windowsill works well in midwinter. On sandy or free-draining soils, try skirret under cover at 1 cm deep, seeds 3 cm apart — an old-fashioned root that earns its place.
LANDSCAPING : Snowdrops planted now at 8 cm deep will push through in just a few weeks — tuck them into a sheltered corner where you can enjoy them from a path. Hellebores appreciate a light top-dressing of leaf mould around the crown; avoid burying the growing tips. Camellia and rhododendron roots benefit from a 5 cm mulch of ericaceous compost laid over the surface without digging in.