VEGETABLE PATCH : Before 22h40 (UTC), the ascending Waxing Gibbous moon favours root crops — a solid window to get things done in the ground. Sow black radishes (Raphanus sativus ‘Black Spanish Round’) and winter radishes (‘Noir Long de Paris’) in drills 1.5 cm deep, 20 cm between rows, pressing the soil firmly to ensure contact / Plant out celeriac (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum ‘Monarch’, ‘Prinz’) sets 30–35 cm apart; water in with a full watering can and mulch lightly with straw to retain soil warmth / Fork up remaining parsnips (Pastinaca sativa ‘Tender and True’, ‘Javelin’) that have reached 25–30 cm length, taking care not to snap the taproot; a light frost actually sweetens them, so those still in the ground can wait / On heavier soils, incorporate a handful of coarse horticultural grit per planting hole before setting celeriac — drainage around the crown prevents collar rot through autumn rains.
LANDSCAPING : After 22h40 (UTC), the moon shifts to a flower day — a gentle transition worth using even late in the evening if you’re still outdoors. Deadhead dahlias (‘Bishop of Llandaff’, ‘Café au Lait’) by cutting spent stems back to the first healthy lateral bud; this channels energy into tuber development rather than seed set / Trim back faded echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) and rudbeckia stems to 10 cm above ground level, leaving a short stub to mark their position through winter / Divide and replant overgrown clumps of Michaelmas daisies (Aster amellus, Symphyotrichum novi-belgii) — split with two forks back-to-back, retaining only the vigorous outer sections, and replant at 40 cm spacing with a good handful of compost worked into the base of each hole.
INDOORS : Yesterday I noticed the first dahlia tubers lifted from a friend’s garden were already showing soft spots where soil had clung in clumps — a good reminder to act now. Lift tender bulbs and tubers (begonias, cannas, gladioli) before night temperatures drop below 5 °C; shake off excess soil, allow to dry on a slatted rack for 48 hours, then pack in trays of dry vermiculite or wood shavings in a frost-free shed (minimum 5 °C) / Check stored amaryllis (Hippeastrum) bulbs for any signs of mould; wipe clean with a dry cloth and set aside in a cool, dark spot at 12–15 °C to encourage dormancy before forcing in November.