VEGETABLE PATCH : Before the evening sign change, the descending waning gibbous moon holds a root day — firm, steady energy for soil work and planting / Tuck potato tubers into pre-warmed beds: chit them first on a bright windowsill, then set them 10 cm deep, 35 cm apart in rows 70 cm wide — the extra row width makes hilling up much easier later / Beetroot clusters can be pressed into loosened soil 2 cm deep, spacing clusters 5 cm apart; thin to 10 cm once the first true leaves appear / Chinese artichoke tubers are still available in specialist nurseries and worth planting before the ground firms up — set them 10 cm deep in a well-drained corner / Turnips appreciate a fine, crumbly seedbed: work in a little compost and firm gently before placing the young plants / Celeriac started under cover earlier this month benefits from being potted on into individual modules now, giving roots room to develop before planting out.
LANDSCAPING : After the evening sign change, the moon shifts to a flower day — a good moment to check on hellebores and winter jasmine / Hellebores in bloom appreciate a thin mulch of leaf mould around the base to keep roots cool and moist; avoid disturbing the crown / Bare-root roses still waiting in the garage can go in before the end of the month — dig a generous hole, work in compost, and set the bud union just at soil level, firming well / Trim winter jasmine stems that have finished flowering and tie in any new whippy growth to keep the framework tidy.