VEGETABLE PATCH : Most of the day carries a leaf character — a good stretch for sowings and harvests before the evening shift. Under cover, try sorrel: seeds 1 cm deep, 3 cm apart in rows 30 cm wide; thin later to 25 cm. Watercress is worth a go in a shallow tray kept consistently moist — sow at 0.5 cm deep, seeds 2 cm apart in rows 20 cm. Coriander, often overlooked in autumn, germinates well under glass: 1 cm deep, seeds 3 cm apart, rows 30 cm. Harvest leek tops and any remaining artichoke leaves in the morning while they hold their freshness. A foliar spray of nettle tea on established sorrel and watercress mid-afternoon will give them a welcome boost ahead of colder nights.
LANDSCAPING : Before the evening transition to a fruit day, autumn bulb planting is still very much on the agenda. Tuck tulip bulbs 15 cm deep and 10 cm apart in well-drained beds — on heavier soils, slip a little grit beneath each bulb to guard against winter waterlogging. Daffodil bulbs go in at 15 cm; hyacinths at 12 cm. If you have bare spots in a hedge, now is a fine moment to plan which whips to order for November planting — hazel and blackcurrant both establish readily from autumn planting.
ORCHARD : After the evening sign change, the character shifts toward fruit — a brief but useful window for orchard planning. Note any quince tree or grapevine that needs attention: both can be planted in autumn once leaves have fallen, giving roots several weeks to settle before hard frost arrives.