ORCHARD : The descending Waning Gibbous moon, still generously illuminated, suits careful orchard maintenance — and with a descending lunar node crossing at 07h52 (UTC), keep work observational and structural rather than invasive today. Walk your fruit trees and assess the framework: check ties on young trained espalier apple (Malus domestica) and pear (Pyrus communis) trees, replacing any cutting-in twine with soft rubber ties before winter winds cause bark constriction / Inspect quince (Cydonia oblonga) and medlar (Mespilus germanica) for signs of coral spot or canker — prune out affected wood cleanly with sterilised secateurs, cutting back to healthy tissue and sealing larger wounds with wound paste / On gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa) and red currant (Ribes rubrum) bushes, remove crossing or inward-facing branches to open the centre to airflow, a step that significantly reduces botrytis pressure come spring / In milder regions, check stored quince and late-keeping apple varieties such as ‘Calville Blanc’ or ‘Reinette Grise du Canada’ — remove any showing soft spots before they contaminate neighbours.
VEGETABLE PATCH : A quiet day to work methodically under cover. In the cold greenhouse or polytunnel, check overwintering kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica), Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera) and cavolo nero — strip away any yellowing lower leaves at the base with a clean blade to prevent grey mould from establishing / If you have trays of overwintering broad bean seedlings (Vicia faba ‘Aquadulce Claudia’) started in autumn, check root development through drainage holes and ensure they are not sitting in pooled water — roots starved of oxygen at this stage are slow to recover in spring / On sandy or free-draining soils, firm the soil around leek (Allium porrum) stems with your hands after any frost-heave, pressing gently to re-establish root contact with the ground.
INDOORS : Seed catalogues arriving this week deserve a closer look than a quick browse. Cross-reference your notes from last season and draw up a shortlist of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), climbing bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), courgette (Cucurbita pepo) and sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) varieties before stock runs short — popular heritage selections sell out by February / While you are at it, sort through last year’s saved seeds: test viability of stored cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and melon (Cucumis melo) by placing 10 seeds on damp kitchen paper at room temperature for 5 days; a germination rate below 50% signals you should order fresh stock.