VEGETABLE PATCH : The Last Quarter passed early this morning — the descending moon now settles into a steady leaf day, well suited to nurturing leafy crops under cover / Transplant lettuce seedlings started in trays: set them 25 cm apart in rows 30 cm wide, firming soil gently around each root ball — cool temperatures help them establish without bolting / Chicory transplants can go into a sheltered cold frame now, spaced 30 cm apart in rows 35 cm wide; the slight chill actually sweetens the leaves / Sorrel is worth tucking into a corner of the polytunnel or cold frame: plant out at 25 cm in the row, rows 30 cm apart — it will provide early pickings for weeks / In heavier soils, work in a 3–4 cm layer of mature compost before planting to improve drainage and feed soil biology
LANDSCAPING : Camellia and rhododendron look their best when their root zone is well protected — top up any mulch that has thinned over winter with 5–8 cm of composted bark, keeping it clear of the stem / Winter jasmine that has finished flowering can be pruned back now: shorten flowered shoots to two or three buds from the base and tie remaining stems to their support / Snowdrop clumps lifted and divided “in the green” — roots still intact — establish far more reliably than dry bulbs; replant immediately at 8 cm depth, 10 cm apart in a cool, lightly shaded spot
INDOORS : Lemon trees and oleanders overwintering under glass will appreciate a light wipe of their leaves with a damp cloth — dust accumulates through winter and reduces the plant’s ability to make the most of the strengthening light / Check drainage holes on citrus pots: compacted roots can block them, leading to waterlogging that weakens the plant through spring.