ORCHARD : A fruit day that rewards careful hands in the orchard. Plant a quince tree or a cherry tree now while the soil still holds warmth: dig a generous hole, loosen the base with a fork, and settle the root ball so the union sits just above soil level. Water in with a full 10-litre bucket. Nearby, take soft-fruit cuttings from currant bush or blackcurrant — cut 20 cm sections of healthy new wood just below a bud, remove lower leaves, and push them 10 cm into a sandy mix in a sheltered spot. Add a 5 cm layer of well-rotted compost around a grapevine base, keeping it clear of the trunk, to feed roots quietly through autumn.
VEGETABLE PATCH : Move any remaining squash or pumpkin plants still in pots into their final positions: 100 cm apart in the row for squash, 120 cm for pumpkin, with a shovelful of compost worked into each planting hole. In warmer corners, tuck strawberry runners into the ground at 30 cm spacing, crown flush with the surface.
LANDSCAPING : A rose planted this week will quietly establish roots before winter dormancy sets in. Choose a sunny, well-drained spot, loosen the subsoil and mix in compost before placing the root ball. Crocus bulbs can go in alongside border edges — 8 cm deep, grouped in natural-looking clusters for a cheerful early-spring display.