VEGETABLE PATCH : This morning brings a brief fruit day before the sign shifts — a good window to finish harvesting any remaining celeriac from the ground, brushing off loose soil and storing roots in a cool, dark place packed in slightly damp sand. Once the sign changes, the day turns firmly root-oriented, and that momentum carries right through the afternoon. Use it well: plant onion sets 1 cm deep with tips just showing, spaced 10 cm apart in rows 25 cm wide, pressing each one in firmly so it grips the soil. Nearby, transplant leek seedlings into dibber holes 12 cm apart in rows 30 cm wide — drop each plant in, water generously and let the soil settle naturally without backfilling. Jerusalem artichoke tubers planted 10 cm deep and 50 cm apart now will quietly establish before winter closes in.
LANDSCAPING : The waning crescent sits low and the descending moon suits root work in ornamental beds too. Tuck crocus corms 8 cm deep in clusters of seven or nine for a natural look come spring — they reward the effort with a cheerful early show. Hydrangea bases will benefit from a fresh 5 cm layer of well-rotted compost, kept clear of the stems, to protect shallow roots from the first frosts. Heather planted now in acid, well-drained soil will anchor well before winter; water in with a full 5-litre bucket to settle the root ball.