ORCHARD : Last Quarter passed just after midnight — a fine moment to focus on fruiting trees and soft fruit. Check grapevines carefully: if you spot any loose ties or wayward shoots, reattach them now to guide the season’s growth. Fig trees planted in a warm, sheltered corner can be given a light tidy — remove any frost-damaged tips cleanly with sharp secateurs. Kiwi plants benefit from a check of their supports; firm up any loose wires before vigorous spring growth makes the job harder. Spread a 5 cm layer of well-rotted compost around the base of cherry trees and plum trees, keeping it clear of the trunk to avoid rot.
VEGETABLE PATCH : A fruit day under a waning moon is exactly what cucumber and melon need for a confident start under cover. Sow cucumber seeds 2 cm deep, 5 cm apart in modules or trays and set them in a propagator at 20–24 °C — warmth is the key to quick, even germination. Melon seeds go in at the same depth and spacing; they appreciate a little extra warmth, so a heated mat works well if you have one. Broad beans already in the ground can be checked and earthed up lightly if recent winds have loosened them.
LANDSCAPING : Roses still have a little time for bare-root planting before new growth takes hold — work the soil well, add compost at the base, and position the graft union just at soil level. Wisteria on a sunny wall can be checked: shorten any long whippy shoots to two or three buds to keep the framework tight and encourage flowering spurs.