VEGETABLE PATCH : A root day under the descending Last Quarter moon — good conditions for practical underground work. Leeks still standing in the bed can be harvested now; twist gently and trim the roots before bringing them inside. If you have stored turnips or swede in a crate, check each one and remove any soft spots to protect the rest. Onion sets can go in where the ground is not frozen — push each bulb just below soil level, 10 cm apart in rows 25 cm wide, then firm the soil around them.
ORCHARD : Bare-root quince trees and hazel are worth planting out while the ground remains workable — dig a generous hole, spread the roots without bending them, and backfill in stages. Hazel benefits from a 5 cm mulch of wood chips around the base to retain moisture through the cold weeks ahead. A quiet walk through the orchard is also a fine moment to spot any crossing branches on apple or pear trees and mark them for attention in late winter.