VEGETABLE PATCH : Frost still biting? That’s no reason to stand idle — a leaf day suits leafy crops perfectly under cover. Transplant kale seedlings from trays, spacing them 50 cm apart in rows 60 cm wide, firming the soil well around each stem / Corn salad can be planted out in a sheltered row, 5 cm apart with 20 cm between rows; it handles frost well and gives reliable winter harvests / Settle chicory plants into the patch 30 cm apart in rows 35 cm wide — they’ll bulk up nicely before spring.
LANDSCAPING : Trim box hedges lightly to tidy winter growth before new shoots appear — work with clean, sharp shears and remove no more than a few centimetres / Hydrangeas will benefit from removing spent flowerheads; cut just above the first healthy pair of buds and top-dress the base with a 5 cm layer of compost / Lay a mulch of bark chips around camellia roots to protect from lingering ground frost and retain moisture.
INDOORS : Lemon trees overwintering under cover need a careful check now — water sparingly only when the top 3 cm of compost feels dry, and wipe leaves with a damp cloth to remove dust and discourage scale insects.