VEGETABLE PATCH : The soil still holds a little morning coolness — run your fingers through it before reaching for the seed packets. Sow radish (‘French Breakfast’, ‘Sparkler’) directly in rows 15 cm apart at 1 cm deep, thinning to 5 cm once germinated; their rapid cycle makes them ideal companions between slower root crops / Direct-sow kohlrabi (‘Kolibri’, ‘White Vienna’) at 1.5 cm deep in rows 30 cm apart, thinning to 20 cm — the swollen stem is technically a modified root zone and responds well to descending moon conditions / Prepare a fine, firm seedbed for black salsify (‘Duplex’) or Hamburg radish: both appreciate a deeply loosened bed worked to at least 25 cm with a border fork to allow straight, unobstructed growth / Hoe shallowly between established rows of carrot (‘Nantes 2’, ‘Chantenay Red Core’) and parsnip — a 3–4 cm pass disrupts weed seedlings without disturbing developing roots below / In Mediterranean gardens or on sandy soils, consider sowing a second succession of early beetroot (‘Albina Vereduna’, ‘Forono’) at 2 cm deep, spacing clusters 12 cm apart to maintain steady harvests through May.
ORCHARD : A waning gibbous moon in its descending phase draws sap toward the root zone, making this a steady moment for orchard soil work rather than pruning. Spread a 6–8 cm layer of composted bark mulch around the base of quince, medlar, or young pear trees, keeping it 10 cm clear of the trunk to avoid collar rot / Apply a balanced granular fertiliser (NPK 5-5-5 or similar) at 50–60 g/m² around established gooseberry and redcurrant bushes, scratching it in lightly with a hand cultivator — this supports strong root uptake as the plants channel energy downward / Check the base of plum and damson trees for any suckers emerging from the rootstock; pull them off cleanly at their point of origin rather than cutting, which encourages regrowth.