VEGETABLE PATCH : Fresh soil, cool hands — a leaf day calls for leafy crops. Sow spinach directly where it will grow: push seeds 2 cm deep, spacing them 3 cm apart in rows 30 cm wide. Rocket follows the same logic at just 0.5 cm deep, seeds 2 cm apart in rows 20 cm — both will germinate quickly in the mild May soil. Swiss chard deserves a little more room: sow 2 cm deep, seeds 5 cm apart, in rows 40 cm, then thin later to 35 cm. Under cover, start celery modules now: barely 0.3 cm deep, seeds 2 cm apart, kept warm and bright until planting out at 30 cm in the row. A foliar spray of diluted nettle tea across young cabbage and chives seedlings will give them a gentle nitrogen boost right when they need it.
INDOORS : Herbs on the windowsill appreciate a leaf day too. Pinch yellowing leaves from potted chervil and coriander to improve airflow and redirect energy into fresh growth. A light misting of horsetail decoction on basil trays helps ward off early fungal pressure — keep the leaves dry by evening. Parsley sown in a deep pot, 1 cm deep with seeds 2 cm apart, will establish steadily on a bright, south-facing sill.