VEGETABLE PATCH : A waning gibbous moon on a leaf day — the descending moon draws energy toward foliage and shoot development, making this a reliable window for transplanting and sowing leafy crops. Set out young spinach (Spinacia oleracea ‘Matador’, ‘Monstrueux de Viroflay’) in rows 30 cm apart, plants spaced 15 cm within the row, pressing each rootball snugly into moist, well-worked soil; water in with 400 ml per plant to close any air pockets around the roots / Direct-sow Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris ‘Bright Lights’, ‘Fordhook Giant’) in drills 40 cm apart, seeds 2 cm deep and thinned to 20 cm once the first true leaves appear — chard’s broad leaf canopy benefits from that generous spacing to limit fungal pressure / Transplant pak choi (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis ‘Joi Choi’, ‘Canton White’) and tatsoi seedlings raised under cover, spacing 25 cm apart; in heavy soils, raise the bed slightly or work in a handful of grit to prevent collar rot / Sow a short row of cutting celery (Apium graveolens ‘Amsterdam’) in a shallow drill, 0.5 cm deep — scatter seeds thinly and thin to 15 cm; its fine leaves add flavour to soups long before a full head of celery would be ready.
INDOORS : On the windowsill or under glass, the descending moon supports pricking out and potting on of young seedlings rather than fresh sowing. Pot on basil (Ocimum basilicum ‘Genovese’, ‘Purple Ruffles’) from module trays into 10 cm pots using a peat-free multipurpose compost, burying the stem 1 cm deeper than before to encourage a stockier plant / Move on young sorrel (Rumex acetosa) and Vietnamese coriander (Persicaria odorata) into 12 cm pots — both appreciate a moisture-retentive mix and will reward you with tender, aromatic leaves within a fortnight / Check lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) and mint (Mentha spicata, M. piperita) cuttings taken last week: if roots are visible at the drainage holes, step up into 9 cm pots before roots circle and stress the plant.