VEGETABLE PATCH : A leaf day under the descending moon — the kind of morning that calls for sowing rather than waiting. Direct-sow Swiss chard (‘Bright Lights’, ‘Fordhook Giant’) in rows 30 cm apart at 2 cm deep, thinning to 20 cm once seedlings are established; the descending phase encourages energy to settle into the root zone, giving transplants and freshly sown seeds a steadier start / Sow pak choi (‘Joi Choi’, ‘Canton White’) in modules under cover, 2–3 seeds per cell at 1 cm deep — germination is quick at 15–18 °C and seedlings will be ready to plant out in 3–4 weeks / Transplant young celery or celeriac seedlings started in February, spacing them 30–35 cm apart in moisture-retentive, well-enriched soil; water in gently with a fine rose and firm around each crown / In Mediterranean climates or under a polytunnel, sow a second cut-and-come-again row of ‘Lollo Rossa’ or ‘Freckles’ lettuce at 0.5 cm deep — harvesting outer leaves regularly keeps the plant productive for weeks.
INDOORS : Basil seedlings sown last week may be showing their first true leaves — check trays on a bright windowsill and thin to one seedling per cell, snipping surplus plants at soil level rather than pulling, to avoid disturbing neighbours / Pot on young parsley and chervil into 10 cm pots using a mix of two parts multipurpose compost to one part coarse grit; this balance keeps moisture available without waterlogging, which parsley roots resent / Keep spinach and sorrel seedlings on the cooler side of the house (12–15 °C) to slow leggy growth and build sturdier stems before hardening off outdoors.
ORCHARD : Mulberry and fig trees are just breaking dormancy — check the base of each trunk for suckers and remove them cleanly with a sharp knife at soil level to concentrate the tree’s energy into the main canopy / Where gooseberry or redcurrant bushes show new leaf growth, hoe shallowly between rows (no deeper than 3 cm) to disturb overwintering sawfly pupae in the top layer of soil — a simple mechanical step that reduces pest pressure without any spray.