VEGETABLE PATCH : Before 14h39 (UTC), a root day under the descending waning gibbous moon — underground energy is concentrated and the soil receptive. Sow black salsify (‘Duplex’) and long-rooted radish (‘Gaudry’) in deep module trays (minimum 12 cm), pressing seeds 8–10 mm deep into gritty, pre-moistened compost; keep at 12–15 °C for steady germination. Swede (‘Marian’) and kohlrabi (‘Superschmelz’) can follow the same treatment in separate trays, spacing rows 10 cm apart once pricked out. Under a cold frame or polytunnel, check overwintering leeks (‘Bleu de Solaise’) and parsley roots at soil level — remove any soft or rotting material and top-dress with a thin layer of well-aged compost to maintain soil structure. On sandy soils, water module trays with a fine rose to avoid displacing seeds; on heavy clay, ensure trays drain freely to prevent damping off. / After 14h39 (UTC), the moon shifts to a flower day — a welcome change worth acting on before dusk. Sow sweet peas (‘Matucana’ or ‘Cupani’) in tall root trainers filled with a peat-free seed compost, placing one seed per cell at 2 cm depth; pinch the growing tip once two pairs of leaves appear to encourage branching. Under glass, pot on any wallflower (‘Bowles Mauve’) seedlings started last autumn into 9 cm pots using a loam-based compost.
ORCHARD : Verify the condition of any dormant grafts or cuttings stored over winter — fig, quince, and medlar cuttings held in damp sand should show no sign of mould; dust affected sections lightly with powdered sulphur and return them to cool storage. If bare-root gooseberry and redcurrant bushes are still awaiting planting, heel them into a sheltered corner of the garden to prevent root desiccation until conditions improve.
INDOORS : Check on chitted potato tubers (‘Charlotte’ or ‘Rocket’) placed in egg boxes near a bright window — chits should be short, green, and sturdy (no more than 2 cm); discard any tubers showing soft spots. Amaryllis bulbs that have finished flowering can be cut back to 5 cm above the bulb, then fed with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength to rebuild energy for next season.