VEGETABLE PATCH : A steady root day with a Waxing Crescent moon rising — good energy for getting root crops into the ground. Sow salsify 2 cm deep, seeds 3 cm apart, in rows 30 cm wide; they appreciate a deeply worked, stone-free bed. Follow with black radish at 1 cm deep, seeds 3 cm apart, rows 30 cm — a robust grower that stores well into autumn. Onion seeds go in at 1 cm deep, 2 cm apart, in rows 25 cm; in sandy soil they establish quickly and need little fuss. Where celeriac seedlings started under cover are ready, pot them on or thin to 2 cm apart in the tray — they need space to develop before planting out at 35 cm in the row.
LANDSCAPING : Chrysanthemum plants set out now will have time to establish before summer heat — plant from pots and pinch the leading shoot to encourage branching. Lavender appreciates a light trim of winter-damaged tips at this stage, without cutting into old wood. Check clematis stems for any that have dried back and cut cleanly to the first plump bud. In heavier soils, work a handful of grit around lavender crowns to improve drainage and keep roots healthy through wet spells.