ORCHARD : The ascending Last Quarter moon at 54% illumination is a dependable ally for fruit development — ascending energy pushes vitality upward into branches and swelling buds. Train the new lateral shoots of fan-trained peach (Prunus persica) and nectarine (Prunus persica var. nucipersica) against their supports now, pinching out any shoots growing directly toward or away from the wall at 5–6 leaves / On apple (Malus domestica) and pear (Pyrus communis) trees, rub off any misplaced buds or water shoots emerging from the main framework before they draw energy away from fruit-bearing spurs — no tool needed, just a firm thumb / Check quince (Cydonia oblonga) and medlar (Mespilus germanica) for the first signs of leaf curl or scab; a preventive spray of diluted seaweed extract (10 ml per litre) on both leaf surfaces gives a gentle boost to natural defences. In Mediterranean climates, fig (Ficus carica) trees may already be pushing their first breba crop — keep soil moisture consistent to avoid early fruit drop.
VEGETABLE PATCH : A fruit day with ascending moon — the right combination to get tomatoes, cucumbers and squash off to a strong start under cover. Sow tomato (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Sungold’, ‘Costoluto Fiorentino’) in module trays, two seeds per cell at 5 mm depth, in a propagator set to 20–22 °C / Cucumber (Cucumis sativus ‘Marketmore’, ‘Femspot’) germinates best when sown on its side to prevent rotting — press each seed 1 cm deep into individual 9 cm pots of free-draining compost / Pot on courgette (Cucurbita pepo) seedlings started last week into 12 cm pots, handling root balls gently to avoid disturbing the fragile tap root / Outdoor sowing of climbing French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Cobra’) can begin in sheltered plots where soil has reached 12 °C — sow 5 cm deep, 15 cm apart in double rows 45 cm apart. If you have a cold frame, use it to harden off pepper (Capsicum annuum) and aubergine (Solanum melongena) seedlings for 30 minutes today, gradually extending exposure over the coming days.
LANDSCAPING : Scan the border with fresh eyes — spring-flowering shrubs are at their peak and this fruit day suits any work around berry-bearing ornamentals. Dead-head spent blooms on flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) to redirect energy into next year’s fruiting wood / Mulch around the base of rose (Rosa) bushes with a 5 cm layer of well-rotted compost, keeping it 10 cm clear of the main stem to discourage collar rot / Divide and replant clumps of ornamental grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis or Pennisetum alopecuroides that have become congested — tease apart sections with two garden forks back-to-back and replant at the same depth, 60–80 cm apart.