VEGETABLE PATCH : The ascending Waning Crescent moon draws sap gently upward — a reliable window for leafy crops that thrive on that slow, steady energy. Set out young plants of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla ‘Bright Lights’), pak choi (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis) and Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis) into well-watered drills, spacing them 30–35 cm apart so each rosette can open fully / Direct-sow a short row of summer purslane (Portulaca oleracea var. sativa) and land cress (Barbarea verna) in a semi-shaded bed — scatter seed thinly, press lightly with the back of a rake and keep the surface just moist; both germinate within a week in summer warmth / Feed established rows of perpetual spinach (Beta vulgaris var. cicla) and good-king-henry (Chenopodium bonus-henricus) with a diluted liquid seaweed solution (10 ml per litre, applied at the root zone) to support cell expansion without pushing soft, pest-prone growth / In heavy clay soils, fork the planting area lightly beforehand and blend in a handful of perlite per square metre to prevent waterlogging around tender crowns.
INDOORS : A quiet afternoon in the greenhouse is never wasted. Check on basil seedlings (Ocimum basilicum), celery (Apium graveolens) and celeriac (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum) started under cover — if the root ball is visibly pushing against the pot base, move them up one size (8 cm to 11 cm) using a peat-free multipurpose compost mixed with 20% perlite for drainage / Pinch out any flower buds forming on pot-grown mint (Mentha spicata, Mentha × piperita) to keep the leaves tender and fragrant for a few more weeks / Wipe down greenhouse staging with a damp cloth and check that ventilation panels open freely — good airflow now reduces the risk of downy mildew on young leafy transplants before they head outside.