VEGETABLE PATCH : Root day energy suits underground crops perfectly. Thin beetroot rows now, pulling alternate plants to leave 10 cm between each one — the thinnings are tender and worth eating. Hilling up potato rows is satisfying work: draw soil 10–15 cm up around the stems to protect developing tubers from light and encourage a heavier harvest. Celeriac transplants can go out at 35 cm in the row, rows 40 cm apart; work a handful of compost into each hole first.
ORCHARD : Grapevines planted in late winter will benefit from a light soil loosening around the base and a 5 cm layer of compost spread to the drip line, keeping it clear of the trunk. Check raspberry canes and remove any that are weak or crowded, leaving the strongest at 50 cm spacing.
LANDSCAPING : Lavender planted now in well-drained, sunny spots will root strongly before the summer peak. Mulch the base of rhododendron and heather beds with bark chips to retain moisture through the warm weeks ahead.