ORCHARD : The cool morning dew reveals perfect timing for fruit trees! Thin developing apples and peaches, leaving one fruit every 4-6 inches to encourage larger, healthier harvests. / Stake young cherry and plum trees with bamboo supports and soft ties to guide straight growth during this fruit-focused lunar phase. / Apply organic compost around the base of berry bushes – raspberries, blackberries and gooseberries will respond beautifully to this nutrient boost. / Prune spring-flowering shrubs like quince and medlar now that blooming has finished, removing crossed branches and opening the center for better air circulation.
VEGETABLE PATCH : Root around in your seed collection – it’s tomato and pepper planting day! The ascending moon supports these fruit-bearing vegetables. Transplant hardened-off tomato seedlings 24 inches apart, burying stems up to the first true leaves to develop stronger root systems. / Plant sweet and hot peppers 18 inches apart in well-draining soil enriched with compost. / Direct sow cucumber seeds 1 inch deep in groups of three, later thinning to the strongest seedling. / Check zucchini and squash seedlings for signs of powdery mildew, applying a preventative milk spray (1:9 milk to water ratio) if conditions are humid.
INDOORS : Those windowsill herbs need your attention! The waning crescent moon creates excellent energy for harvesting and propagating culinary herbs. Take 4-inch cuttings from mint, oregano and sage, removing lower leaves before placing in water to root. / Harvest basil by pinching just above leaf nodes to encourage bushier growth. / Repot rosemary and thyme into containers one size larger, using a well-draining cactus mix with added perlite.