VEGETABLE PATCH : Fresh damp soil between your fingers — today’s ascending Waxing Crescent is a genuine ally for root crops. Direct-sow Hamburg parsley (Petroselinum crispum var. tuberosum) in drills 1 cm deep, rows 30 cm apart; its dual harvest of root and leaf makes it a real garden workhorse / Sow black radish (Raphanus sativus ‘Black Spanish Round’) and long white mooli (Raphanus sativus ‘Minowase’) 1.5 cm deep, thinning to 15 cm once seedlings show two true leaves — the cool April nights slow bolting and deepen flavour / Dibble in turnip (Brassica rapa ‘Golden Ball’) seeds 2 cm deep in blocks of 20 × 20 cm; on sandy soils, water the drill before sowing to help seeds make contact with moist earth / Hoe between rows of established leeks (Allium porrum) to loosen the top 3–4 cm of crust and encourage lateral root spread without disturbing the main stem.
LANDSCAPING : Yesterday’s orchard work done — now look at what’s pushing through the border edges. Lift and divide congested clumps of Siberian iris (Iris sibirica) using two back-to-back forks: replant outer sections 40 cm apart at the same depth, discarding the woody centre; this restores flowering vigour within a season / Work a 3 cm layer of leaf mould around the base of hellebores (Helleborus × hybridus) and bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) to conserve moisture and suppress weeds as temperatures climb / Edge lawn borders cleanly with a half-moon spade, then use the cut turves as a mulch source for bare patches nearby — nothing wasted.
ORCHARD : Run your hand along the soil surface under established raspberry canes (Rubus idaeus ‘Glen Ample’, ‘Polka’) — if it feels dry 5 cm down, give each row a slow, deep watering of 5–8 litres to support the swelling buds / Check blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) and white currant (Ribes rubrum ‘White Versailles’) bushes for big bud mite: pinch off any abnormally swollen buds and bin them rather than composting, as the ascending moon encourages sap movement that can spread infection further up the plant.