VEGETABLE PATCH : A leaf day calls for foliage crops. Direct-sow rocket 0.5 cm deep, seeds 2 cm apart; thin later to 10 cm in rows 20 cm apart — it germinates fast and adds a peppery bite to late-summer salads / Sow swiss chard in place, 2 cm deep, seeds 5 cm apart; thin eventually to 35 cm in rows 40 cm — its thick stems handle summer heat well. On sandy soils, water the drill lightly before sowing.
VEGETABLE PATCH (harvest) : Pick fennel fronds and leek tops this morning — leafy material harvested on a leaf day keeps and dries noticeably better / Gather mint stems before midday heat sets in; store in a glass of cool water or dry in a shaded, airy spot.
LANDSCAPING : Strawberry runners are putting out strong plantlets right now — peg them into small pots of compost beside the mother plant, sever the runner once roots take hold, then plant out at 30 cm with the crown at soil level. Hydrangea spent heads can stay on a little longer to shield the new buds forming beneath them.
ORCHARD : A dilute horsetail decoction misted over fig tree and grapevine leaves early in the morning helps strengthen cell walls against late-season mildew — let foliage dry fully before noon.