VEGETABLE PATCH : The descending Waxing Crescent moon draws energy gently into leaves and stems — a dependable window for leafy crops that thrive on this quiet, concentrated vitality. Direct-sow Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla ‘Bright Lights’, ‘Fordhook Giant’) in rows 35 cm apart, pressing seeds 2 cm deep into moist, well-raked soil / Sow cut-and-come-again salad mixes (Lactuca sativa ‘Lollo Rossa’, ‘Oak Leaf’) in short rows 20 cm apart, broadcasting thinly and raking in lightly — you’ll be harvesting baby leaves within three weeks / Transplant celery (Apium graveolens ‘Golden Self-Blanching’) seedlings raised under glass into enriched beds, spacing 25 cm each way and watering in with 0.5 L per plant; a foliar feed of diluted seaweed solution (5 mL per litre) applied at the same time supports early leaf development / Sow spinach (Spinacia oleracea ‘Matador’, ‘Medania’) in rows 30 cm apart at 2 cm depth — choose a slightly shaded spot to slow bolting as days lengthen / In Mediterranean climates or under polytunnel, favour heat-tolerant varieties such as ‘New Zealand spinach’ (Tetragonia tetragonioides), sowing at 3 cm depth with 40 cm between plants.
INDOORS : Check on basil (Ocimum basilicum ‘Genovese’, ‘Purple Ruffles’) and coriander (Coriandrum sativum) seedlings started on a warm windowsill — pinch out the first true leaves on basil to encourage bushy growth rather than a single leggy stem / Pot on parsley (Petroselinum crispum) into 12 cm containers using loam-based compost, ensuring roots are not cramped; a compressed root system stresses the plant and triggers premature bolting / Water all leafy herbs at the base, avoiding wetting foliage, to reduce the risk of fungal spotting — a small but meaningful habit that pays off over the whole season.