VEGETABLE PATCH : Before the evening sign change, foliage crops take centre stage — the soil still holds morning warmth, perfect for getting seeds in. Sow lettuce 0.5 cm deep, seeds 2 cm apart, in rows 30 cm apart; thin later to 25 cm. Cabbage goes into module trays at 1 cm deep, seeds 3 cm apart — plant out at 50 cm in rows 60 cm once established. On heavy soils, water the drill lightly before covering to help even germination. Harvest mint mid-morning: leaves cut on a leaf day dry with noticeably more fragrance.
VEGETABLE PATCH (after the sign change, fruit day) : Once evening arrives, the energy shifts to fruiting crops — a fine moment to pick ripe tomatoes and harvest courgettes before they grow too large. Clip each fruit with a short stalk, handle gently and lay in a single layer to avoid bruising.
LANDSCAPING : Strawberry runners are ready to be pegged into the ground or potted up — set the crown exactly at soil level, 30 cm apart, and keep them consistently moist for the first fortnight. Wisteria has been building up summer growth: shorten new shoots to five or six leaves from the main framework, using sharp, clean secateurs. This redirects the plant’s energy toward next year’s flower buds rather than leafy extension.
ORCHARD : Apply a foliar spray of diluted nettle tea or horsetail decoction to apple trees and fig trees this morning — the waning gibbous moon supports absorption through the leaves, strengthening natural resistance before autumn. Spray early, before the sun hits the canopy directly.