VEGETABLE PATCH : A root day under the descending First Quarter moon — sap is drawing downward, concentrating energy below the soil surface, which makes this a genuinely productive moment for root crops. Direct-sow parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) and scorzonera (Scorzonera hispanica) into deeply loosened, stone-free drills about 1 cm deep, spacing seeds 5 cm apart in rows 30 cm wide; thin later to 10 cm once seedlings are established / Hoe between rows of beetroot (Beta vulgaris) and Hamburg parsley (Petroselinum crispum var. tuberosum), keeping the blade shallow — no deeper than 3 cm — to avoid nicking developing roots / Water carrots (Daucus carota) and turnips (Brassica rapa) at the base with a gentle rose head, giving around 5–8 litres per m²; irregular watering at this stage causes splitting, so keep moisture consistent / On sandy soils, apply a 4 cm layer of compost around celeriac (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum) to retain moisture and prevent the collar from drying out and hardening prematurely.
INDOORS : Check container-grown radishes (Raphanus sativus) and spring onions (Allium fistulosum) on windowsills or in a cool greenhouse — pull any radishes that have reached 2–3 cm in diameter before they turn pithy in the heat / Sow a fresh pinch of radish seed into a 15 cm pot filled with fine, moisture-retentive compost; this staggered approach keeps a steady supply going through July without a glut.