LANDSCAPING : Before 10h20 (UTC), a brief flowers phase opens — worth seizing for ornamental work before the shift. Transplant wallflower (Erysimum cheiri) seedlings into their final positions, spacing 30 cm apart, firming gently at the base / Divide and replant clumps of hardy geranium (Geranium ‘Rozanne’, G. sanguineum) — each division should carry 3–4 healthy shoots; water in well after planting / Deadhead spent blooms on aubrieta and arabis to extend the flowering display into early May / In warmer, sheltered spots, direct-sow sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) or pot marigold (Calendula officinalis) in shallow drills 5 mm deep — their fast germination suits this window nicely.
VEGETABLE PATCH : After 10h20 (UTC), the moon shifts into a leaves phase — a green light for foliage crops and leafy harvests. Sow Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris ‘Bright Lights’, ‘Fordhook Giant’) directly in rows 30 cm apart, 1–2 cm deep, thinning to 20 cm; their broad leaves develop quickly in spring warmth / Direct-sow spinach (Spinacia oleracea ‘Medania’, ‘Matador’) in short rows 25 cm apart at 1 cm depth — keep the seedbed moist, as spinach germinates poorly in dry soil / Set out young lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa ‘Little Gem’, ‘Lollo Rossa’) at 25 cm spacings; water the planting hole before dropping in each plug to settle roots without air gaps / In Mediterranean or sandy-soil gardens, apply a light mulch of straw (3–4 cm) between rows to retain moisture through warm afternoons / Harvest outer leaves of established kale (Brassica oleracea ‘Nero di Toscana’) or perpetual spinach — picking from the outside encourages the plant to keep producing fresh growth from the centre.
INDOORS : Check on seedlings of basil (Ocimum basilicum) and coriander (Coriandrum sativum) started under cover — yesterday I noticed the first true leaves appearing on a tray sown ten days ago, which means it’s time to thin to one seedling per cell and move trays closer to the light source / Pot on celery (Apium graveolens) and leaf beet seedlings into 9 cm pots using a peat-free multipurpose compost, giving roots more room before hardening off outdoors in 2–3 weeks.