VEGETABLE PATCH : Before 17h11 (UTC), the descending Waxing Gibbous moon channels its energy into the soil — a reliable window for root crops that deserve your full attention today. Sow salsify (‘Mammoth Sandwich Island’) and black radish (‘Nero Tondo’) in deep drills 1.5 cm deep, rows 30 cm apart, under a cold frame if night temperatures are still dipping below 3 °C / Sow celeriac (‘Prinz’, ‘Brilliant’) in module trays filled with fine seed compost at 0.5 cm depth — these slow germinators benefit from a heat mat set at 18 °C and reward patience with dense, flavourful crowns / Thin last week’s Hamburg parsley and scorzonera seedlings to 10 cm apart, using scissors at soil level to avoid disturbing neighbouring roots / On sandy soils, incorporate a 3 cm layer of well-rotted compost into the drill before sowing to retain moisture around germinating seeds — root crops establish far more evenly when the soil holds a little warmth and water.
LANDSCAPING : After 17h11 (UTC), the moon shifts to a flower day — a welcome change of tempo as the afternoon light softens. Deadhead any overwintered wallflowers (‘Bowles’s Mauve’, ‘Blood Red’) by cutting spent stems back to a healthy side shoot, which encourages a second flush of bloom / Sow sweet William (‘Auricula-Eyed Mixed’, ‘Electron Mix’) in module trays at 0.5 cm depth — these biennial beauties germinate reliably under glass at 15 °C and will reward you with fragrant clusters next spring / If you have established clumps of hellebore, remove old foliage at the base now to expose the developing flower stems and reduce botrytis risk / Under cover in milder regions, sow nemesia (‘Sundrop’) and diascia (‘Coral Belle’) at 18 °C — both are compact, floriferous and excellent for spring containers.