ORCHARD : Before the sign change at midday, a fruit day rewards careful harvesting. Check plum trees and fig trees first — plums should part easily from the branch with a gentle upward twist, and figs are ready when the neck softens and the fruit hangs heavy. Gather them in the cool of the morning to preserve their flavour. Kiwi laterals are still pushing hard; pinch each shoot back to five leaves beyond the last fruit to channel energy into swelling. Raspberry canes that have finished fruiting can be cut cleanly at the base to open up airflow for the young canes coming through.
VEGETABLE PATCH : After the sign change at midday, the day shifts toward a root focus — a fine moment to harvest beans before the pods toughen, and to pick courgettes that have reached a good size. Turn your attention to the grapevine too: bunches are swelling steadily, and now is a good time to remove any leaves shading the fruit directly, improving colour and air circulation around the clusters. Check currant bushes and blackcurrants for any remaining fruit; late-picked currants make excellent preserves and the bushes will benefit from the reduced load. Collect seeds from the strongest bean pods you have left to dry on the stem — shell them once fully papery and store in a labelled envelope in a cool, dry place.