VEGETABLE PATCH : A leaf day calls for light, purposeful work — check soil moisture at 5 cm depth before you begin. Sow cabbage in trays, 1 cm deep with seeds 3 cm apart; these autumn heads need starting now. Sow swiss chard directly in the bed, 2 cm deep, seeds 5 cm apart. Sow leek in a module tray, 1 cm deep, seeds 2 cm apart — slow starters that reward early action. Sow corn salad 1 cm deep, seeds 2 cm apart, for a reliable supply into autumn. Harvest mint and salad leaves in the morning while the air is still cool.
LANDSCAPING : Check the base of hydrangeas — if the soil feels dry more than 3 cm down, water deeply and renew a 5 cm mulch of bark or straw. Wisteria that has put on long new shoots can be pinched back to five or six leaves now, encouraging next year’s flower buds. Lavender responds well to a foliar spray of diluted horsetail decoction, which strengthens stems and helps ward off fungal issues.
ORCHARD : Raspberry canes are producing steadily — harvest every two to three days so fruit doesn’t soften on the stem. Currant bushes and blackcurrants are worth checking for ripe clusters; pick in the cool of the morning and refrigerate promptly.