VEGETABLE PATCH : Today the moon crosses an ascending node — a signal to step back from the beds and focus on care rather than cultivation. Sharpen your hoe and hand fork, then clear any light weeds between established rows of lettuce and potato. Lay a 5 cm mulch of straw around potato stems to conserve moisture and keep the soil cool as spring temperatures climb. Check that artichoke offsets are well settled, and loosen any ties on climbing stems that may be pinching young growth.
ORCHARD : A good moment to walk the orchard with fresh eyes. Check ties on raspberry canes, currant bushes and fig tree branches — loosen anything that has tightened over the past weeks. Harvest any strawberries that are ripe and fragrant; picking regularly encourages the plant to produce more. Spread a layer of well-rotted compost around the base of your apple tree, pear tree and quince tree, keeping it clear of the trunk, then top with a mulch to lock in that spring moisture.
LANDSCAPING : Roses are growing fast now — run your fingers along the stems and check that any ties to supports are still loose enough to allow for thickening. Wisteria and clematis benefit from the same check today. Observe your lavender and heather: if the soil around them looks compacted, a gentle surface loosening with a hand fork will improve drainage without disturbing the roots. In Mediterranean climates, olive trees can be given a light tidy of crossing or damaged shoots at this stage.