May

The Edible Garden

May is a busy month in the vegetable garden. Start mounding up potatoes as the top leaf growth gets. bigger. This prevents tubers turning green and encourages the development of new potatoes. Keep sowing fast growing salad crops such as lettuce, radish, mesclun, at 2 weekly intervals to ensure a good supply right through until autumn.
French (dwarf) and runner beans can be sown directly into the garden now. Provide good support for runner or climbing beans - a wigwam, a tripod of stakes, a section of wire fencing or similar. If space allows sow a succession of bean seeds about 2 weeks apart for continuous cropping late into the season.
Squash, cucumber and pumpkin can also be sown directly into the soil now.
Brassica crops such as cauliflower and Brussels sprouts can be sown now for winter harvest.
Tomato plants should be under way now. You can still plant tomato seedlings this month, but it is too late to raise from seed as they will not have time to mature before the end of summer. Be sure to stake tall growing varieties. Pinch out lateral growths - shoots which appear between the main stem and a set of leaves - as these drain the plants energy and result in overcrowding of foliage.
If growing sweet corn plant in blocks rather than rows - this will produce better crops as a result of better flower pollination.
Support peas with sticks or netting. Broad beans also need support. As broad beans start to flower pinch back the growing tips to divert the plant’s energy into bean production.
Remove suckers that spring up between raspberry plants.
Take out strawberry runners as these will reduce fruit production. If you want new plants for next year single out one or two plants for runner production and leave the rest to fruit.
Keep an eye out for birds as soft fruit start to ripen and protect as necessary.
Currants, gooseberries, blueberries and strawberries can still be planted this month.
 

The Flower Garden

Plant out summer flowering annuals. Keep an eye out for frosts and cover as necessary. Hanging baskets and containers can be planted up now.
Plant dahlias and canna lilies. New seasons lavenders can be planted now for a summer long display. When all danger of frost is over, plant out impatiens, geraniums, osteospermums, and New Guinea impatiens. Plant hydrangeas this month - buy in flower to make choosing easier.
 

General

Start applying shade to greenhouses this month in preparation for the warmer weather. On warm fine days open greenhouse ventilation to encourage air flow and reduce the risk of pest and disease infections. Trim evergreen hedges.
Spring flowering shrubs, such as Berberis, Choisya, Chaenomeles, can be trimmed once flowering is over to maintain shape and encourage new growth for next year’s flowers.
Tie long canes on climbing and rambling roses as horizontal as possible. This encourages the production of side shoots and thus increased numbers of flowers.
Continue applying slug and snail baits and watch out for aphids and caterpillars and control as necessary.
 

What to look for in store this Month

New Guinea Impatiens, Geraniums, Osteospermums, Hydrangeas.
Herb and vegetable plants.
Hanging baskets and basket plants.
New season?s Lavenders.
Hydrangeas
Compost.
Miracle Grow plant food
Mother’s day gift Ideas - heather bowls, flowering orchids, gift vouchers.
Currants, Gooseberries, Blueberries, Strawberries.
Chicken manure.
Slug pellets
Tomato Food.
Water plants
Hebes