05_May

May has longer days, higher temperatures and hopefully enough warm sunshine. It's the month to begin planting and sowing outdoors in earnest, however only transplant tender seedlings when the last chance of frost has gone. Harden off any plants grown indoors before planting out and be aware of the possibility of a night time attack from slugs.

• Move seedlings grown under cover outdoors in the daytime to enable them to adjust to outside temperatures
• Earth up rows of potato plants to ensure tubers underground are not exposed to light
• Cover strawberry plants with cloches overnight for an early crop. remove cloches during the day
• Protect tender plants against sudden frosts, keep an eye on the weather forecast and be ready with cloches and fleece
• Weed regularly and thoroughly and keep young plants well watered
• Net fruit bushes to protect them from birds

Sow or plant in May
Brussels sprouts, red cabbage and cauliflowers - all these plants grow quite large therefore space out well across the plot, don’t crowd them
Celery - begin planting out this month
Courgettes, marrows, pumpkins and squashes - plant out in soil that has been enriched with plenty of organic matter.
Leeks - start transplanting out leek plants
Sweetcorn - start planting out, plant in blocks