May… Finally, the days are getting warmer and longer, and we are starting to see a lot more colour in the garden. The early spring flowers are fading and there is an awkward period in the garden between the seasons. There is always hope though, now is the period in where a lot of plants are growing, ready to unleash later this month and definitely into June and beyond… So here are a few top tips for jobs in the garden this month.
- 1. Bedding plants and Baskets can be planted out later in May safely, but just keep an eye on weather for any late frosts. If we are unlucky enough to get a late frost, cover any pots and baskets with a bit of frost protection fleece just to protect them.
- 2. Harden off your Dahlia’s, Canna’s and any other tropical plants that love spending the summer outside.
- 3. Prune summer flowering Penstemons down to ground level, to encourage plenty of new flowering shoots.
- 4. The long shoots of rambling and climbing roses can now be laid horizontally and tied in. Laying them horizontally will encourage them to produce more flowering buds.
- 5. Keep an eye out for any Pests and Diseases that may start to appear. Aphids will be making an appearance soon, as will Mildews and Black spot. We stock a wide range of treatments here at Singletons. As always if you’re not sure, feel free to ask for advice, bring along a photo or a piece of the plant so we can take a look.
- 6. Potatoes should be growing well now, keep earthing them up and keep watering them. More tips for Potatoes to follow next month.
- 7. Tomatoes can be planted in the Greenhouse, either in Growbags, large pots or directly into the greenhouse border. Make sure you have stocked up on tomato feed and canes.
- 8. Harden off any Tomatoes, Pumpkins, Squash or Courgettes you may have planned for planting out. These can be hardened off this month, ready for planting early next month.
- 9. Runner beans are growing quickly. Start thinking about making supports for them, use 8ft Canes in the shape of a wigwam or an ‘A’ frame.
- 10. Start thinking about sowing Brassica’s, Sweetcorn, Runner Beans, French Beans under cover for planting out later. Direct sowing outside, try Swiss Chard, Beetroot, Radish, Lettuce, Coriander, Kohl Rabi, Pak Choi and Parsnips.
That’s all for this month. We’ll be back next time with our top tips for June – we should get lots of warmth and sunshine in the meantime! 🌸