Our coordinator shared the gardening calendar of Empty Common via the mailing list - here are some growing tips for May... bear in mind that the last frost date in the UK is 15 May.
May Potatoes - Earth up when plants when about 10cm high, carefully taking soil from a 15 cm space either side of the plant by hand or hoe. One month later earth up again but with mulch eg. woodchips (after composting 6months minimum), mature compost, dried grass clippings etc. If frost is going to happen cover in fleece or earth up right over all leaves
May Marigolds - Remove all seedlings and young plants from beds except for the outer edges of the annual veg plot. Here allow 4-6 plants to grow across the end of the beds to make a low hedge around the area This plant seeds everywhere given half a chance sow don’t distribute around the garden
May - Aug Stone fruit trees - Prune, (only if you really know what you are doing), never prune in the colder, damper months
May - Sept Comfrey - cut for hot compost heap activating, tea making and mulch. Can cut 2-5 times a year depending on speed of growth. Cut before it sets seed if possible an watch out for bees on the plant. Wear gloves. Comfrey tea is high K good for plants which are flowering/fruiting and potatoes.
May - Oct Tomatoes - regularly take out side shoots and suckers from cordon type plants.(See week 2 as well)
Week 1 Cabbage Spring - harvest
Week 1 Kohlrabi - plant out in final position
Week 1 Basil - thin out seedlings to 1 cm apart if closer.
Week 1 Leek - harden off container of grown seedlings on glass hardening off table
Week 1 Turnip - thin seedlings 15cm earlies, 25cm maincrops
Week 2 Spinach - Thin out previously sown seedlings
Week 2 Spinach - plant out seed sown indoors
Week 2 Parsley - plant out.
Week 2 Beetroot - sow seed outside, sow singly at 5-10 cm apart in, 2cm deep and cover.
Week 2 French Beans - sow seeds under bottle cloches outside
Week 2 French Beans - sow seeds in pots indoors
Week 2 Kale (curly) - sow in pots or seed bed; choose red/purple variety as it isn’t attacked by pigeons.
Week 2 Tomatoes - begin to harden off those for outdoors on glass hardening off table. Plant others in poly tunnel. And stake well, tie up carefully and dig in upside-down 5l bottle cloche using canes to hold it in place , this is to water in to so place to the side of plants so the bottle can be reached when plants have grown
Week 2 Cucumber (ridge) - sow seed under bottle cloches outside
Week 2 Runner Beans - sow seed in pots indoors
Week 2 Runner Beans - sow seed under cloches outside
Week 2 Leek - transplant grown seedlings to final positions, Plant leeks in rows 40cm apart with the spacing between each plant 15cm If you want very large individual leeks increase the spacing between plants. For each plant make a hole in the soil to a depth of 15cm using a dibber (rounded piece of wood about 3cm / 1¼in wide). Drop the leek into the hole (roots downwards) and gently settle it into the base of the hole. Fill the hole with water, this will cause just enough soil to cover the roots and at the same time ensure the soil is fully watered. Don't fill in with soil, the plants will be fine as they are.
Week 2 Swede - sow seed outdoors
Week 2 - 3 Strawberries - water well and feed (comfrey tea) and mulch around plants, cover with netting.
May - Aug Strawberries (newly planted ones)- Pinch out flowers of all first year plants from runners planted our in the Autumn.
Week 2 - 3 Carrot - sow main-crop seed
Week 2 - 3 Sweetcorn - harden off
Week 2 - 3 Sweet peas - plant out, providing frost not expected. Plant 10-15 cm apart in deep holes so roots don’t curl up and water well. Pinch out top bud when 10 cm tall. Provide climbing frame up to 2m tall.
May - Aug Sweet peas - Tie peas to frame when needed and pick flowers regularly.
Weeks 2 - 4 Pak choi - plant out in poly tunnel along edges of the beds sow not in the way for planting out tomatoes etc. plant 15cm apart
Weeks 2 - 4 Pak choi - harden off plants to go outside then plant under cloches of fleece 15 cm apart and 30cm between rows. Water well.
Weeks 2 - 4 Dill - Sow in situ in sunny spot, it doesn’t like being transplanted. Our raised beds should be ideal. Make seed bed smooth, sow seeds at 1cm depth and very thinly, greater than 2 cm apart in rows 25cm apart. Gradually thin seedlings to 10-15 cm apart when they are about 10 cm tall or still have plenty of space so the thinnings are useable.
Week 3 Radish - sow single seeds 2-3cm apart in 1-2cm deep trough and cover leave 10-15 cm between row. The larger varieties, follow what is on the pack but sow singly rather than sprinkling. Sow one row and repeat regularly every two weeks.
Week 4 Beetroot - plant out seedlings sown in pots indoors
Week 4 Squash / pumpkins - harden off under bottle cloches or the circular ones outside on glass hardening off table.
Week 4 Potatoes - nitrogen feed fortnightly (Nettle tea diluted to a very weak tea colour)
Week 4 Rhubarb - apply mulch
Week 4 French Beans - sow seed outside
Week 4 French Beans - harden off seedlings
Week 4 Swiss Chard - thin out seedlings
Week 4 Sweetcorn - plant out seedlings in a block pattern rather than rows. Can plant with beans for drying and squash around the ground.
Week 4 Courgette - Harden off indoor grown plants under bottle cloches to stop slugs eating.
Week 4 Swiss Chard - thin out seedlings
Week 4 Runner Beans - harden off seedlings on glass hardening off table.
Week 4 Basil - if planting outside, harden off on glass hardening off table.
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