Page 18 - May 2020 parish mag_Classical

THINGS TO DO IN THE GARDEN IN MAY

May is the time when Spring is at its best. Basil with its pungent clove smell, grown
Our gardens and, indeed, the countryside, between your tomatoes, will help keep
are brimming over with that lovely, fresh whitefly at bay. If you can’t get your hand
acid green colour that epitomises new on seeds, cheat by buying supermarket
growth and the imminent start of Summer. plants. Divide them and push their roots into
To start off this article, I have asked Jane the soil. Water well and pinch out the
Hilton to give you all some tips and ideas growing tips to keep them bushy.
about things to do in your greenhouse or Cucumbers are best grown two to a grow
polytunnel during May. Many thanks Jane. bag. Female mini varieties are best, as they
are less bitter and are less heavy for the plant
to bear. Spray the ground around them
GREENHOUSE GROWING.
(avoiding getting water on the plants) as
All these plants below can be grown from they generally like a more humid
seed: atmosphere. Train the growing stem up a
A summer isn’t complete without home wire or cane and feed the same as tomatoes.
grown tomatoes; they taste delicious. Peppers love heat and humidity. Grow them
Tomato seeds germinate very easily. Follow on staging in large pots of good compost.
the packet instructions, cover the pot with a Don’t allow them to dry out or the flowers
plastic bag and put them on a warm and leaves may drop off. Keep well staked
windowsill to speed things up. Plant them to keep them upright. When the fruit has set,
out in a greenhouse in rich organic soil, grow again, feed the same as tomatoes. The rule
bags or large pots in early May. Plant them of thumb is, the riper the fruit, the sweeter
deep, burying the stem up to the first set of the taste.
leaves. This will help them sprout extra Keep all these plants frost free.
roots, which will increase access to all
available moisture.
WEEDING, MULCHING AND
Begin feeding liquid tomato feed once the
flowers have formed fruits. Always keep the WATERING.
soil evenly moist and the greenhouse By mid-May, the garden is accelerating into
aerated, to keep the plants healthy and stop Summer. Plants seem to grow by the hour,
the fruit splitting. Be vigilant tying onto as do weeds. It is important to keep on top
canes and pinching out the side shoots of weeds. Try to put ten minutes aside each
weekly from June. day to weed a specific, but small area of

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