The Gardeners Almanac

The place to find out what to do in the garden this week
My Back Garden

The Vegetable Garden in May

Overview:

This month is a busy month as many varieties of plant require planting out or sowing insitu.

A layout plan can be quite useful to ensure you that you are planting in places that suit your rotation plan, particularly if you have had to change your initial plan due to perhaps a crop failure or some such mishap.

The same layout plan can be referred to in following years, again to help with crop rotation.


Note: As with most advice on gardening the advisors location will often influence the content of the advice.

To alleviate this problem I have produced this chart indicating how you can make adjustments to the timing of events as seen in this website.

I hope you find this useful! .......Tg


Week 18 - 30th Apr. to 5th May.

Sow Basil, Broad beans and Kale insitu if soil conditions allow.

Plant out Lettuce seedlings if conditions allow.

Weed carefully around Shallots taking care not to disturb,damage or bury the bulbs.

Remove any flower heads (scapes) from Garlic.


Week 19 - 6th May. to 12th May.

Prepare bed for Beetroot and Fennel if not done previously.

Sow Carrots in containers.

Plant out Onion setts.

Plant out pot grown Onion and Pea seedlings.

Plant out maincrop Potatoes if not done earlier.


Week 20 - 13th May. to 19th May.

If soil conditions allow sow a few Fennel, Parsnips, Peas, Radish and Runner beans and cover with cloches.

Plant out Asparagus, Broad beans (pot grown), Brussels Sprouts, Calabrese (early) Cauliflower (summer), Fennel, Globe Artichoke, Mint and Shallot seedlings.

Pot up Aubergine plants for growing outdoors in a sheltered spot!

Earth up Potatoes when the haulms (tops) are about 150mm (6") tall.

Thin out Kohl rabi.

Prepare bed for Parsnips.

Harvest Asparagus spears from established Asparagus plants.


Week 21 - 20th May. to 26th May.

Sow Beetroot, Carrots, French Beans, Pak choi, Parsley, and Turnips.

Plant out Basil, Borage, Cabbage (summer), Celery, Coriander, Gourds, Marjoram, Melon, Orache, Pak choi, Rosemary, Squash, Sweet Peppers and Sweet Corn.

Ensure Broad beans don't want for water.

Feed Onions.


Week 22 - 27th May. to 2nd Jun.

Plant out Courgettes, Kohl rabi, Marrow, Pumpkin, Runner beans, Sage, Sweet Peppers, and Thyme seedlings.

Sow Swedes.

Applying a high potash feed to Shallots at this time can assist size and ripening.