May

Garden Tasks for May

• Sow maize (sweetcorn), runner beans and french beans indoors/greenhouse in modules ready for planting when risk of frost has passed. Maize should be planted out as a block of at least 12 plants for good wind pollination.

• Sow pumpkin, squash, courgette and cucumber,  seeds under cover.

• Plant greenhouse tomato plants in beds or growing bags.

• Sow beetroot, chard, carrot, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and calabrese seeds directly into the ground.

• Remove strawberry runners so that plants invest in fruit rather than offsets.

• Prune spring flowering shrubs, such as Japanese quince (Chaenomeles) and forsythia once the flowers have dropped.

• Plant out dahlia tubers after risk of frost has passed.

• Harden off tender plants raised indoors or under glass. 

• Remember to check for birds nests before you start any hedge cutting or pruning.