This Month
May
What's On in May
No Mow May. Join legions of gardeners and say βnoβ to the mow this May to help our bees, butterflies, wildlife and us!
1 May: 'Norfolk Plant Heritage - Plant Fair'. Hethersett Village Hall, NR9 3JJ. 10.00am - 1.00pm. Β£1.
1 to 31 May: 'For Peatβs Sake β Peat Free Growing β self-guided learning course'. by Garden Organic. Free. π
1 to 7 May: Litcham Village Flower Festival, All Saints Church, Litcham, PE32 2NS. Open daily : 10am-5pm. Free. π
7 May: World Naked Gardening Day π€
10 May and 25 May: 'Avon Wildlife Trust Online Bee Identification Sessions' An online talk. 7pm. Free. π
19 May: 'Wildlife of the Halvergate Marshes (Norfolk) in Spring'. An online talk by The Mill and the Marsh Folk. 7:30pm-8:30pm. Free. π
Cockchafer beetle, or May bug
(Melolontha melolontha)
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.
Maize seedlings (Zea mays)
For the Upper Nar area, there is usually a risk of frost up until the last week of April.
If you are buying seeds, remember UNG members get 50% discount at Dobies. See your email or the Community forum.