The May Vegetable Garden...

The Vegetable Gardener's Diary for late Spring in the UK

Although the days are becoming warmer, there is still a risk of frost at night, so keep an eye on the weather forecast for a dip in temperature at night, cover seedlings with a cloche if necessary.

Prepare

- Continue to prepare seed beds for early summer sowings and transplanting

Sow Outdoors (undercover at night if necessary)

• French beans (Fine beans)
• Runner beans
• Carrots
• Winter cabbages
• Winter cauliflowers
• Sweetcorn
• Annual herbs

Plant Out

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Chillies
• Celery
• Celeriac
• Brussels sprouts
  

Harvest

• Asparagus
• Garlic
• Globe artichokes
• Lettuce
• Radish
• Rocket
• Pea shoots
  

Things to do in the garden during May

- Feed any vegetables growing in grow bags or containers

- Protect brassicas such as cabbages from root fly by fixing collars around them

- Erect barriers around carrots to deter carrot fly

- Weed and water crops regularly

- Tie peas to sticks as they grow

- Pinch out the tips on broad beans

- Earth up potatoes