May can be one of the most difficult months for us veg growers, with the beginning still able to produce hard frosts, and the end of the month sometimes giving us temperatures in the 20s; it's certainly a month of two halves! Many a gardener has been caught out this month thinking that it's warm enough to plant out tender crops early, only to go and check on them the next day to see that they've turned to mush. If in doubt, leave it a week or two; in fact, I don't plant tender crops out in the garden until the last week in May at the earliest, and even then I have cloches and fleece ready to cover plants.
That said, there are plants that are happy to be planted outside now, and even a few that are already cropping! When it comes to harvesting, perennial varieties seem to have the lead, with many Victorian kitchen garden favourites being at the top of the list.
GLOBE ARTICHOKES
Statuesque globe artichokes will be ready this month, with both green and violet/purple types not only looking amazing in the garden but making a tasty treat in the kitchen. When harvesting, remember they have spikes on the end of the leaves which are quite sharp, plus the sap is sticky, so wear gloves.
Rhubarb will also be growing with gusto this month. Gone are the pale pink forced stalks; replacing them are thick, deep red and green main stalks. When harvesting, always twist and pull, never cut the stalks as they can rot back towards the crown. Keep on top of harvesting and always water well to prevent the plants from producing a flower spike; but if this does happen, simply remove it and add to the compost.
Denne historien er fra May 2022-utgaven av Kitchen Garden.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra May 2022-utgaven av Kitchen Garden.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
SEPTEMBER SPECIALS
This month, with sweetcorn, figs and blackberries on the menu, Anna Cairns Pettigrew is not only serving up something sweet and something savoury, but all things scrumptious
FLAVOURSOME FRUIT AUTUMN RASPBERRIES
September - is it late summer or the start of autumn? David Patch ponders the question and says whatever the season, it's time to harvest autumn raspberries
SOW GREEN THIS AUTUMN
Covering the soil with a green manure in winter offers many benefits and this is a good time to sow hardy types, says KG editor Steve Ott
A HISTORICAL HAVEN OF FRUIT AND FLOWERS
KG's Martin Fish takes time out from his own plot to visit a walled garden in Lincolnshire which has been home to the same family for more than 400 years
RESTORING THE BALANCE
The phrase regenerative gardening is often heard in gardening circles, but what is it? Can it help you to grow better veg? Ecologist Becky Searle thinks so, and tells us why
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
Garden Organic's Anton Rosenfeld shares his expertise on using compost made from green bin collections with handy tips on getting the right consistency and quality
Celebrating Organic September!
In this special section we bring you four great features aimed at improving your crops and allowing nature to thrive
SEEING RED
Do your tomatoes have a habit of remaining stubbornly green? Or perhaps you're lucky to enjoy lots of lovely fruits - just all at once. Either way, Benedict Vanheems is here with some top tips to ripen and process the nation's favourite summer staple
NEW KIDS ON THE BROCCOLI!
Rob Smith is talking broccoli this month with a review of the different types available and suggestions for some exciting new varieties to try
A NEW kitchen garden
Martin Fish is getting down to plenty of picking and planting on the garden veg plot, while Jill is rustling up something pepper-licking good!
