TOP JOBS FOR MAY

ESSENTIAL TASKS FOR YOUR VEG PATCH AND PROTECTED CROPS BY BEN VANHEEMS

CLEAR WINTER CROPS

Overwintered crops like chard, leeks and hardy salads will want to flower with the increasing day length. Clear away the last of this winter veg to make way for new plantings.

HOE WEEDS

Make a vow to keep on top of weeds so they don't get out of hand and overwhelm you. Hoe and hand weed regularly, nipping out weeds while they are still young.

EARTH UP POTATOES

Potato tubers turn green when exposed to light, so draw up the soil around plants to keep developing potatoes covered. Do this in stages until the foliage above closes over.

PROTECT CARROTS

It's peak time for carrot root flies. The low-flying females lay their eggs at the neck of roots at soil level. Erect barriers or cover carrots with fleece to keep them off.

HARDEN OFF TENDER PLANTS

From the second half of May it's time to begin planting half-hardy (frost tender) crops like tomatoes, courgettes, and French and runner beans, starting with gardens in the south and ending, around early June, with more northerly veg plots.

Before planting any plant started off under cover, it must first be hardened off. This is the process of acclimatising plants to the outdoor environment, so that tender growth literally hardens up to withstand the cooler conditions.

Move plants from the greenhouse or indoors into a cold frame, closing the lid at night to keep the chill off. If you don't have a greenhouse, position plants in a sheltered spot and cover with horticultural fleece at night. Gradually increase the time plants go unprotected until all danger of frost has passed.

THREE WAYS TO SUPPORT BEANS

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