May
May brings flocks of pretty lambs Skipping by their fleecy dams.
— Sara Coleridge, The Garden Year (1834)
The garden bursts into life
May is one of the most exciting months in the gardening year. Longer days and warmer soil bring rapid growth, while the risk of frost gradually begins to recede.
It is an important month for sowing vegetables, planting out young plants and preparing the garden for the summer ahead.
Sow vegetables outdoors
As the soil warms, several tender crops can be sown directly outdoors.
Sow French beans, runner beans, squash, cucumbers, pumpkins and sweetcorn, choosing suitable positions and giving plants enough room for their eventual size.
Local conditions can vary, so keep an eye on the weather and avoid rushing tender crops outside during an unexpectedly cold spell.
Plant out hardy seedlings
Once the risk of frost has passed, hardened-off vegetable seedlings can be planted outside.
Plants raised indoors or under cover should be gradually accustomed to outdoor conditions before being planted permanently. This helps reduce the shock caused by changes in temperature, wind and sunlight.
Plant summer-flowering bulbs
May isn't too late to add more summer colour.
Eucomis and Nerine can be planted outside this month, giving them the growing season ahead to establish and produce their distinctive flowers.
Choose an appropriate sunny, well-drained position and remember where you've planted them while waiting for growth to appear.
Plant strawberry runners
May is your last opportunity to plant strawberry runners with a reasonable chance of producing fruit this year.
Keep newly planted strawberries well watered while they establish. As fruits begin developing, protecting them from contact with damp soil can also help keep them in good condition.
Water in the morning
As temperatures rise, plants increasingly need regular watering.
Where possible, water during the morning rather than the evening. Slugs and snails are primarily nocturnal and moist evening conditions can encourage them to emerge and feed.
Morning watering gives plants access to moisture as the day warms while allowing the soil surface and foliage more opportunity to dry before nightfall.
Wildlife to look out for
May is an exceptionally busy month for garden wildlife as warmer temperatures and abundant new growth provide food and shelter.
Look for bees and hoverflies visiting spring flowers, while increasing numbers of butterflies can be seen on warm, sunny days.
Many garden birds are nesting or feeding young. Blackbirds, robins, blue tits and other familiar visitors may make repeated journeys carrying food. Avoid disturbing active nests and check carefully before cutting hedges or dense vegetation.
Ponds can be particularly interesting. Tadpoles may now be developing rapidly, while frogs, toads and newts continue using ponds and the surrounding vegetation.
After dark, hedgehogs are increasingly active and may travel considerable distances searching for food. Bats can also become more noticeable on warmer evenings as they hunt flying insects.
One last tip
May can tempt gardeners to assume that summer has arrived, but northern weather can still surprise us.
Keep an eye on overnight temperatures, protect tender plants when necessary and don't rush anything outdoors simply because the calendar says May.
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