May, the month to get going in the garden, though note there may be late frosts in spots for a couple of weeks yet. Time, though, this month to harvest the first early peas and broad beans. The true taste of British spring. Our Basque tear peas will be later in the year but their shoots are showing well.
The plot weeding is done. Just waiting another couple of weeks for full summer sowing (or so I tell myself as I slip in a few hardier salads).
May’s the month to start cabbages, cauliflowers, cucumbers outside. Time to plant out squash seedlings grown under cover though take care to first harden them off. Protect, too, against cooler evenings. We may wait a while, though it goes against my nature. Luckily, Howard’s more cautious than me.
We will soon plant out our sweet peas (mostly highly scented Spencers), from Roger Parsons seed. The propagators have been outside for a few weeks with their covers off and we need them now for corn.
We will sow more Thai red corn – grown in blocks not rows for good germination. And Howard’s found saved Painted Mountain corn that we have also started in trays. Still the most beautiful crop we have ever grown, like opening birthday presents.
A few scattered self-sown seedlings are telling us it is near time to grow the new amaranth from the Incredible Seed Library. Time soon, too, to sow chervil and dill for a taste of Scandinavian summers.
We will also sow the first row of coriander, though this will also wait till the end of the month when the sun will rise before 5am and set soon after nine. More opportunity to maybe get in an hour of gardening before or after work or just to make the best of the late long weekend.
Good growing and happy May days. But now what are your garden plans?
after newsletter promotion
Allan Jenkins’s Plot 29 (4th Estate, £9.99) is out now. Order it for £8.49 from guardianbookshop.com