Gardening in May

29^th April – 5^th May is National Gardening Week

There is nothing more rewarding to most gardeners than to see healthy, vigorous plants in their garden. BUT there are some plants that thrive too well and start to ‘take over’.  In my garden, primroses have been a joy, but when they are seeding into the vegetable plot and into the lawn, they become weeds; similarly, Japanese anemones, the yellow flowered, variegated Lamium galeobdolon and even Camassia quamash can take over and squash less vigorous plants.  I even have Dutch irises and tulips which are proliferating to an embarrassing extent.  These all love a light, well-drained soil.

There is a perfect answer. Share and swap with other gardeners who may be populating a new garden or have less success…. The Church Crookham Garden Society has plant sales and swaps each Saturday morning at their trading shed, and Helen Baker has her plant stall at the Crondall Open Gardens event 2018 & 2020, and this year at ‘Bumpers’ {Long Sutton) open garden on July 7th.

Here are some jobs for you..

Kitchen garden

• Earth up potatoes when the foliage reaches 23cm/9in to prevent green tubers or, if frost is expected, cover smaller sprouts with soil for protection.
• Sow carrots, radishes, beetroot, lettuce and spring onions for successional harvesting.
• Harden off courgettes and squashes that were started under glass and protect with cloches or fleece if cold nights are forecast
• Start to harvest asparagus spears
• Direct sow French beans and sweet corn.

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