May

• The cold and frosts of April have held a number of herbaceous perennials back, but the longer days, stronger sun, and warming days and nights as we now enter May will bring all plants on nicely but now is the time to get on top of weeding!

• May is usually the time to start planting out all those tender annuals and vegetables. These will benefit from hardening off – a process of exposing them to slightly cooler day time temperatures but still protecting them at night.

• Planting out at the beginning of May can be a bit of a gamble as we are not guaranteed to be free from frosts, so either wait a few weeks, plant in sheltered places first, or be prepared to cover and protect plants if it does turn cold again.

• Hardy annuals can now be sown direct where they are to flower. Prepare the soil well and remove any weeds. It is easier to sow in a series of lines rather than scattering randomly so you can more easily see which are seedlings and which are new weeds.

• In the vegetable garden, sow peas and beans directly once the weather warms. As early spring-sown brassicas reach the stage to plant out, ensure that they are covered with netting to protect against pigeons and Cabbage White butterflies.

• Plant any remaining chitted potatoes.