May

May often feel like one of the busiest months of the year, though it can still be unpredictable. Keep a close watch out for late frosts and ensure that greenhouses are still closed well before temperatures drop. As always, keep a close eye out for early pest damage, especially slugs and snails who will relish young tender vegetables!

As the temperatures start to slowly rise, so the weeds will once again resume growth, and as ever the ground is dry enough, keep the vegetable beds well hoed. Also, keep preparing beds by lightly treading down after the winter has worked on the rough dug soil before giving the surface a thorough raking down.

Many seeds can now be sown, especially in milder areas, but for those in naturally cooler districts it may be better to still wait a little longer.

Now is a good time to make up a batch of liquid manure feed. Collect horse droppings and tie into a hessian sack. Place the sack in a water barrel and allow to steep for a couple of weeks. This can then be diluted and watered on as required but avoid applying it to seedlings or young plants.