Kitchen Garden May 2017

May means warmer soils for most of us and the prospect of filling the plot with young plants – either home-grown or bought in. In this issue I’ll be offering my top tips for success with your early plantings and in a separate feature starting on page 80 suggesting some second sowings that can be made now to keep your harvests coming into the autumn and beyond. Writer and broadcaster Martin Fish has a weekend project guaranteed to keep your carrots free from carrot fly, while Joyce Russell has a great idea for making a bucket garden that’s perfect for those with limited space. We all like to grow something new and community gardening enthusiast Wendy Pillar encourages us all to try oca, a colourful potato-like tuber with a lemony…

BEN VANHEEMS Organic gardening expert Ben takes a close look at companion planting to encourage polllinators and to deter pests and the folklore surrounding it. What actually works and what is wishful thinking? GEOFF STEBBINGS Head gardener and gardening writer Geoff has spent several years developing a beautiful and productive potager in Ireland. In this issue he suggests things you can try on your own plot with beautiful results. JOYCE RUSSELL Joyce is fanatical about her polytunnel and greenhouse and each month brings us all the latest jobs for the month under cover where, beliveve it or not she is already harvesting cucumbers! MARTIN FISH As well as helping you to look after your carrots by building a carrot frame, Martin offers his usual roundup of all the essential jobs…

10 MINUTE JOBS HARDEN OFF TENDER VEG Tender vegetables that have been started off undercover can be gradually hardened off over the next few weeks in a cold frame to prepare them for planting out in the garden once the danger of frost has passed. On cold nights close the frame to conserve heat. PROTECT POTATOES In many parts of the country there is still a chance that we’ll get some night frosts through May. To protect soft growth such as potatoes pushing through the soil, I like to keep some garden fleece to hand to drape over plants if a frost is forecast. WATER NEWLY PLANTED CROPS Check any newly planted vegetables or fruit bushes to make sure the soil around their roots is moist at all times. May…

SOWING COURGETTES There is still plenty of time to sow tender vegetables such as courgettes. Although they can be sown directly into the garden, I prefer to raise them in cell trays or pots and plant out when the seedlings are established. Sown in May or June, the plants will quickly establish and produce a good crop through the summer and into early autumn when earlier-sown plants will have finished fruiting. WATER BASIL SEEDLINGS Basil is a good herb to grow and there are several forms available, all with their own distinctive flavour. One thing they all require is warmth and protection at the seedling stage to help them establish. Now the days are much warmer, the seedlings should grow without too many problems as long as they are watered…

Enjoy the month of May – it can be one of the nicest in the greenhouse. There is so much promise in all those growing plants and so much pleasure to be had from picking delicious crops of potatoes, carrots, strawberries, courgettes and more. Keep an eye out for problems as the year marches on and deal with pests and diseases quickly before they spread. May is often a dry and sunny month, so keep on top of watering, but don’t flood the soil around small plants. SOW & PLANT IN MAY • Sow basil in rows directly in the soil • Sow more French beans and salad leaves • Sow pumpkins in large pots • Plant sweetcorn sown last month and sow more for a later crop • Plant…

HARROGATE SPRING FLOWER SHOW The Harrogate Spring Flower Show (April 20-23) heralds the new season this year with yet another horticultural spectacular. The theme is HortCouture, a celebration of style in the home, the garden and fashion! Look out also for the spring show gardens, the Dig-It Theatre with its regular gamut of talks and demonstrations, the Feat Food Theatre and lots of garden retail therapy opportunities. And, of course, don’t forget to pay a visit to our very own Kitchen Garden Live area with lots of talks, demonstrations and Q&A sessions from the KG team and our guest speakers. To win tickets, turn to page 31. Take the pest and disease survey The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the Royal Holloway, University of London are asking gardeners to take…