It is the middle of May and I'm finally finding the time to write about gardening this month! May is the busy month in the garden and I guess I've been too busy with the "doing" to write about it! It is a lot of work but by the end of this month, the garden should be filled to capacity! We are enjoying the first fruits of our labors with fresh asparagus and salads. The plentiful rains have everything lush and green. There is much to be done but without the heat of summer, gardening is a delight!
Here is my list of garden tasks for this month along with a few tips. Some goals I've already completed, others have yet to be tackled. Your goals may vary depending on your garden and your area of the country. And remember, I'm an amateur gardener and don't claim to be an expert! I'd like to be corrected if I'm mis-informed in any way!
1. Plant bean and corn, as well as another planting of greens and maybe more carrots.
2. Set out tomato plants in early to mid May. Tomatoes like 50 degree soil, cooler temperatures, day or night, will slow their growth. I like to plant as deeply as possible, only letting the first two or three sets of leaves above ground. Roots will grow along the stem and promote a healthier plant. This year I plan to use two metal fence posts to stake each cage. Our tomatoes usually grow huge and pull over their cages along with the wooden stakes we've used in the past. I also will pinch off the first flowers until the plants are well established.
3. Set out pepper plants in mid to late May. Peppers really enjoy warm weather and should not be planted until the soil is 60 degrees day and night. Like tomatoes, they also should be planted deeply.
3. Plant flowering annual plants and sow flower seeds such as zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers and marigolds directly in soil.
4. Finish dividing perennials flowers and pinch back the mums and fall blooming sedums.
5. Hill early potatoes.
6. Spray grapes with a fungicide. Last year we had a terrible black rot which we are trying to avoid this year.
7. Treat roses. I have never had success with roses. Last year I planted three climbing roses and I'm determined to keep them living! Joanna told me about Bayer's Three in One (fertilizer, herbicide and insecticide) that you dilute and water the plant with every six weeks. Following the directions, the roses did wonderfully last year and I hope to keep up with them this year as well. I then mark on my calendar when they need attention next! I'm told that roses are one of those things that you don't wait until you see trouble to act!
8. Plant vine crops such as pumpkins, squash and watermelon. Vines love the heat and prefer the soil to be 85 degrees before planting so I'm not in a rush! Some folks fork in manure or compost and cover with black plastic to warm up the ground for a few weeks before planting. I plan to cover my vine crops with a fabric row cover to avoid pest damage from the cucumber beetle. If you cover you vines, do make sure to uncover when the blossoms appear so that they can be pollinated.
9. Mulch. The secret of a weed free garden! Covering our garden with grass clippings has been a huge time saver in the summer! As soon as the seeds are up enough to see the rows, we put a thin layer of grass clippings between the rows. We add to it as the summer progresses. This past week I read a book by Ruth Stout describing her year round permanent mulch garden which she calls the "No Work" Garden! I'm tempted to try it on at least one of our gardens next summer. (Our garden is in three separate plots.) Have any of you tried the Ruth Stout method or the related "Lasagna" method?
So what are your goals this May in your garden? Have I missed anything?
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