24th May 2012

It’s all very exciting, everything has started growing like mad – including the weeds! So really you could be spending a lot of time outside enjoying the garden, weeding the flower beds and planting out all sorts of exciting things. You shouldn’t need to water your vegetable patch unless we have a heat wave. Do not overwater. Jobs 1. Empty greenhouse, start to take most things out of the greenhouse as it will get too hot in there. Plants like tomatoes, basil, cucumbers, peppers, chilli’s and aubergines can all stay in there as they love the heat. Don’t forget to water well. 2. Plant out all kinds of beans, sweet peas, peas, courgettes, tomatoes, lettuces.... Make sure that you harden off the plants before actually planting them. When planted water well straight away. Some plants will benefit from still keeping the tunnels on such as tomatoes and strawberries.

3. Pinch out extra stems from tomatoes, pinch out broad bean tips. 4. Weed any beds that are getting out of control, try to keep on top of the weed situation. Don’t let your vegetables have to compete for energy from the ground. 5. Sow another batch of salads. If you are doing 2nd batches of beans or peas sow these too. Sow carrots.... 6. Harvest asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries, and salads. 7. Get ready with some form of birdscare/netting for the soft fruit.