Today is May Bank Holiday, changed from the normal Monday to Friday 8th to commemorate VE Day. Perhaps some of us don’t feel like celebrating, but it serves as a reminder of how the people triumphed in the face of adversity and that we will meet again post-Covid 19.
Judith has shared these photos:
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| Iberis (Candytuft) Pink Ice |
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Euphorbia Polychroma - I've probably sent before but its
a lovely vibrant plant
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Symphytum x uplandicum variegatum with smyrnium
perfoliatum
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| Erigeron karvinskianos making a take-over bid in my drive |
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| Mystery plant, which came from Sarah Collis I think (its
the blue one with pointed leaves), along with self-seeded ballota (grey) and
geranium cappuccino |
Helichrysum Ruby Cluster and Rhodiola
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Amanda sent photos of the following:
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| Dwarf Iris |
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Tulip White Swan almost sparkles in the sunshine.
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| Clematis does anyone know the name, I love the green stripes and dark anthers |
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| Dwarf Iris |
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| The last daffodil Panorama pink (plus ant) |
Janella received this message by email from Martin Fish:
Hello all, Hope you are keeping well and safe?
As promised, please find attached a list of gardening jobs for May to circulate to your members.
With best wishes Martin
- - - - - - - - - -April 2020
Hello everyone,
I hope you are all keeping well and copying during the lockdown? It’s all very strange at the moment, but fingers crossed things will gradually start to improve and return to normal soon.
On a positive, April turned out to be a good month for gardening with plenty of sunshine and dry weather. In fact, after the wettest February on record, April turned out to be the warmest and I suspect driest on record. In my North Yorkshire garden I only recorded 8mm or rain for the whole of April and that fell on the 29th & 30th of the month. The lack of April showers did at least mean we could get out and enjoy our gardens and with lockdown, those of us at home have been able to get all those little jobs done that we normally don’t have time for! Having said that, Jill keeps on adding more jobs to my list!
Until we are allowed to meet again, please keep safe and carry on gardening.
With best wishes,
Martin
Jobs for May
As soon as spring flowering shrubs such as spiraea, forsythia and ribes have finished flowering, the shrubs can be given a light prune if needed. Cut back long stems to help improve the shape and thin out twiggy and crossing stems to prevent overcrowding.
Dormant dahlia tubers can be planted out into the garden. Improve the soil with compost, dig a large hole and plant so that the top of the tuber is 2 inches below soil level. As the new shoots start to grow, protect them from late frosts.
Towards the end of the month you can start planting tender bedding plants out into the garden. If planting in pots or hanging baskets, they can be planted soon, but make sure they are kept frost free until the plants establish.
If you grow lilies, look out for the scarlet lily beetle and if spotted pick them off and squash them!
Any new perennials or shrubs planted in March or April will need watering to help the roots settle in if the weather and soil is dry. Water the ground thoroughly once a week so that it soaks deep into the soil. The roots will them follow it down in search of moisture.
Tulips have flowered well this spring and although they don’t naturalise as well as daffodils, if you deadhead to prevent the seed pods developing and give a couple of liquid feeds, it helps to build up the bulbs for next year and they should flower again.
Start supporting tall perennials before they get too tall and fall over, Canes, twiggy sticks or plant supports are ideal.
Now we’ve had some rain lawns will start to grow much faster, so mow little and often to keep your lawn green and healthy. Persistent lawn weeds can be removed by hand, or you can treat them with a selective lawn weed killer, following the instructions on the packet.
There is still plenty of time to sow the seeds of runner beans. You can either start them off in small pots undercover or plant the seeds directly into the garden where they are going to grow. An old gardener I knew never planted his seeds until 12th May and he always had a fantastic crop.
Tomato plants can be planted into a cold greenhouse or conservatory from early May, either in large pots or growbags, but remember on cold nights to drape some garden fleece over them. If planning to grow outside tomatoes on a patio wait until the end of May.
If growing cucumbers in a greenhouse, remember they like it warm. Close the vents at night to avoid draughts and if a cold night is forecast, cover the plants with fleece.
Keep sowing lettuce and salad leaves little and often to give you a continuous supply through summer.
Earth-up potatoes into ridges and give them a feed of a granular fertiliser to help underground stems and tubers develop.
When the seedlings are large enough, plant out brassicas and leeks into their permanent position.
Keep rows of vegetables weed free by hoeing between them on a regular basis to chop of the small seedlings before they grow too large. To work well, do it on a dry sunny day.
Blueberries growing in pots of ericaceous compost need regular watering and can be fed once a week with a high potash fertiliser once flowers start to develop.
Pots & Trowels gardening videos
If you use Facebook or YouTube, I now post two videos a week from our garden with a selection of seasonal hints and tips. Just search for Pots & Trowels - they are free to watch and subscribe to. All I ask is that you Like and Share them with your friends to get everyone gardening!
If you enjoy cooking, Jill is always adding new seasonal recipes to our website, using fresh fruit & vegetables from the garden. Feel free to have a look – www.martinfish.com
Happy gardening,
Martin Fish.
www.martinfish.com
Remember it’s UK National Garden Day on Sunday
https://www.gardenday.co.uk/
Maybe you can tell us what you did in your gardens on that day.
We missed Naked Garden Day, but if anyone has pictures ……
