With the advent of May, intensive work in the gardens begins.
In the vegetable part of the garden, sowing directly into the ground continues throughout this month, on the seedbed and planting many kinds of vegetables for summer and autumn equipment, intended for direct consumption, for preserves and for winter storage. In early May, we sow the radish straight into the ground (by the end of the first decade at the latest). Late varieties of carrots are sown (for winter storage), the most useful of which is Perfection, because despite its large root it is sweet and contains a lot of vitamin A.. The beginning of May is also the period of planting onions and leeks. Around mid-May, root and leaf celery are planted. Plants should be planted shallow, but close the roots well.
Until mid-May, we sow on the seedbed and in cold frames: broccoli and kale.
Between 10 a 15 we may sow thermophilic vegetables to the ground, such as: dwarf and pole beans, beans for dry grain – dwarf and pole, cucumber, pumpkin, cucurbit, courgette, sweet corn, and from amateur vegetables: patison, European leprosy and vegetable purslane.
From mid-May to mid-June, crispy lettuce is sown into the ground and on the seedbed. In the second half of May, we also sow lettuce chicory to obtain roots for forcing.
In the second half of May – tomato seedlings are planted by mid-June, of cucumbers and corn from the pots.
May is a period of increased vegetation of fruit trees and shrubs. During this time, strong shoot growth and fruit setting take place, therefore plants require a lot of water and nutrients. Therefore, in times of drought, our trees and shrubs need to be watered, and weed at the same time, to remove competing weeds. At the beginning of May, we fertilize trees and shrubs with fertilizer mixtures (Azofoska, fruit).
During the flowering of trees, we observe its intensity and if the frosts did not damage the flowers, we can proceed to thinning the buds. We do it manually or by spraying with Pomonit.
Later this month, we can transplant fruit trees - apple trees and pear trees – using a sheepskin coat.
In May, we apply basic treatments to protect plants against pests and diseases, e.g.. spraying against scab. In the fight against powdery mildew, apart from spraying, we use cutting out infected tops of shoots. Among the diseases occurring on fruit shrubs, we pay special attention to the American gooseberry mildew and currant leaf fall..
In order to accelerate the ripening of strawberries, we put foil tunnels on the beds with these plants (in early May).
We plant the wild strawberry seedlings, and in strawberries we mulch the inter-rows, which prevents the fruit from becoming sandy. It also has a positive effect on plant growth, because mulching protects the soil from drying out and inhibits the growth of weeds.
Sowing many ornamental plants continues in May. We sow from annual flowers: nasturtium, Purslane, the lion, marigolds, lard, sweet peas, reseda, wilec, sunflower. Biennial plants are sown: garden bells, Grenadin and bearded cloves, forget-me-nots, thimbles, pansies, daisies and mallow. And from perennials: lupine, keratosis, pink pyrethrum, jastruń, pinnate carnation, goose, agvin, rudbeckia, lard, columbine.
By dividing the plants, we reproduce this month: function, meadowsweet yarrow and syphilitic, rudbeckia, jastruń, daylilies, barwinek, thyme, purgatory, birthday, goldenrod, paniculate flame, boroughs, sedum and many more.
In early May, we plant the gladioli tubers. We also plant dahlias and select tulips that are blooming now.
Spring shrubs, such as: meadows, forsythia, lilac, almonds, after flowering, it should be trimmed. Faded inflorescences should be removed from lilacs.
Rose bushes, which are weakly branched and have only one or two shoots, we shorten, pinching the shoots over 3-4 a leaf.
With the advent of May, intensive work in the gardens begins.
