May can be one of the most difficult months for us veg growers, with the beginning still able to produce hard frosts, and the end of the month sometimes giving us temperatures in the 20s; it's certainly a month of two halves! Many a gardener has been caught out this month thinking that it's warm enough to plant out tender crops early, only to go and check on them the next day to see that they've turned to mush. If in doubt, leave it a week or two; in fact, I don't plant tender crops out in the garden until the last week in May at the earliest, and even then I have cloches and fleece ready to cover plants.
That said, there are plants that are happy to be planted outside now, and even a few that are already cropping! When it comes to harvesting, perennial varieties seem to have the lead, with many Victorian kitchen garden favourites being at the top of the list.
GLOBE ARTICHOKES
Statuesque globe artichokes will be ready this month, with both green and violet/purple types not only looking amazing in the garden but making a tasty treat in the kitchen. When harvesting, remember they have spikes on the end of the leaves which are quite sharp, plus the sap is sticky, so wear gloves.
Rhubarb will also be growing with gusto this month. Gone are the pale pink forced stalks; replacing them are thick, deep red and green main stalks. When harvesting, always twist and pull, never cut the stalks as they can rot back towards the crown. Keep on top of harvesting and always water well to prevent the plants from producing a flower spike; but if this does happen, simply remove it and add to the compost.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2022 من Kitchen Garden.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2022 من Kitchen Garden.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
EASY DOES IT!
As the growing season gathers pace there's one thing often in short supply: time! Ever feel like you're chasing your tail? Benedict Vanheems offers some tips to save valuable time and effort
A NEW Kitchen garden!
It's time for sowing and planting in the new garden and while Martin is busy with that, Jill is making a tasty asparagus soup
OUR PLOTTER OF THE MONTH
Kitchen Garden readers rose to the challenge when we asked for pictures of their plots to appear in the magazine this year. It's time to meet another of our talented competition winners
MANAGING WEEDS, NATURALLY
Weeds are never far away but you can keep them at bay without recourse to weedkillers
Meet the apple doctor
KG editor Steve Ott chats to Glyn Smith, head gardener for the National Trust's Erddig estate in Wrexham, about his career and love of the garden he has tended for 38 years
A CORNUCOPIA OF COURGETTES
It's time to sow a first batch of tender crops such as courgettes for picking through the summer months. KG editor Steve Ott has some tips for a super harvest
FLAVOURSOME FRUIT CURRANTS
you If I want to plant some soft fruit that is easy to grow and will give you plenty of flavour, how about trying currants?
TRY AMARANTH! The dual-purpose veg
Garden Organic's research manager Anton Rosenfeld extols the virtues of amaranth and how to grow it
A SPACE APART
Instagrammer James Martin shares his love of gardening and how much it has helped him and his family both mentally and physically under very difficult circumstances
HITTING THE SWEET SPOT
Welcome to the wonderful world of sweetcorn as Rob Smith takes a look at both old and newer varieties, with some growing advice too