Organic Gardening In May

YOUR GARDEN IN MAY

More info from www.hdra.org.uk

� Many seeds can be sown straight into the ground at this time of year. Try beetroots, cabbage, carrots, salad onions, lettuce, peas, broad beans, radishes and turnips.

� Always protect carrots from root flies by covering with fleece until the plants are big enough to have grass clippings put round them to stop the flies digging into the ground. The flies do not fly high off the ground, so a barrier around your crop may be an easier solution. Some people say that onions grown nearby put the flies off. Don�t leave thinned out carrots lying around because the flies smell these and find your crop.

� Keep sowing French beans, runner beans, sweetcorn, courgettes and marrows indoors to shorten the growing time of these plants. Sow the same seeds outside at the same time to make sure that your vegetables won�t all be ready at the same time.

� When planting out young leeks, wait until the seedlings (young plants) are 10cm tall, make a hole in the ground with a cane and place the leek into this without filling back up with soil. Water the newly planted seedlings gently just after planting.

� Cabbages, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and calabrese should have a square of old underlay fitted around their base when planted out, to stop cabbage root fly from reaching their�roots.

� Plant young marrow and courgette plants into the ground. Allow lots of space around each plant and put compost onto the soil before planting because these plants need a lot of water and this will help hold it for them.

� Pinch the tops off broad beans after flowering to discourage black fly.

� Fruit trees in blossom must be protected with fleece if a frost is expected.

� Keep checking for pests and diseases. The earlier they are caught the less of a problem they will cause. We can help you identify pests and diseases if you bring examples or photos in.

Last Modified 8/10/05 2:26 PM

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