Garden year: To Do’s in May
Finally out into the open.
Just in time for Pankratius, Servatius, Bonifatius & Co. it gets really uncomfortable again. So we can lean back for a moment before we really get going in the garden. Because after the ice saints you can confidently put the mimosas among the useful plants outside.
Vegetables
Cold-sensitive vegetables such as zucchini, tomatoes, lettuce or chard can be sown after the ice saints in mid-May or placed in beds as young plants. Since the weather forecast is still somewhat uncertain after May 15th, we would recommend that the plants should be protected from spontaneous night frost with newspaper or fleece until the end of May. Pumpkin and sweet corn can be planted in the flower beds already at the beginning of May, Brussels sprouts only at the end of the month.
Sowing directly outdoors
Carrots, radishes, zucchini, cabbage, lettuce and iceberg lettuce, spinach, beetroot
Pre-grown plants
Pre-grown plants can finally be planted outdoors: cucumbers, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, pumpkin, zucchini
Pre-grown cabbage varieties such as red cabbage, white cabbage, kale or broccoli can be transferred to the field after the last frost.
In May leek and Brussels sprouts are planted for the winter harvest. Pay attention to change of location! It is especially important that the Brussels sprouts are not in the same location as last year!
Herbs
Herbs such as dill, marjoram, oregano, parsley or basil are pre-grown in pots until the ice saints, after which they can be sown directly outside or placed outside. Between vegetable plants, herbs spice up the beds. Perennial herbs such as lavender and thyme should be thinned out and cut back by a good third.
Many herbs that have not yet been pre-grown can also be sown directly in the field from mid-May (basil, dill, marjoram, coriander, maggi or thyme).
Flowers
Annual flowers such as balloon wine, Cosmos, nasturtium, calliopsis, morning glory, sunflowers, marigolds and zinnias can now be sown outdoors.
Among the perennial flowers the sweet william, Lupine, coneflower and Hollyhock can be sown.
May is a good month to plant a flower meadow. To do this, remove the lawn, plant parts and roots and work through the soil with a rake until the ground it is loose and fine crumbly. For heavy soils, sand should be mixed in. Seed should be sown on it, mixed with the soil with a rake and lightly pressed down with a shovel. Keep the soil well moist during the sprouting period.
Well then: HAVE FUN IN MAY!
