This Month in your Garden - May

If you’re a bedding plant enthusiast then you’ll be extra-busy towards the end of the month as the sooner you plant the sooner you will have flowers. But beware, you can still get frost in May. Having said that it’s more likely you will be busy with your busy lizzies, petunias and salvias and other half-hardy plants, planting them in drifts among shrubs and herbaceous plants.

Remember as well some plants such as mimulus, lobelia and of course busy lizzies do well in shade, along with Senecio cineraria, begonias and coleus.

Lawn Care Questions and Answers - May

Q.  I have over-seeded an area of my lawn that was damaged and the colour is quite different from the rest of the lawn, what can I do about this? Mrs. R. Cain, Worcester.

A. It can be difficult to match a new seed mix with an existing lawn. It’s worth over-seeding the whole lawn if this is not too big a task, for texture and uniformity of colour. In time though, an overseeded or newly turfed area will blend in. 

The Lawn Care Guide - May

There is still time to weed and feed the lawn if you need to clear weeds. Otherwise apply a feed or slow release fertiliser to provide nutrients over a longer period, applied early in the month. 

The Vegetable Plot - May

You can plant tomatoes under glass in the greenhouse without extra heat, either directly into the soil or in

grow bags.

Feed at every watering after the first truss sets but water as little as possible to improve flavour. Don’t shade unless the heat is extreme. 

When plants are flowering spray them with water to help pollination. Maintain a succession of seed sowing for carrots, lettuces and onions.

The Big Glut Recipe – May

Roast leg of lamb with lemon and broad bean sauce

A treat using fresh broad beans as soon as they are ready, probably later in May, early June,and for a short time. Of course you can do this dish at any time with frozen broad beans, but that’s not quite the same is it? This serves 6.

Ingredients:

• 2kg/4lb leg of lamb 
• 4 garlic cloves, cut into slivers 
• Salt and black pepper 
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil 
• 2 egg yolks 
• 4 tbsp lemon juice 
• 250ml/8fl oz chicken stock 
• 500g/1lb broad beans (shelled weight) 
• 2 tsp thyme, freshly chopped 
• Roast, boiled new potatoes or other potatoes and garden vegetables of your choice.