The orchard in May: a month of hectic activity

PERHAPS THE MOST PLEASANT MONTH IN THE GARDEN (IF IT DOESN’T RAIN A LOT)

A few hours have passed since the month of May began and with it, many of the activities in the garden are intensifying. Sowing, transplanting, first treatments. The climate already accompanies these tasks, giving us days of pleasant temperatures and bright sun under which it is a pleasure to take care of the garden (with sunscreen and a hat !!) Let’s see what we have for the garden in May.

WEATHER IN MAY

Although it is true that the climatic instability typical of spring still remains , May leaves us with a good percentage of very pleasant days , with mild temperatures and days in which the sun, without actually burning, begins to heat up.

Sensation that is grateful for any living being: from the plants in the garden, or the cat that looks for the corner with the sun, to ourselves that it seems that something is pushing us to go out into the street.

Looking a bit at the climatic histories, we can define three zones in Spain.

The northern area (not coastal) still has some probability of suffering night frosts and therefore we have to be very attentive to the forecasts if we want to plant in the garden without too many risks.

The central area is already beginning to free itself from these dreaded night colds (for the garden), although some frost can occur, while the southern area enjoys a climate more similar to summer.

And although the temperatures are so different depending on which areas of Spain, what we can all agree on is that bright days are beginning to abound . Let’s take advantage of them to take advantage of the garden!

SOWING IN THE GARDEN IN MAY

If we start from frost-free climates at this time we will be able to transplant and do direct sowing practically everything that these months allow. In hot climates, the planting rule is, everything that summer cannot hold, cannot be planted in these months like asparagus.

For the rest, we are above all a world of horticultural possibilities that are the vast majority. We can even plant lettuces as long as they are varieties that begin to resist premature flowering due to high temperatures and longer hours of light.

We can continue sowing leeks, chard, celery, beets, carrots, radishes, lettuces, but these types of products are the ones that we have been growing for months.

What you really want are cucumbers, aubergines, tomatoes, zucchini, melon, watermelons … and without going through a seedbed! although whenever possible it is recommended.

Here is the guide to all the crops mentioned:

Chard cultivation

Celery cultivation

Beet cultivation

Growing radishes

Growing lettuce

Tomato cultivation

Growing zucchini

Melon cultivation

TRANSPLANTS IN THE GARDEN IN MAY

It is true that we will still have to do transplants and many . Everything we had in seedbeds from the months of unstable temperatures will now be ready to start with transplants.

Inside the transplant and plantings say a few recommendations. Keep an eye on the cold in cold areas and the heat in warm areas. It may seem like an overly obvious and even silly statement but let me explain.

May is one of those months when in northern areas 10 absolutely wonderful days come out and from one day to the next “one falls” that leaves the seedlings trembling. And in hot areas the opposite. We may have 10-15 beautiful, mild, extremely pleasant days and overnight “another falls” (this time of heat) that leaves the plants dry, and we can take unnecessary risks.

In the case of cold, we only have the option of waiting a few more days and for the opposite case we will have to help the plant with shade or with some more watering. Maybe it’s a bit alarmist because I don’t think we find ourselves in this situation very often in the orchard in May.

HARVESTS IN THE ORCHARD IN MAY

Within the diversity of climates, there are products as always that we will have throughout the year. This month the garden rewards us with radishes, lettuce, some broccoli and late cauliflower, beets, onion. If we are in warm areas, it is very possible that you already enjoy the first zucchini, cucumbers, beans and the occasional pepper.

THE FRUITS OF THE MONTH OF MAY

The strawberry continues to be the star fruit of this month, although there is a little more than a month left for the strawberry to give way to the fresh and sweet melons and watermelons. At the moment, now we are in medlar season, which is one of the first trees to bear fruit in the spring, as we already said at the entrance of the medlar a few days ago. So enjoy it!

 

COMPLEMENTARY TASKS IN THE GARDEN IN MAY

  • We already spoke in April about tomato tutors . If April was an early month in your garden, May may be the month you have to start tying canes to guide them. Good month to do it with the days so good that there are beginning to be.
  •  Time to perform the mulch if you have not done it, facing the hottest months, to help save on watering. On the other hand, the incidence of adventitious grasses will be somewhat less so weeding or weeding the ridges will be done much less frequently if you mulch.
  • Continue to monitor possible unwanted guests who eat the fruits of the garden before we do. Aphids, slugs and other companions.

Finally links that can help you:

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