May 2023
GARDENING NOTES FOR MAY
Keep the hoe going amongst plants to get rid of weed seedlings before they get too big.
Keep the greenhouse well ventilated and dampen down the path to keep a humid atmosphere.
Cuttings can be taken now of both hardy and tender perennials such as Anthemis,
Pelargonium, Verbena and Fuchsia. Put plant supports around clumps of herbaceous
perennials before they get too tall and flop over. If you have not already done so, make up
hanging baskets, troughs and tubs with summer bedding plants for a spectacular colour show
from June onwards. Plant out annual bedding plants from around May 15th when it should
be safe from late frosts in this area but keep a close watch on the weather forecasts just in
case.
Keep lawns mown on a regular basis from now on.
Continue to earth up potatoes in the vegetable patch as they grow to support them and to keep
the developing tubers from becoming green in the light. Supports should be put in place for
Peas. Broad Beans will benefit by putting canes and string to support them before they blow
over. Vegetable seeds direct sown last month will now need to be thinned. Carrots will
benefit from being grown under Enviromesh to keep the dreaded carrot root fly from ruining
the crop. Brassica crops growing without protection will be attached by the Cabbage White
Butterfly laying its eggs, then the resulting ravages of the caterpillars. Also, pigeons will
strip off all the leaves of the young plants. Far better to protect with Enviromesh or Fleece.
As the Tomato plants produce their first trusses of flowers, spray the plants with water once a
day or shake the plants to pollinate the flowers. This is best done around the middle of the
day especially if the sun is shining.
Strawberries are now starting to grow strongly and producing their first flowers. Strawberry
mats placed around the plants or straw, will keep the developing fruits off the soil and reduce
the chance of rotting. Inspect Gooseberries regularly for signs of sawfly attach. If seen pick
off the young caterpillars and then spray with a suitable insecticide such as Provado Ultimate
Fruit and Vegetable insecticide. If you have fruit of any type growing in containers keep
them well watered and feed regularly.
PROBLEM OF THE MONTH : Mealy Bug
Mealy Bug is a common insect pest on a wide variety of houseplants and other greenhouse
plants. The insect is pink in colour but covers itself with a white waxy substance which
makes it difficult to control with conventional means. The use of a systemic insecticide will
control this pest over a period of time by spraying every 10-14 days. This type of product
must never be used on an edible crop. Most non-flowering houseplants can also be treated
with a wash with water under pressure from a hosepipe with your finger over the end. Root
Mealy Bug is a different pest altogether and only attacks the roots and/or any part of the plant
at soil lever, this is mainly a problem on plants growing in pots over a long period of time
such as Cacti and Succulents. This pest is best treated with a soil drench again of a systemic
insecticide such as Provado Ultimate Bug Killer Concentrate.