May is the month of transformation in the garden and the landscape really begins to flourish. It’s a joy to be outside, come rain or shine. It’s been hot and dry in Norfolk, and I’ve even pulled the Rhino Greenhouse blinds down for a few days to protect the seedlings from too much hot sunshine. Like always, there is still the risk of cold temperatures and even frost for a week or two longer so my young plants remain under cover until the second half of the month.
Depending on where you are based, by the end of May is generally safe to plant out. I tend to harden off my young plants by moving them outside of the greenhouse in the day, putting them back inside at night for about a week or so before gradually leaving them outside at night until I get the chance to plant them. It’s worth acclimatising them to give plants the best chance of thriving but if the weather is warm enough and you simply don’t have time, don’t worry! Many plants will do just fine. Plant on a mild day without hot sunshine if you can to help reduce transplant stress and remember to water well.
In the Rhino Greenhouse, growth is storming along with plenty of greenery. I sowed fairly late this year but the warmth of recent weeks has really brought everything along so quickly. From Tomatoes to Chillis, Cucamelons to Calabrese and plenty of micro greens - it’s a pure delight to potter in. I’ve sown a lot of Zinnias and Cosmos this year as I have a large square bed at the bottom of my allotment for cut flowers and these are the most ideal for the space. I love having the hooks on one side of the greenhouse because I can plant up hanging baskets with annuals before moving them outside and after that, I use them to tie up vines such as Cucumbers.
On the allotment, the showstoppers of May are the Peonies. This year they have grown so fast and so big already, there are hundreds of buds and some almost ready to pop at the beginning of the month. The excitement is real! Peonies benefit from some support as the big, beautiful flower heads are heavy on the stems so before they get too big add the support now if needed. I do use a couple of Peony supports but there’s so many they seem to support each other up until they begin to fade. I love all cut flowers but I don’t think anything beats the Peony harvest. The best time to cut them for a vase is when the buds feel a little like marshmallows, place them straight into cool water and they will open up in the vase. Cutting them when already open is just as beautiful, but they won’t last so long.
Don’t forget to take the time to pause and breathe it all in. There’s so much scent at this time of year, from fruit blossom to Lilac trees, so grab an early morning cuppa and step outside into the wonderful month of May.
Happy gardening!