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Planting Job Openings in May

Wilson advises on the plants to sow in May for impressive blooms and successful harvest in the latter part of the year, as detailed in BBC Gardeners' World Magazine.

Sowing Job Opportunities in May: A Look at Current Job Openings
Sowing Job Opportunities in May: A Look at Current Job Openings

Planting Job Openings in May

May Gardening: Sowing Seeds for a Vibrant Summer

As May arrives, it's time to get your hands dirty and start sowing seeds for a beautiful summer garden. Here are some tips and suggestions for flowers and vegetables that can be planted outdoors this month.

Flowers

Field poppies, with their double flowers and subtle shades, are available for planting. You can also opt for opium poppies, which come in a range of colours from white and greys to luscious pinks and burgundy. California poppies, known for attracting bees and other insects, are also wonderful plants for your garden this month. Strawflowers, with their everlasting beauty, can be sown outside in well-drained soil in a sunny position.

For those who appreciate the naturalistic effect, Aquilegia are in bloom this month, creating a perfect addition to cottage garden borders or dotted through gravel gardens. And for those who enjoy a splash of colour late in the month, half-hardy annuals like cosmos and zinnia can be direct-sown.

Vegetables

May is also an ideal time to sow more tender annuals, such as sweetcorn, cucumbers, and melons, under cover until the end of May. Strawflowers can also be sown outside this month for a summer harvest.

For vegetables like spinach and lettuce, consider starting indoors or using heat-tolerant varieties because they germinate poorly in warm soil. French marigolds, which prefer a sunny spot in well-drained, fertile soil, can still be sown outdoors in May.

Gardening Tips

To ensure success in sowing seeds outdoors in May, follow these key tips:

  1. Choose appropriate seeds for your climate and time of year: Use a planting calendar keyed to your USDA zone or average frost dates to select suitable varieties and timing.
  2. Prepare the soil well: Turn and loosen the soil, then amend it with compost or fertilizer to ensure nutrient-rich, well-drained seedbed conditions.
  3. Sow seeds at the proper depth: Generally, cover seeds with a very light layer of soil or compost, just enough to hide them, as most flower and vegetable seeds need some light but not exposure.
  4. Keep soil consistently moist: Water gently but regularly to maintain even moisture, especially in warm weather where soil can dry quickly.
  5. Thin seedlings after germination: Once seedlings grow a bit, remove smaller plants to provide proper spacing and reduce competition for nutrients and light.
  6. Select early-maturing or heat-tolerant varieties for May sowing: This ensures plants reach maturity before cooler weather returns or day length shortens.
  7. Use labeled seed trays for delicate seeds or herb seeds: For herbs like thyme, start seeds indoors in warm, humid conditions, then transplant outside after seedlings emerge.

Acclimatisation

Tender seedlings can be acclimatised and planted out in the garden after all risk of frost has passed. Poppies dislike root disturbance, so sowing in situ is best.

May is known as the Flower Moon or Corn Planting Moon, a perfect time to start your garden journey for a beautiful summer. Happy sowing!

In the spirit of May's Flower Moon or Corn Planting Moon, consider sowing seeds for home-and-garden favorites like strawflowers, which can be sown outside in well-drained soil in a sunny position. Additionally, gardening enthusiasts may find success in planting vegetables such as sweetcorn, cucumbers, and melons under cover, awaiting transplant outdoors by the end of May.

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