May: Blooming Marvellous
Hi ,
This May has begun with some truly wonderful weather, with the 1st boasting the hottest start to this month on record. With some lovely, above-average conditions to look forward to, there are plenty of gardening opportunities to look forward to.
Support local wildlife by planting nectar-rich favourites like foxgloves, verbena, and alliums. Position a shallow dish of water for birds and bees, and one on the floor for hedgehogs. Leave some leafy corners undisturbed for shelter, and some meaty cat or dog food too.
Keep an eye out for me on ITV’s This Morning throughout the month; I’ll be sharing all kinds of seasonal gardening advice to inspire you to get gardening this year. To catch up on the latest Front Garden Facelift with This Morning, watch it here.
My columns in the Daily Mirror and Daily Express can be found each Saturday, packed with gardening tips, tricks, and gardening tasks to keep your outdoor space in top condition. Find my latest columns here.
I’m looking forward to some appearances in the coming months, and it would be lovely to see you there. See the links below to find out more about where I’ll be and when:
- Garden Show Ireland
- National Gardening & Outdoor Living Show
- Belvoir Castle Flower Show
- Southport Flower Show
May your May be bright, blooming, and joyful.
Happy gardening!
David
Help me grow my YouTube Channel
It’s FREE to subscribe and you can use your existing email address to set up a Google account; follow this simple step-by-step guide. If you already have a Google account, you can subscribe straight away.
There have been many exciting developments in my garden this year so far. I even have a new series launched this week, the beginning of a Year in My Garden. I’d love it if you joined me on this year-long journey of gardening and growing.
Once you have your brand new Google account, head to my channel to subscribe.
Gardening tip of the month
Grow Your Own Salad Leaves
Fresh, homegrown salad leaves are quick, easy, and rewarding. Here is how to sow, grow, and harvest your own in just a few weeks.
Pick your spot
Choose a sunny, sheltered location with at least six hours of sunlight a day. A raised bed, window box, or wide, shallow container will do the job nicely.
Just make sure it has good drainage so water doesn’t pool at the roots. Keep it close to the kitchen for quick picking at mealtimes.
Sow the seeds
Sprinkle your salad seeds thinly and evenly across your peat-free compost’s surface. Go for speedy growers like rocket, lettuce, mustard leaves, pak choi, or mizuna.
Cover with a fine layer of compost, firm down gently, and water with a fine spray to avoid disturbing the seeds.
Water and Protect
Water consistently, especially in dry weather, to stop the compost from drying out and leaves from turning bitter. A light watering once or twice a day may be needed in warm spells.
Use mesh or cloches to protect young seedlings from pests or unexpected cold snaps, and check regularly for signs of pests.
Snip and Enjoy
You’ll have harvestable leaves in as few as 3-4 weeks. Use scissors or snips to cut off what you need, starting with the outer leaves first. Picking regularly encourages more growth, so you can enjoy multiple harvests from each sowing.
The fresher the better, perfect for salads, sandwiches and stir-fries, fresh from the garden.
A Year in My Garden – Episode 4
Make sure you catch up with the latest installment of ‘A Year in My Garden’ for my seasonal gardening tips.
Watering without a Hose
In this video, I show you just how easy it is to set up an Irrigatia system in even remote areas of your garden.
| |||||
|
Congratulations to the winners!
Keep your eyes peeled for more blogs, videos, competitions and winner announcements throughout May.
David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
Leave A Comment