BOB THE GARDENER

In the garden in May

.We have had the most appalling Spring so far, and I am hoping it is going to rapidly improve from now on... here's hoping!

Daffs are looking a bit sad now; the blooms have long since gone in most cultivars so what do you do?

In a bed or border, to tie or not to tie? Well, if you let them 'hang loose' they will overhang lower growing plants and deny them the loght they need so I tend to tie. However, tie very loosely. This will avoid damaging the vascular bundles so the food reserves will be able to return to the bulb to 'kick start' it next Spring.

In a wild area, I would leave it to die back naturally of its own accord.

If there is still plenty of life in your Daffs, and especially if they are still flowering; why not treat them to some liquid manure (diluted obviously), or a general NPK 7-7-7 fertiliser such as Growmore.

In the veg garden, you should now be sowing madly, but try warming the soil first by putting black plastic over where your seeds are to go. This will hold the heat in the sunshine and give your seeds a good start.

Don't forget that it can be wise to leave sowing Carrots for a bit... this avoids Carrot Fly to some extent, but in any case, try sowing them with Onions. This will pot the carrot fly off somewhat.

Don't forget that frosts could still be a problem: The tip is to wait until after the Chelsea Flower Show.

Are you cutting your lawns yet? You need to; but set the mower highish, and please, please, DON'T cut if the grass is wet to the touch OR the soil is waterlogged.

Unless you're organic, bash those nettles NOW with Glyphosate, now while they're sprouting strongly. However, please don't kill them in unnecessary areas, because a lot of wildlife needs nettles to survive...some butterflies are an example.

Gentlemen: take a tip rom Bob Flowerdew and relieve yourself on your compost heap (discreetly of course!). Urine is a magnificent activator. Also add Comfrey when it gets going, and nettles (providing you haven't weedkillered them).

Finally for this month: Enjoy yourself!

Bob