Early Summer is here! Now is the time to relax a little and enjoy all your hard work of the last few months. Of course this does not mean sit back and do nothing! This month is a transitional period between the Spring flowering plants and bulbs dying back and the blaze of colour from summer bedding Remember if you live in the North you you will still need to watch for night frosts especially after clear bright days. The warmth and new growth in the garden also means that pests are on the march and wherever possible organic means of controllng these pests and diseases should be used.i

*Propagation Indoors

Continue sowing spring flowering biennials (Wallflowers, Forget-me-nots, Sweet Williams and winter flowering Pansies )

Sow Polyanthus for next Spring

Sow seeds of Primula, Cinerarias and calceolarias for pot plants to flower in the winter and spring

Prick out or pot up seedlings sown last month

Pot on cuttings taken earlier from Hydrangeas

Continue to take softwood cuttings from shrubs

Propagate climbers by layering

Continue to pot up cuttings of perrenials taken earlier in the spring

Harden off Summer Bedding Plants (Petunias, French and African Marigolds) before planting once all danger of frost is passed

Plant up Hanging Baskets ( if not already done), and harden them off outside till chance of frost is past

Continue to sow half hardy and hardy annuals for winter flowering pot plants (Browallia, Calceolaris, Cinerarias and Schizanthus)

Keep sowing salad vegetables in small quantities to provide a continuous supply of fresh salad

Plant up Tomatoes, Peppers and Aubergines sown earlier

TIP: Seeds sown in modular tray systems take up less spacie, save time in pricking out and produce strong sturdy plants with little or no root disturbance when transplanting once the weather warms up. Check plants regularly to see if watering is needed. You will have to water actively growing plants several times a week.

*Planting out Outdoors

Watch the weather forecast to check for night frosts and protect tender plants with horticultural fleece if frost is likely.

Also remember that your seedlings are very attractive to birds and wildlife and it is advised that you take appropriate measures to protect them at this vulnerable stage.

Sow hardy annuals

Sow perennials (Achilles and hardy Geraniums)

Sow hardy herbaceous perrenials (Lupins, Delphiniums and Hollyhocks)

Train Sweet Peas planted out last month

Plant Anemones to flower in Autumn

PLant out Cannas and also Lily Bulbs which were potted up earlier in year

Plant up half hardy annuals and tender perrenials in tubs, troughs and containers

Direct sow Runner Beans, French Beans and sweetcorn (will germinate once threat of frost is past)

Plant out Leeks sown in March

Plant out the next batch of Celery sown earlier

Celeriac plants raised earlier can also be planted out

Continue successional sowing of Beetroot, Cabbage, Carrots, Salad Onions, Lettuce, Peas, Broad Beans, Radishes and Turnips

Plant out Runner Beans

Plant out Tomatoes

Plant and sow Marrows and Courgettes and Pumpkins and Squashes

Sow Turnips for an autumn crop

Strawberry plants will be producing lots of runners which can be pegged down to make new plants

TIP: Now is the time to keep an eye out for garden pests like greenfly, whitefly and cabbage white butterfly and to catch them early before they do any damage.

*In the Greenhouse

Check all the plants for signs of pests and diseases which often increase as the temperature rises especially white fly and greenfly at this time of year

Increase ventilation on warm days

Increase watering of plants as the weather warms up. Damp down regularly, splashing water on the floor and under the staging to increase humidity levels. (This will help to control pests especially the Red Spider Mite)

Shade the Greenhouse or Conservatory to prevent major temperature fluctuation
The indications given above assume you will be using Rootrainers seed trays and or/plug plants produced in Rootrainers. If you are using conventional seed trays, then the growth cycle is likely to be longer. Also remember if you are using Rootrainers seed trays you will not have to do any potting up of your cuttings and you will save on compost.

TIP: Spring and early summer is the best time to take stem cuttings off healthy plants. For easy stem cutting success try the innovative Rooterpot which once sited lets you sit back while the healthy mother plant feeds the new “baby”