i’ve got sunshine (on a cloudy day)

i’ve got sunshine (on a cloudy day)

seeds and seed potatoes

deadhead faded spring bulbs

a clean edge on beds

beans, beans and more beans

shop for stocky seedlings

how’s the heap cooking?

mow regularly, but don’t feed too much

fresh air for houseplants

tomato time!

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May 1, 2012

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May 3, 2008 at 5:21 pm

I ‘VE GOT SUNSHINE, though it’s cold outside, and hardly like the month of May. The golden-leaved plants that are a backbone of the garden are seeing me through. Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Crippsii’ cascades down onto a little Chinese stone bench that has an emerging carpet of gold in Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’ beneath its feet. Investment strategy: Gold is always a good buy. (And it really sparkles if you give the photo a click.)

{ 5 Comments }

Don't miss anything!

GardenGuyKenn says:

May 3, 2008 at 8:32 pm

I love, love, love nummularia. It brightens up any garden and trails beautifully in a pot. That bench… there must be a story to that bench..
chey says:

May 3, 2008 at 10:12 pm

I love gold in my garden as well.It brightens up the garden, not to mention the good investment.
High Valley Farmgirl says:

May 4, 2008 at 6:59 am

Farmer Ed says:

A wet cold May makes a barnful of hay.

We can use it to cover stuff next fall!
margaret says:

May 4, 2008 at 7:05 am

Chey,
Welcome! Glad to know that you agree with my investment philosophy.
___
Farmgirl,
Love the rhyme…sort of like the corn is knee-high by the Fourth of July. Yes, good to have the moisture (and also my golden plants).
M.
High Valley Farmgirl says:

May 4, 2008 at 9:10 am

Oh dear yes! I should have added, Farmer Ed thinks gold is a good investment too.

1 May 1, 2012 seeds and seed potatoes TUBERS AND SLIPS TIME: Are the white potatoes in the ground? They could have gone in in April, but if not, there’s still time. Don’t miss out! CONTINUE SOWING CARROTS, beets, radishes, salad greens, dill. Sow kale, chard. With salad, select heat-resistant varieties as they’ll bump into warmer weather at harvest time. A primer on when to start what seeds. read all the may chores ⇒

4 May 4, 2012 deadhead faded spring bulbs DEADHEAD SPRING BULBS as blooms fade, but leave foliage intact to wither and ripen the bulbs naturally. I mow my daffodil drifts around July 4th, for example. Deadhead spring-flowering perennials unless they have showy seedheads, or you want to collect seed later (non-hybrids only). read all the may chores ⇒

7 May 7, 2012 a clean edge on beds EDGE BEDS to make a clean line and define them. A clean edge makes a real difference, along with an inch and a half or two of good, fine- to medium-textured organic mulch. No baked-potato-sized chips, please, and no orange-dyed mulch. Here’s my point of view on mulch. read all the may chores ⇒

12 May 12, 2012 beans, beans and more beans DIRECT-SOW BEANS mid-month and beyond (a short row every two weeks), and sow pole beans for a later crop. This year I’m trying to grow heirloom beans for drying, too. Wait till month’s end, when the weather is settled, to sow summer and winter squash, cucumbers, melons, or start indoors at the first of month and set out at end. My 20 top seed-starting FAQs. read all the may chores ⇒

13 May 13, 2012 shop for stocky seedlings WHEN SHOPPING FOR SEEDLINGS of tomatoes (or really anything), pick stocky young plants about 4 inches high and wide—bigger isn’t better. WITH FLOWER SEEDLINGS in 6-packs, don’t worry about “buying green,” as in you don’t need to buy annuals that are flowering madly in tiny cells. Younger, fresher plants are best. They will catch up. Shop for overall plant health and vigor, not number of blooms. read all the may chores ⇒

18 May 18, 2012 how’s the heap cooking? DON’T LET THE HEAP DRY out completely, or it will not “cook.” If it wasn’t turned to aerate earlier this season, do so now to hasten decomposition. Pre-shredding with your mower can also speed things along. Use finished, screened material to topdress beds. read all the may chores ⇒

20 May 20, 2012 mow regularly, but don’t feed too much IF LAWN GREENED UP well, no fertilizer is needed; I skip it (and spare myself the extra mowing, while helping the environment with less fuel wasted). If growth or greening was sluggish, consider applying an all-natural organic fertilizer in fall, when lawn grasses take best advantage of fertilizing to grow strong root systems. DON’T BAG OR RAKE clippings when you mow; let them lie on the lawn to return Nitrogen to the soil. read all the may chores ⇒

21 May 21, 2012 fresh air for houseplants HOUSEPLANTS can spend the summer outdoors starting late this month (or whenever frost danger is past or at least minimized). Set them in a sheltered location with filtered bright light (not direct sun). Pinch back and repot those that need it as you transition them, and begin regular feeding if you didn’t already in earlier spring. read all the may chores ⇒

25 May 25, 2012 tomato time! HEAT-LOVERS LIKE tomatoes go out after frost danger is past, but many people make a ritual of it on Memorial Day weekend (technically a tad early here). Use these tomato tips and tricks for best results (or browse my whole archive of tomato topics). Eggplants and peppers can go out, too. Harden off vegetable seedlings before transplanting, bringing them in and out for a few days before setting free for good. read all the may chores ⇒