Planning and Reviewing May in Previous Years

Reviewing the diary over the last five years for May

2013 -Spring was the coldest for 50 years,I had the first six beds and the comfrey bed in place.Beds 5 & 6 were Sprouts and Cabbages, as expected lots of sowing and potting on happened.

2014 -Frost warnings and seedlings grown in the grow house inside the green house on Mill Green.Potato Halums were a little frost damaged, Slabs at home laid for the Space Saver Greenhouse, Erected the Space Saver Greenhouse at home and the Double grow House at Mill Green.

2015 -Potatoes in Buckets, transplanting Tomato plants, High Winds and damage on the plots, Cherry Trees have Cherries on them, Planting out Spring Onions, Harvesting Over wintered spring onions, Planting Cabbages and Cauliflowers and the Crimson Crush plants arrive, three more bed frames made.

2016 - Spencer Road - Second sowing of sweetcorn due to slow germination then the first sowing germinated after the first !, Beds 1-3 completed, Potatoes in bed 3. Comfrey bed 2 completed

2016 - Mill Green - overwintered onions in greenhouse planted to replace those that were nobbled by slugs in the beds, Sowing frenzy of beetroots, Spring Onions, Cucumber, Celery, second sowing or brassica's as first sowing died. Frost second week of May. Bean frame maintenance.

2017- Spencer Road Allotment - Working on infrastructure and the watering system for the plot, spuds and onions growing well, Walking Onion infrastructure created. Comfrey Pipe erected.

2017- Mill Green Allotment - Mossquito Nets to Protect fruit on the trees, Brassicas planted, SoilFixer Potatoes in Buckets experiment, Push Lawn mower obtained off Freecycle.

Having two plots on different sites really did have an effect on the overall progress last year, but the additional beds provided more opportunity for sowing and planting a greater range of varieties of vegetables to try  in 2017.

This year the decommissioning of Spencer Road and the Infrastructure works at Mill Green Plot 1 to accept the Shed and Greenhouse has not gone as quickly as I would have liked primarily due to the bad weather we have had in the way of snow and rain, combined with getting Mill Green Plot 1A back into shape as before the drop off and pick up area was created it was difficult to gain access to Mill Green and keep it up to scratch, plus the intention was to move to Spencer Road so the focus was off Mill Green, Its now firmly back on it.  

Below is the to do list in no particular order and catching up with what actually happened in April and what has slipped

To Do List  

·                     As much infrastructure works as the weather will allow - Not enough over the last two months due to the weather.

·                     Weed & Level the Shed and Greenhouse Area - Started but need to be completed

·                     Remove the Trees from along the wall  - TBD too late to burn now

·                     Lay weed membrane over the whole plot - Now nearly all covered 

·                     Collect the last of the slabs from Spencer Road - TBD

·                     Lay the slabs for the shed and Greenhouse - TBD  

·                     Erect the greenhouse - TBD

·                     Make Air Onion raised bed frame - Completed

·                     Move Comfrey Pipe from Spencer Road to Mill Green - TBD

·                     Rhubarb Bed to be created - TBD

·                     As too late to burn - stockpile timber and keep dry ready to burn next year - New

Home 

·                     Cut more path weed membrane - Ongoing 

·                     Make a Spring Green planting membrane sheet - New 

Reminders

·                     Purchase vent opener for new greenhouse.- TBD

MAY
Week 1	Cucumber (ridge) - sow seed under cloches outside
Week 1	Runner Beans - sow seed in pots indoors
Week 1	Runner Beans - sow seed under cloches
Week 1 Week 1	Spring Onions - sow fortnightly - Apache Deep Purple Tomatoes - begin to harden off
Week 1 - 2	Carrot - sow maincrop seed
Week 1 - 2	Leek - transplant container grown seedlings to final position
Week 2	Beetroot - plant out seedlings sown in pots indoors
Week 2 Week 2	Leek - thin seedlings from seeds sown outdoors Lettuce - sow fortnightly
Week 2	Potatoes - nitrogen feed fortnightly
Week 2	Rhubarb - apply mulch
Week 2	Squash / pumpkins - harden off
Week 3	Beetroot - thin out seedlings
Week 3	Brussels Sprouts - transplant
Week 3	Cauliflower (autumn) - sow seed in pots
Week 3	Cabbage (summer) - plant indoor sown plants outdoors
Week 3	Cucumber (ridge) - Harden off indoor grown plants
Week 3	Runner Beans - harden off seedlings
Week 3 Week 3	Spring Onions - sow fortnightly - Shimonita Gherkins - Sow In greenhouse Swede - sow seed outdoors
Week 3	Sweetcorn - plant out seedlings sown in pots indoors
Week 4 Week 4	Leek - buy seedlings and plant outside Lettuce - sow fortnightly
Week 4	Onions - water in dry conditions
Week 4	Parsnip - thin seedlings to 15cm / 6in apart
Week 4	Radish - begin to harvest
Week 4	Runner Beans - sow seed outside
Week 4	Runner Beans - plant out seedlings sown in pots indoors
Week 4	Squash / pumpkins - plant out
Week 4	Tomatoes - plant out