Sooke Garden to-do list: May – all systems grow!
Interplanting marigolds and strongly scented herbs can help divert pests in the garden.
By Loretta Fritz
A May to-do list for gardeners in and around Sooke*
Plant heat lovers (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, basil, cucumbers, squashes) outside once the soil temperature reaches 16° C.
Plant beans during a warm, dry spell.
Interplant marigolds and strongly scented herbs to help divert pests.
Plant and stake dahlias.
Prune rhododendrons and azaleas immediately after flowering.
Continue deadheading and transplanting spring-flowering bulbs.
Finish planting out summer annuals and perennials.
Begin regular watering.
And, of course …
Continue to build compost with fruit and vegetable scraps, dried leaves and plant trimmings, seaweed, manure, and as wide a variety of other seed-free ingredients — both brown and green — as you can find. Remember, the compost feeds the soil, and the soil feeds the plants.
Remove weeds as soon as you see them. They deprive nearby plants of water and valuable nutrients.
Take steps to prevent pests and diseases from ruining your plants. Monitor plants vigilantly, keep tools and work areas clean, follow appropriate planting, growing and pruning techniques, and keep dead/diseased plant material out from under fruit trees and out of beds and containers. Companion planting, floating row covers, slug patrols, etc., can be helpful during the main growing season.
Take time to relax and enjoy the beauty of your garden and the fruits of your labour!
* This list is for general reference only. The timing of many tasks will be affected by weather and related factors. Please be guided not only by local area conditions, but also by conditions within your own gardening microclimate.