May is a pivotal month in the gardening calendar, signaling warmer weather and the perfect time to move many plants outdoors or plant new varieties. For both novice and experienced gardeners, this transition can make or break your garden’s success throughout the summer.
Renowned gardening expert Monty Don offers invaluable advice to ensure your plants survive and flourish after being moved outside. While it’s tempting to plant tender annuals like sunflowers, zinnias, and tobacco plants as soon as you bring them home, Monty stresses the importance of a process called “hardening off.”
Hardening off involves gradually acclimating your plants to the outdoor environment over the course of a week or more before planting them directly into your garden soil. This step is crucial because many plants purchased from garden centers have been kept in sheltered, controlled conditions for display, and moving them abruptly outside can cause shock, stunted growth, or even death.
Monty explains, “Hardening off is important and will mean much faster growing and longer-lasting flowers. Do not plant them out immediately—place them in a sheltered spot outdoors to adjust to your garden’s conditions.”
Once your plants have been hardened off, Monty suggests planting them in sunny locations that are protected from strong winds, spacing them about 12 to 18 inches apart. Proper watering after planting is also key to establishing healthy growth.
Besides ornamental plants, May is also the ideal time for planting certain fruits if you want a fruitful summer harvest. Strawberries, gooseberries, citrus fruits, and figs can all be planted now to maximize yields and enjoy fresh produce right from your garden.
By following Monty Don’s simple advice on hardening off and planting location, you can help ensure your garden thrives season after season and avoid the disappointment of losing plants during this critical transition.