Direct sowing veg to plant in May

There are many advantages to sowing fast-growing tender vegetables outdoors in May. No plastic trays or pots are needed, saving money and the environment. You won’t need to buy compost

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

either, and there’s no need for greenhouse or windowsill space or any hardening off

Gradually acclimatising tender or indoor-raised plants to outdoor conditions, to toughen them up and prevent a check in growth. Place plants outside in a sheltered spot during the day then bring indoors at night for a couple of weeks. Or place in a coldframe, opening the lid during the day.

. Root disturbance from transplanting is also eliminated, which generally means stronger roots and less water stress. Once germinated, the young plants tend to be less vulnerable to slug and snail damage because growth is tougher outdoors. You can sow seed directly into the soil in your vegetable plot, large containers on patios, or into spaces where spring bulbs

These are fleshy, rounded, underground storage organs, usually sold and planted while dormant. Examples include daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, lilies, onions and garlic. The term is often used to cover other underground storage organs, including corms, tubers and rhizomes.

have finished. In colder northern areas and Scotland ensure crops have time to mature by boosting early growth using cloches or by covering them with biodegradable

Anything that can be decomposed by fungi, bacteria and micro-organisms, so it doesn’t persist indefinitely in the environment. Biodegradable plastics are usually made from plants, such as bamboo, rather than fossil fuels. Ideally, products that claim to be biodegradable should break down quickly and leave nothing harmful behind. However, they may need specific conditions in order to biodegrade successfully or may produce greenhouse gases such as methane in the process.

fleece

A soft, fibrous, translucent material laid over or around plants hastening their growth and protecting them against weather and pests. Heavier grades of fleece give about 2°C of protection from frost. It is usually used without supporting hoops.

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Three to sow

Courgettes

Sow two or three seeds 2.5cm deep at 90cm intervals. Once germinated, thin them out, removing all but the strongest seedling and keep a watch for slug damage.

Cultivars to try:

• ‘Defender’ for slender, green, lightly flecked fruits.
• ‘Tuscany’, has dark green, smooth fruits and high yields.
• ‘Parador’, which has bright, golden yellow fruits.

Left to right: ‘Defender’‚ ‘tuscany’‚ ‘parador’

Sweetcorn

Plants are wind- pollinated

When a flower has received pollen, so is able to make seeds.

, so grow them in a grid formation of nine or more. Sow three seeds 40cm apart and 2cm deep. Thin to leave just the strongest.

Cultivars to try:

• ‘Earlibird’ is fast to mature and sweet-flavoured.
• ‘Lark’ is good in colder seasons.
• ‘Swift’ has shorter plants so is more stable in wind.

Left to right: ‘Earlibird’‚ ‘lark’‚ ‘swift’

Dwarf French beans

Faster to mature than climbing types, these are a good choice if you’re late to sow. Insert seeds 5cm deep and 15cm apart to support each other as they grow. Keep watered and pick frequently to encourage more beans to set.

Cultivars to try:

• ‘Purple Teepee’ is a stringless choice with heavy crops of purple pods.
• ‘Boston’ crops well with dark green beans.
• ‘Sprite’ has white flowers and early crops.

Left to right: ‘Sprite’‚ ‘boston’‚ ‘purple teepee’