Last Updated on March 14, 2023 by Suttons Horticultural Team
As promised here is the second excerpt from the 1914 My Garden Diary (See here for April 1914). If you do everything then it looks like being a very busy month!
In case you are wondering – Windsor beans are Broad beans.
The diary refers to Asters and you may be interested to read our earlier related blog – Asters in 1914.
My Garden Diary May 1914
Repeat sowings of all Vegetables required for succession, and in every case provide an adequate supply. Prick off and plant out seedlings from former sowings, doing the work tenderly to avoid breaking root-fibres. Lettuces should constantly be coming on for salads, and Radishes to be worth eating must be grown quickly.
Late crops of Peas are highly esteemed, and should be liberally treated. On light land sowing in trenches is advantageous during a dry season, as the trenches economise water. Early in the month sow Windsor Beans for late crop, Runner Beans for main crop, and Dwarf Beans in quantity.
Complete the sowing of late Broccoli and Kales for late winter use. A sowing of Dwarf Gem Brussels Sprouts will yield buttons as an agreeable variation from Cabbage. Sow Colewort Cabbage. About the middle of the month Vegetable Marrows may be sown in the open to prolong the supply. Sow more Turnip, and Beet for main crop. For use in the autumn sow Sutton’s Autumn Mammoth Cauliflower and Autumn Protecting Broccoli.
Prick out Celery plants with care to avoid a check. Thin beds of newly sown Asparagus. Late in the month plant out Tomatoes, and afford shelter if necessary. Thin Carrots and make successive sowings of Champion Horn to yield attractive dishes of small roots. Prepare Celery trenches. Sow Cucumber on ridges in a warm situation. Chicory, Salsify, and Scorzonera may still be sown. Put litter to Strawberries in good time.
Many Half-hardy Annuals, such as Drummond’s Phlox, Marigold, Sutton’s Asters and Ten-week Stocks, may now be sown with safety in the open ground, and if thinned early the flowers are often remarkably fine, as the plants suffer no check. Nicotiana sown now will be useful for late summer conservatory decoration. Prepare Hollyhocks, Petunias, and other tender flowers for planting out. Cannas and other plants which impart tropical luxuriance to the borders may be transferred to the open when the weather is sufficiently warm. Nemesias produce striking effects in beds, and the seedlings raised earlier in the year should be planted out during this month.
The first sowing of Calceolaria is usually made in May, and the month must not be allowed to pass without a sowing of Sutton’s Primulas ; both the double and single varieties are indispensable winter flowers. Sow Torenia Fournieri, and repeat Balsam and Cineraria sowings.
Sow Ornamental Grasses and Everlastings to furnish elegant material for vase decoration. For a display of Wallflowers next spring, sow now. Plant out Dahlias and trap their enemies.
MONTHLY NOTES
1. Holiday on Stock Exchange.
3. First Quarter, 6.29 a.m.
4. Royal Academy opens. Bank Holiday (Scotland).
6. King Edward VII died, 1910. Accession of King George V., 1910.
9. Half-Quarter Day. Full Moon, 9.31 p.m.
14. Old May Day.
16. Last Quarter, 10.12 p.m.
21. Ascension Day.
25. New Moon, 2.35 a.m.
26. Queen Mary born, 1867.
31. Whit Sunday.
Barometer, 29.792 in. Temperature 53.1 deg. Fahr.
Rainfall 1.88 in. Rainfall for May 1914 ………………..
