Hello Garden Lovers and friends,
TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU THE BEST DATES FOR GROWING VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS IN THE MONTH OF MAY IN BERMUDA
NOTE, AS ONE WHO HAS BEEN GARDENING FOR YEARS, I AM USING AN OLD FARMER'S METHOD OF GROWING FOOD.
*This month, we are focusing on Corn.*
Sweetcorn is best eaten as soon after it is picked, as its sweetness declines if you do not harvest it on time. Home-grown corn is far superior to shop-bought corn. Sweet Corn is most successful when grown in long, hot summers. This condition is ideal for sweetcorn as long as the corncobs develop well and ripen fully.
Sweetcorn is not suited to growing in containers, as it’s so tall. If space is limited, you can sow smaller, fast-growing crops such as string beans, lettuce, and spinach between sweetcorn plants – especially those that benefit from a little shade in mid-summer to prevent burning.
Germination is often poor in cooler conditions, so if warmer weather typically arrives later where you are, start seeds off inside to make sure the plants have enough time to grow and ripen. A temperature of 65-70ºF (or 18-21ºC) gives the best results as this will speed up germination so seeds are less likely to rot. Germinating indoors also reduces the risk of mice or other rodents discovering the seeds and eating them.
Don’t be tempted to sow too early, though. Mid to late spring is just fine,
Corn is a hungry plant, so it’s important to enrich beds with lots of organic matter such as garden compost and then follow this up at planting time with a scattering of a balanced general-purpose organic fertilizer.
Don’t plant too close together, or you run the risk of having small corn cobs. You can plant corn anywhere from 12 inches to 30 inches apart. Within the row, it can be eight to twelve inches apart.
Please watch out for fungal diseases in plants. Consistent moisture will encourage bigger, fatter corn. It is hard to over-emphasize the importance of this in the growth of corn.
This month, we are answering two of our readers' garden questions.
Question: Chaplain Santucci, “Why do leaves curl on tomato plants?”
Answer: Tomato leaf curl can be caused by a variety of things. Bugs are one of the causes of harm. If you don’t see bugs on the underside of the leaves, it’ll either be normal for the leaves to curl or you have a fungus problem. Tomato leaves will curl if growing conditions are not optimum. If it’s too hot and dry, water more. If it’s too wet, water less. You can tell if it’s a fungal problem by looking at the entire plant, especially the leaves. If the leaves are lighter in color than they should be for your variety of tomatoes, you probably have a viral or fungal infection. The same holds true if you have spotting on the leaves. Cut off a small branch and take it to your local nursery to see what they recommend for your area of the country.
Question: Chaplain Santucci, “What vegetables can I grow in partial shade?
Answer: Most vegetables won’t grow well in completely shaded areas. Vegetables need six to eight hours of sun. But there are such vegetables as lettuce, peas, and vegetables from the bean family that will tolerate partial shade in the summer months.
Planting Dates:
These are the best planting days for above-ground vegetables or crops that grow from seed. These are very good dates or highly favorable dates for May.
May 11th
May 12th
These are the second-best planting days to grow vegetables or crops that grow from seeds above the ground.
May 21st
May 22nd
These are the third planting days this month to grow vegetables or crops that grow from seeds above the ground.
May 3th
May 4th
These are the best planting days to plant root crops from seed:
May 7th
May 8th
These are the second-best days to plant root crops from seed:
May 18th
May 19th
May 20th
These days are the best of the best to set onion sets or plant onions from seed.
May 23rd
May 24th
These dates are very good for planting flowers from seed.
May 11th
May 12th
May 18th
May 19th
May 20th
May 21st
May 22nd
These are the best days for cultivating.
May 1st
May 2nd
These are the best days for destroyed weeds
May 16th
May 17th
This is the second-best day for destroying weeds
May 18th
May 19th
May 20th
Note:
If you would like strength and a bountiful harvest of string beans. Plant string beans on a new moon or a dark moon.
Although May 23rd and 24th are considered non-productive and barren days, these days are good for planting string beans and cucumbers from seed.
Harvest all root crops when the moon is growing old. They will keep better and longer.
A word of advice. As I have said for years, your vegetable garden should produce fresh food for your table all year round. And, the vegetables grown in Bermuda are some of the most delicious and nutritious our island home can produce. So, get out in the open air and turn over your garden today, and you will enjoy the fruit of your labor tomorrow.
The In-depth Vegetable and Flower Garden Guide is a production of GARDEN MINISTRY - Chaplain Dr. Kevin J.T Santucci.
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