Give in to tulip temptation Plant tulips
Tulips should be planted in May. If you live in a warmer area of the country, ideally you should chill your tulips for six weeks prior to planting so that the bud can complete its development and to ensure the plants have nice, long stems. If you haven’t done this, it is still fine to plant them in early June.
Put the bulbs in the fridge in a paper bag and keep them away from your fruit and veges that produce the ripening gas ethylene, such as apples and bananas, which can prevent flower and root formation.
Plant tulips around 20cm deep in free-draining soil in full sun. Work the soil to at least 35cm to allow space for root development. If you have a heavy clay soil, dig a hole and fill it with grit and/or specialised bulb mix, or plant tulips in pots. Feed with bulb fertiliser once flowering.
In the warmest and northern areas, tulips planted in May flower in September and October. In the lower North Island and the warmest South Island areas, plant tulips in May for flowers in October. For the coolest areas of North and South Islands, plant in May for flowers from mid-October.
Rose garden care for May
Mulching: Roses appreciate having their roots well covered in winter. Pea straw is good but expensive – a thin dressing of compost is ideal but almost anything that rots down and doesn’t smell too revolting will do.
May is usually a good month for a new rose while the ground still has a little warmth in it; don’t plant new roses in a sea of mud. As long as the plant is kept damp, it is better to wait for suitable weather.
Choose a spot that gets sun for at least half the day. When you plant, remember to dig a hole bigger and deeper than you think is necessary – deep enough for the bud union (where the branches meet at the base of the plant) to be well covered with soil when you have finished the job.
Add good-quality potting mix. Place the rose in the hole so that its roots are spread out comfortably and plant it deep enough to cover the bud union. If the earth is dry, give the rose a bucket of water, slowly, when you have finished planting.
Sow crops that like the cold
Broad beans, peas, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflowers and kale can all be started from seed now. You can also plant all brassica and winter lettuce seedlings.
The temperature is cooling rapidly in May so their growth will be slow, but those cooler conditions also mean fewer pests and diseases – although you should still watch out for slugs and snails, especially while seedlings are getting established.
Just remember, in regions where soil is already cold and/or waterlogged, seed sown direct might rot before it can germinate. Start these crops in trays instead and transplant when they are big enough to handle the outdoor life.
– compiled by Barbara Smith