GARDENER’S NOTEBOOK
Gardening editor Paula Mcwaters shows how to get the best from your plot in May
Everything you need to know to get the most from your space this month
In mid-may, I load up with bags and head excitedly for my favourite charity plant sale, which raises funds for a very worthwhile community garden project nearby. It’s such a cheerful, sociable occasion (with plenty of tea and cake) and I always come away laden with bargains. Plant sales – whether at WI markets, school fairs or village fêtes – can be a rich source of reasonably priced plants to fill your borders and containers, but have you also thought about contributing to them? If you find it hard to throw away surplus seedlings, why not nurture some extras and bring them on, or take cuttings from your herbs and perennials? Use clean pots and write helpful descriptive labels, so your customers will know what they’re getting. Giving your babies space and light to develop, plus regular watering and feeding, will ensure they grow to a good saleable size. Finally, present them well, perhaps grouping them in rustic crates – that way, you can maximise profit for your chosen good cause, and have the satisfaction of sharing.