Summer Crops

When May comes, we know we are at peak gardening season! May is a time when you can plant almost anything. Yes, there is an occasional super-late frost (as late as May 15 here in central VA), but if you check the long-range forecast around May 1 and it doesn't show any cold nights, you know you're good to go for all the summer crops! Here are all the summer crops we plant and the order in which we plant them, starting around May 1 and ending ASAP, but no later than the 2nd or 3rd week of June.

1) Summer Squash and Cucumbers

2) Peppers, Tomatoes, Okra, and Eggplant

3) 2nd round Summer Squash and Cukes, 2nd round tomatoes

4) Melons and Sweet Potatoes

5) 3rd round summer squash and cukes, 3rd round tomatoes

6) Winter Squash

Almost all these summer crops want 1) full sun 2) good airflow and 3) ample water. When it comes to melons, sweet potatoes, and winter squash especially, they need a LOT of space to grow.

Flowers

Additionally, May is a great time to plant flowers! We grow only the easiest-to-grow types. Here are some of the flower types we grow: Gomphrena, Celosia, Zinnias, Cosmos, Sunflowers, Ageratum, Rudbekia, Snap Dragons, Coreopsis. Check out our Flower Guide for more info!

Weed & Pest Control

The other thing that's happening in May is a lot of weed and pest control! Warmer temps and spring rains trigger massive growth in both weed and pest populations. The best strategy for both is prevention. Prevent weeds with physical barriers like landscape fabric or straw mulch. The good thing about both these methods is that they have positive side-effects besides weed control. The landscape fabric warms soil and creates the hot dry conditions that some summer crops (eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, melons) love. Straw, on the other hand, adds organic matter and creates habitat for tons of beneficial insects that might prey on your plants. Prevent pest outbreaks by starting with healthy plants, planting on time and under the right conditions, and giving your plants ample fertility. When the weeds inevitably come, even if you can't pull them all, at least knock back the seed heads with a weedwhacker to keep your problem from growing next year. On the bug front, consult resources from our local extension service, where they have ID and treatment options for every pest out there! Keeping young plants covered with light row cover will keep all bugs off your plants until they are big enough to defend themselves.

Irrigation

Lastly, you'll want to think about irrigation, especially if you're trying to grow greens past the cooler months of spring. When it comes to watering, doing it in the early morning is best, and that's the best time to start harvesting your bounty, too! For cucurbits and tomatoes, it's best to water at the soil level and don't get any water on the leaves.