Patience is a virtue – why gardeners should save planting till May

A snowy allotment site (still very fresh in the memory!)

Like many Scottish growers, I’ve already fallen victim to our very changeable weather conditions this year.  I knew I would.  The words “I told you so” were echoing in my ears as I planted out my beautiful little runner bean seedlings last Sunday in the glorious April sunshine.   I’d been advised by a number of gardening confidantes not to plant anything till May, but I simply couldn’t wait any longer.  My impatience got the better of me, and now I’m paying the price.  The day after I planted out, the whole of Scotland experienced a severe cold snap, followed by a week of close to zero conditions and frosty mornings.  It would be fair to say that my runner bean seedlings are no more.  That’ll teach me!

A snowy allotment site (still very fresh in the memory!)

The death of my first planting of the season came to light yesterday when I visited the allotment, and so I took it upon myself to look up some expert advice.  This is a great article from the Telegraph full of good tips from Guy Barter, RHS Chief Horticulture Advisor, who has analysed the UK’s weird weather trends this year and come up with some handy hints for gardeners.

His advice seems to be to “keep calm and carry on”. Now that May is here that’s exactly what I’m going to do.  Surely there can’t be any more late frosts now?

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