In the Virginia Piedmont , our cold , windy wintertime quickly transitioned to an early spring . Gardeners who capitalise on quickly warming temperatures and planted bound crops early   are in all likelihood enjoying fresh produce already . Those who waited for May to get in can begin planting summertime veggie . While mood modification has move ouraveragelast frost date in Hardiness Zone 7b , to April 5 - 15th ( from April 15 - 25th ) , there is still the possibility of a later rime . good to keep an eye on the prognosis and be prepared to encompass any tender plant if a late frost get in . Even with the risks , most of us will be plowing forward , so to address .

Some Specifics

Soil temperatureplays a major role in seed germination and transplant health . Cool - weather crops like Spinacia oleracea , lettuce , green , pea , onions , and root cropscan germinatein the 35 - 40 ° range . Actually , 80 ° is the optimal temperature for sprouting but these crops do n’t turn well in the heat after germination , so we compromise . start seeds indoors and transplanting , ( except source veg , which do n’t transplant well ) , or purchasing transplants are the most effective recitation to get works grow .

quick - weather condition cropsincluding tomato plant , maize , and bonce need at least 55 ° soil . Peppers , cucumbers , melon , and sweet potatoes want at least 60 ° and eggplants need 70 ° or high . Planting too former risk of exposure seed rotting prior to sprouting .

you may testsoil temperaturewith a stain thermometer , available at most garden shops . Poke the thermometer about 2 ½ inches into the soil . Since soil temperature will vary throughout the 24-hour interval and night , a good average is found between 10 and 11 am . It ’s respectable to track the incoming weather report to be indisputable you are ready to deal with a cold snap if necessary .

With the change of the VA Piedmont Hardiness Zone from 7a to the warm 7b , we recommendstopping planting of nerveless weather cropsincluding beet , dough mob crop , various putting surface and wampum , cultivated carrot , peas and turnips by late April . May is advocate planting time forwarmer conditions vegetablesincluding bush and magnetic pole bean , cucumbers , mad apple , melons , okra , peppers , tomatoes , white and sweet potato , pumpkins , squash and sweet edible corn .

For a detailedlist of recommended vegetable planting timesin Hardiness Zones 6a through 8a control out theVirginia Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide . retrieve that most arena of Virginia have been upgrade to the next lovesome Hardiness Zone , although the map does n’t show it yet .

If you have a fledged Asparagus officinales patch , you are likely harvest fresh spears now . If you are install a new layer , it is too late to engraft now in our Hardiness Zone . It is better to start planning for next twelvemonth . Prep the bottom this fall and works next spring between late March and recent April . To be certain you get it right , ensure out the right advice inGrowing Asparagus in Home Gardensfrom the University of Minnesota Extension . Keep in judgement that the Virginia Piedmont planting recommendation is during March , a few week ahead of Minnesota , but the rest of the advice is right - on .

Other tips for May veggie horticulture in our area :

Tomatotransplants are ready to be place in the garden when they have 5 - 7 leaves . When transplanting tomatoes , position two - third of the plant below the soil Earth’s surface . draw leaf off the bottom two - third of the plant and either dig up the planting hole deep enough to stand the works up or lay the bottom half on its side in the cakehole , and lightly flex the prow to limit the upper one-half vertically above the soil surface . love apple will add root underground and make a inviolable root arrangement .

Whenchoosing your tomato plant varieties , considerdeterminate typesthat ripen within a narrow prison term time period if you are a canner and want a undivided harvest time . Indeterminate varietieswill provide a steady supply of ripen fruit until hoarfrost , if well give care for .

Eggplantslike 80 ° to 90 ° temperatures and pot of piddle . It ’s best to water them thoroughly twice a week during ironic periods .

Speaking of moisture , bean plant , pea , and other legumesthat fixture land nitrogen produce few , smaller root nodules when pee - stressed . It is significant to keep them well - water .

Extend your harvesting seasonby planting perfumed corn and beans every two weeks through mid - late July . An option with corn is to engraft early- , mid- , and late - maturing kind at the same time .

Missing Zea mays kernels on your corn whisky ears?This may be the resultant ofpoor pollination . Sweet corn whisky is wind pollinated . Pollen from the corn flower must attain every strand of silk on each growing ear to grow fully - kernelled mature corn ear . Block planting in unretentive rows(3 - 4 rows or more ) will pollenate more successfully than 1 or 2 recollective row . Find more information intheVA Cooperative Extension publicationSweet Corn .

Keep white potato covered . The skins of potatoes exposed to sunlight will become green . This green color comes from the paint chlorophyl , which is produced as a response to sunshine . “ Green Potatoes ” will often develop a acrimonious taste and may even become toxic . This can be prevented by cover the exposed white potato with dirt , straw or leaf mulch . It is possible to plant potatoes until mid - May . bump planting and concern information atGrowing Potatoes in a Home Gardenfrom the University of Maryland Extension .

To control weedsgrowing alongside crops , destroy them before they evolve seeds . Removing them with weed cock is a well practice but do n’t cultivate profoundly ; this can induce damage to shallow vegetable roots . mulch can also reduce smoke growth but be sure to forfend amendments convey cum . Clean straw is a heavy mulch , but hay is often sold as straw so it is wise to make a visual check for seeds prior to leverage . Note that stubble comes from leave over still hunt of grain plants after the food grain seed are harvested . William Harrison Hays on the other helping hand are but hack grasses typically used as animal feed . This is an of import departure to be cognizant of .

Fertilizationis an important element in maximizing garden output signal . There are problem with over- and under - fertilizing , different impact from celluloid and raw fertilizers , and soil wellness outlet to consider . If you would profit from more penetration into fertilizer use of goods and services , match outThe Garden Shedarticle“A Fertilization Primer ”

Whenwatermelons , sweet melon , squeeze , and cucumbersare plant in a Alfred Hawthorne , position a stickupright in the midsection of the mound and leave it there . Later in the summertime when the hill becomes hidden by the vine , you will know where to irrigate . You ’ll save time look for the main origin and save water as well . If you have had insect issues with these cucurbit plants in the past , moot delaying planting until as deep as mid - July to reduce the peril of plague .

When transplanting seedlings inpeat pots , mildly tear off the top inch of the slew ; the upper edges of the pot should be covered with filth to avoid wicking water away from the soil surface , melt off the moisture attain the plant life stem .

If you are growingCole craw , let in cabbage , Brassica oleracea italica , Brassica oleracea botrytis , lolly , collards , or other greens , May means the arriver of cabbage worm that can decimate your crop . option for command include hand - picking , wrangle masking or using an constituent pesticide like Bt ( B thuringiensis ) . I have also had fortune hangingdecoys of cabbage mothswithin the crop . The decoys appear to discourage territorial moths from laying their testis in that location . Please note that decoys are not supported by any Extension inquiry that I can feel , but they have support from legion other horticulture organisation .

My favorite kale moth preventive is adding pollinator plants and bluebird houses around the garden . Finding a healthy natural balance really works . Baby bluebirds consume several hundred Brassica oleracea worms and other caterpillar during their two - calendar week as nestlings . It makes sense to bear them while minimizing cuss impact sustainably .

For related to information , control outGarden Shedarticles“OMG What ’s Eating the Broccoli”,“Row Covers : a Gardening Season Extender with Benefits”andPlant a Pollinator Paradise .

To preserve leftover seeds , store them in a sealed container and refrigerate them . pose a desiccant , such as a few layers of paper towels with 2 tablespoons of pulverised milk inside the container to immerse moisture .

This is a great clip tostart a fresh batch of compost . The warm temperatures will speed up decomposition if you keep the pile moist and oxygenise . eatage clippings and kitchen rubbish become plentiful as we start mow lawn and eating seasonal fruits and vegetables . If you ’ve saved some leaves from last fall or can cut up chemical substance free paper and cardboard from home usance , you have what you necessitate to produce a good compost good deal that can be quick for use this fall . TheVCE publicationMaking Compost from Yard Wasteoffers helpful steering for several compost approaches .

If you are a fruit grower and require to add native plantings to the orchard , consider pawpaws . There is good advice for get and deplete papaia in the Garden Shed articles“Pawpaws : Resilient and Delectable Natives”and“Yummy Recipes With Pawpaws ” . Go native !

Garden season is in full swing now . Let ’s get out there and enjoy it !

resource :

“ Vegetable Planting Guide and Recommended Planting Dates . ”   Va. Coop . Ext . Publication No . 426 - 331,http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426 - 331/426 - 331.html;https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu / content / dam / pubs_ext_vt_edu/426/426 - 331 / SPES-170.pdf

“ Sweet Corn , ” Va. Coop . Ext . Publication No . 426 - 405,SPES-251.pdf ( vt.edu )

VA Cooperative Extension : May Tips : Vegetableshttps://albemarle.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/albemarle_ext_vt_edu/files/hort-tip-sheets/5-14-veg.pdf