Spring Gardening Guide: May

Planting Zone: 8

The days are getting longer and things really start to warm up especially here in Georgia. May is the time of the year where you really want to button up trellising and caging your plants especially if you want to create more space in your garden. Vertical planting is a great way to utilize space allowing your to grow more. This is time of year to get ahead of weeds, making sure your soil is good and well fed allowing for those mighty microbes to be doing their work of nutrient cycling which makes available all those nutrients so needed by your plants.

Garden Planning

May is here and this is what we need to focus on this month:

• It might sound strange seeing as summer has not even started, but it's time to plan the fall and winter crops. Get your seeds now. It wont be long before you will be needing to start them indoors to transplant out.

• Many crops will need to be planted in late summer for fall harvest. If you are wanting to have crops in the ground to over winter, then you will need to make sure that they have plenty of time to grow while the days a still a little longer.

  
  

• Continue to weed control program. Staying on top of them while they are small is important. Make sure that you have the right equipment to do this.

  
  

Two watering cans

Garden Preparedness and Maintenance

At this point, your garden beds should be filled with the plants you intended to grow. However, even with your garden planted, there is still work to be completed.

• Trellising and Stakes

  If you haven't done this yet, now is the time to finish up with trellising and staking. Proper trellising and staking are essential practices in gardening and agriculture, particularly for plants that exhibit climbing tendencies or require support to grow upright. These methods not only help in maximizing space but also promote better air circulation, sunlight exposure, and easier access for harvesting. Check out our blog on trellising and staking for more information.

  
  

• Amending and Fertilizing the Garden Soil

  Continue foliar spraying with compost teas to nourish plants and enhance their health and resilience against pests and diseases. Compost teas provide beneficial microorganisms and nutrients that boost growth and photosynthesis when absorbed through leaves. Ensure the tea is well-aerated and properly brewed for maximum benefits.

  
  

  Additionally, apply compost extract via soil soaking or a soil injector every two weeks to enrich the soil ecosystem. This method delivers nutrients directly to the root zone, improving soil structure and water retention. Soil injectors are ideal for larger areas or established plants, allowing precise application and alleviating compaction, while promoting beneficial soil organisms like earthworms and mycorrhizal fungi.

  
  

  Regular bi-weekly applications ensure consistent nutrient and microbial supply, enhancing growth, yields, and resistance to stress. Monitor plant responses to adjust application schedules or concentrations as needed.

• Weeding and Mulch the Garden Beds

  Keep mulching your garden beds to suppress weeds and prevent compaction and runoff.

In May, weeds may start appearing more frequently. It's crucial to manage them effectively. Use mulch around new transplants to control weeds. The appearance of weeds indicates a potential problem with your soil, possibly a lack of calcium and other minerals. To help control weeds, consider applying a soil drench with compost tea.

• Paths

  Continue to ensure your paths are tidy and free of weeds. Add fresh wood chips if needed to the paths. This is particularly important if you were unable to do this last month.

  
  

• Irrigation

  In May, as plants enter rapid growth and temperatures rise, they typically need watering twice a week to maintain consistent soil moisture. Aim for deep watering using drip irrigation overnight in the morning to allow for a total of 1–1.5 inches of water per week, which helps roots grow deep. We water overnight using a timer 3 times a week. Use your finger to check that the soil is moist down 2 to 3 inches. If you have added mulch to cover the soil, this will help keep the moisture from evaporating and help keep the soil cool.

Tomato and Pepper Plants Supported by cages

Garden Tools and Supplies

Make sure you have plenty of cages for your tomatoes and peppers. If you haven't planned for vertical supports and want to include them to support more vigorous vining plants such as winter squash and melons, now is the time to put them in place. There are many options available to you. Depending upon the kind of staking or trellising you choose, you could also provide shade for more tender crops such as lettuce or for nursing fall plantings seeing as it gets really hot in July in August.

One of our favorite tools for helping with weeds is a scuffle hoe. It tiny weeds that have just emerged very easily with a back and forth motion. This will save you a lot of weeding later on. Seeing as most of the microbial life live with in the first 2-4 inches beneath the soil surface, we have found that the scuffle hoe minimizes soil disturbance which is the other reason why we like it. It is most effective in minimizing soil disturbance when used on weeds that have just germinated

Seedlings and Pest Control

• If you planted potatoes, keep a look out for potato beetles. If you find any hand pick them.

  
  

• Make sure you have caged tomatoes and peppers. We have learned the hard way with not caging peppers. They will fall over. A little support goes a long way.

• If you planted garlic they may have scapes. If so, its time to remove them.

• Continue to look for pests. Look for eggs, nymphs, adults. Check out our other blog post various insects and how to deal with them. Understanding their lifecycle is helpful in knowing when to plant and what to do should see an infestation. Integrated Pest Management is the best approach.

• Here are the most common Georgia garden pests in May:

  
  

  • Japanese Beetles: Shiny metallic green beetles that feed on a wide variety of flowers, foliage, and fruit.

  • Aphids: Tiny, soft-bodied insects that cause leaves to curl, yellow, and wilt.

  • Spider Mites: Tiny, sap-sucking pests that produce fine webbing and cause speckled, yellowing leaves in dry conditions.

  • Whiteflies: Infest plants quickly, causing yellowed leaves covered in sticky residue.

  • Slugs and Snails: Feed on tender plants and leaves, leaving ragged holes, particularly in moist, shady areas.

  • Caterpillars (Tomato Hornworms/Loopers): Large green worms that can strip foliage from tomato plants and other veggies overnight.

  • Squash Vine Borers: Target squash and cucumbers, boring into stems and causing sudden wilting.

  • Fire Ants: While primarily a nuisance, they are highly active and common throughout Georgia lawns and gardens in May.

Transplanting tomato start

What to Sow and Plant in May

Direct sow - Early May

These may be succession plantings if you sowed these in March.

• Beans

• Carrots

• Corn

• Edamame

• Lima Beans

• Cowpeas

• Heat tolerant spinach

  
  

Transplant - Early May

Succession plantings are a great way to extend the growing season if you planted these in March.

• Tomatoes

• Peppers (Hot, Sweet and Spice)

• Winter Squash

• Melons

• Watermelon

• Zucchini

Transplant or Direct Sow

• Transplant or direct sow Corn

• Transplant or direct sow Watermelon, Squash (summer and winter) when soil temperatures are 70F and above

• Transplant or direct sow Okra, Melon, and sweet potatoes slips.

• Tomato, Peppers (sweet, spice and hot) and Eggplant can be transplanted May.

• Direct sow (beans snap and dry, sunflowers, edamame) or transplant (cucumbers)

Fresh Harvest In May

asparagus	peas
beets	radishes
beet greens	rhubarb
broccoli	scallions
cabbage	spinach
carrots	squash
chard	strawberries
collards	turnips
garlic scapes	zucchini
kale
kohlrabi

Harvest of Beets

Herbs and Flowers

There's still time to plant flowers and herbs, which are excellent for companion planting. You can either directly sow cilantro, basil, thyme, and rosemary or transplant them if started indoors. We enjoy having basil ready to plant alongside our tomatoes, as they make excellent companions!

As previously mentioned, our all-time favorite is the African Marigold, which looks stunning in the garden.

Sunflowers can be directly sown in or around your garden by following the instructions on the seed packet. Mexican sunflowers, in both red and yellow, are particularly favored by bees.

Basil growing with tomatoes

This month, with summer just around the corner, and everything is coming alive! This is the moment we've all been eagerly waiting for. If we had to sum up this month's agenda, it would be: Get your trellising and staking completed! Don't let those pesky pests gain a foothold early in the season—you won't regret it. Continue to build and maintain healthy soil, as it's the key to a bountiful harvest, effective weed control, and managing pest pressure. Continue to transform your garden into a vibrant oasis by filling empty spaces with a delightful mix of herbs and flowers! Not only will this foster a diverse community of beneficial insects, but these plants will also keep pests at bay while adding stunning beauty to your garden! But most importantly, have a blast and enjoy your garden!

Happy gardening!