Dig It hosts Peter Brown and Chris Day tackle the merry month of May with a look at some of the topical national horticultural news stories, including the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show, plus there’s gardening tasks galore to be getting on with as well as developing your flower gardens.

What’s on this month

No Mow May

Wednesday 11th at 4pm and Saturday 14th May at 3pm FREE Masterclass Growing Perfect Perennials.

Thursday 12th May World Topiary Day. Share your creations at hashtag #WorldTopiaryDay. Blenheim Maze

Friday 20th May World Bee Day. The purpose of World Bee Day is to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 24-28th May. Look out for Malvern Garden Buildings Plant Studio display at the show as well as Jamie Butterworth’s ‘The Place2Be - Securing Tomorrow’ Garden which offers a safe space where children and adults can take time to relax and talk – a garden that helps facilitate and stimulate conversation, plus a wide palette of plants including hedgerow plantings and native plants.

Dig It Top Five: Our best-selling packet vegetable seeds so far this year is Carrot ‘Autumn King 2’, Beetroot ‘Boltardy’ in second place; Tomato ‘Gardeners’ Delight’ in third, Chard ‘Bright Lights’ in fourth and another Carrot this time ‘Nantes 5’ in fifth place.

Products and plants mentioned

We are loving the new All Ways range of sprayers from Defenders which can be used upside down and sideways, delivering continuous water flow without leaks and spills. Available at the Garden Centre.

New high street ‘garden shops’ are opening including Dobbies (dubbed ‘Little Dobbies’, including two in London) and a rare houseplant shop in Northampton called Not Another Jungle. Visit @NotAnotherJungle on Instagram for more details.

New research into best combinations of hedges is underway at the RHS. Different types of hedging options including the edible hedge and soft hue collection can be found on our hedging website.

Lawn feeds such as Miracle-Gro Evergreen Water Soluble Lawn Food.

Ready planted ‘Pop-in’ (drop in) Kinder planters for baskets and containers available at the Garden Centre.

Sow tender vegetables including Runner (varieties Enorma and Red Rum), French beans, Sweet Corn, Courgette, Cucumbers and Marrows. Use cut-back 2-litre plastic bottle as a small cloche.

Chris’s trial of compost includes peat-based compost Jack’s Magic, Homebase Peat-free, New Horizon Peat-free and Aldi Peat-free. Always sieve to make more workable for pricking out and potting.

Bulb feeding opt for Tomato food, Phostrogen or granular Blood, Fish and Bone.

Plant support systems including bamboo canes, hazel sticks and the Poppy Forge range.

Verbena ‘Showboat’ in red, white and blue colours for our vertical living wall.

Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music.

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