Nursery World - A Unique Child: Grow Your Own

Seedlings and crops need special attention now to ensure you reap the benefits later, says Mary Llewellin

Things are hotting up in the May garden despite the still-present risk of night-time frosts. There are plenty of jobs to do, including keeping an eye out for aphids and other pests that may already be attacking your precious crops. The soft, juicy new leaves appearing now are particularly vulnerable to these sap-loving pests.

Plants affected by aphids may look yellow, puckered or stunted and may also be covered in a sticky residue known as ‘honey-dew’, which is the mark of a plant infested with aphids.

Time spent eliminating pests now will be time well spent, so inspect your plants carefully and rid yourself of pests, either hand squashing them or with water jets for more robust plants. Encouraging birds in the garden will help pest control and delight your children, so hang up bird feeders and, if you have space, consider leaving some wild, undisturbed areas for native birds to inhabit.

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