Gardening expert Monty Don has advised gardeners to take a simple but crucial step before moving tender annual plants outdoors in May. The BBC Gardeners' World presenter warns that failing to 'harden off' plants can lead to their premature death.
On his website, Don explains that mid-May is the ideal time to plant tender annuals such as sunflowers, zinnias, and tobacco plants. However, he stresses that these plants should not be placed directly into the ground without first acclimatising them to outdoor conditions.
Don recommends a hardening-off period of at least a week, during which plants should be kept in a sheltered spot to adjust to the garden environment. 'Hardening off is important and will mean much faster growing and longer-lasting flowers,' he says. 'If you buy any of these annuals from a garden centre, do not plant them out immediately but put them in a sheltered place for a week.'
For planting, Don suggests spacing the annuals 12 to 18 inches apart in a sunny, wind-sheltered location and watering them well. He also notes that May is a good time to plant fruit crops such as strawberries, gooseberries, citrus fruits, and figs for a summer harvest.
