Engaging with a variety of fruits and vegetables with Monty
In the garden, as May arrives, Monty Don offers valuable advice for transplanting several crops that will thrive during the summer months. These include tomatoes, climbing French beans, and courgettes.
For tomatoes, Monty recommends a careful approach to ensure healthy growth. Planting them deeply, burying much of the stem, is key. This practice allows roots to develop along the stem, leading to a stronger plant. When transplanting, it's essential to prepare the soil but avoid making it overly rich, as this could risk burning the roots or causing excessive foliage growth.
Climbing French beans, on the other hand, require a firm spot with support, such as a teepee or wigwam of canes, ready at transplant time. Beans should be planted deeply enough to be stable but not too deep, since they're shallow-rooted. Firm the soil gently around the base to avoid air pockets and maintain moisture after transplanting.
Courgettes, known for their sprawling vines, need plenty of space. They prefer fertile, well-drained soil but not overly manure-rich substrates. When transplanting seedlings, handle the roots carefully and plant them at the same depth as they were in their pots to prevent stem rot. Water well and mulch around the base to keep moisture higher and suppress weeds.
In general, Monty stresses the importance of planting in warm soil, avoiding transplanting in extreme heat or cold, and watering in well after transplanting to reduce stress. He also advises against overfertilizing early on to prevent weak growth and recommends protecting young transplants from birds and pests until established.
This advice reflects Monty's established gardening principles, which he has shared in recent broadcasts and videos. As the month progresses, and many young plants grown from seed become strong enough to be moved to their final growing spots, these tips will undoubtedly prove invaluable for a bumper crop of tomatoes, healthy French beans, and plentiful courgettes.
Whether you're looking to grow edibles, space-saving vegetables, or low-maintenance options, Monty Don's guidance offers a solid foundation for a successful summer garden.
In the home-and-garden category, Monty Don's lifestyle advice includes a careful approach for transplanting tomatoes, ensuring that they are planted deeply and the stem is buried, allowing roots to develop along the stem for stronger plants. Additionally, when focusing on home-and-garden projects, courgettes require plenty of space and should be planted at the same depth as they were in their pots to prevent stem rot, as part of Monty Don's established gardening principles.
