May: A Month for Mulch!
Temperatures are cooling down, and there's been some scarce but wonderful rain – here's to plenty more this Autumn!
Mulch is a great way to help your plants make the most of the water they get, as it prevents some of the evaporation. When I learned about permaculture gardening, my teacher made us stand out in the sun at midday for a while in silence. We soon started getting uncomfortable, and after letting us sweat and start to feel the burn, he smiled and said "How was that? Hot, right? If you don't like it, and you can move to the shade any time, imagine what it's like for the soil?" Since that unforgettable experience, as much as for the ample rationale reasons and undoubted benefits, I am a serious mulch advocate. Autumn is the perfect time for mulching, because as the weeks pass the leaves fall and can be repurposed in the ecosystem as mulch. Rather than throw them out, layer them into your compost or use them on top of your garden beds or in your pots.
For those of you keen on planting veg this month, here's May's list:
Broad Beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Calendula, Chard, Celery, Chinese Cabbage, Chives, Chilli Pepper, Kohlrabi, Garlic, Leek, Leaf Mustard, Lettuce, Onion, Parsley, Parsnip, Peas, Potato, Radish.
