May Momentum
May always feels like a turning point on the farm. After months of planning, seed starting, and waiting (so much waiting), everything begins to move at once. Here in Western Montana, May is a month of both patience and urgency, a fun dance between unpredictable weather and the very real need to get plants in the ground. Regardless of the weather, the field will transform this month! After weeks of nurturing seedlings in the greenhouse and through the hardening off phase, they will finally be ready to go into the field!
Some of the first to go out are the sweet peas, campanula, and bunny tail grass. These early-season crops are hardy enough to handle some cooler temperatures and even a light frost, making them ideal for early planting. Transplanting is both rewarding and nerve-wracking. Getting them into well-prepared soil, properly spaced, and watered in is essential! Sweet peas, especially, feel symbolic this time of year. Their delicate tendrils and soft colors hint at what’s to come, even if blooms are still weeks away.
May is also when sunflowers start going directly into the ground. Unlike many other crops, I’ve had the most success with sunflowers when I directly sow them into the field. They thrive every year! With consistent moisture and cooperative weather, they germinate quickly and grow fast. Succession sowing begins now as well, ensuring a steady stream of blooms later in the summer. Each planting is timed with intention, setting the stage for continuous harvests during peak season. I’ll be sowing fall sunflowers with rich autumnal tones in just a few weeks!
Depending on how the spring unfolds, May could offer the very first blooms of the season! I’ll be keeping my eye on the geum, yarrow, and giant alliums (to name a few). These early perennials and bulbs often lead the way, offering the first colors of the season. It’s a reminder that things are truly underway on the farm. These early blooms will make their way into the first arrangements of the year, at the first market, and in the first market bouquets.
Hardening off continues throughout the entire month of May too. This gradual process of acclimating seedlings to outdoor conditions is critical for their success. Plants that have been grown in controlled environments need time to adjust to wind, sun, and fluctuating temperatures so they can build resilient, strong roots. It’s a slow and intentional practice, but one that pays off. Well-hardened plants establish more quickly in the field and are better equipped to handle the unpredictability of early-season weather.
Out in the field, new and more durable irrigation systems will be set up. The goal is to maintain the pressure better this season, to ensure consistent and efficient watering as the temperatures start to rise. There’s not much shade on the farm so the sun can feel intense, in this climate a reliable irrigation system is essential for the flowers to thrive.
Support structures are also going up including netting, stakes, and other systems that will help keep plants upright and harvestable with straight stems, especially later in the season. Crops like sweet peas and other tall or vining flowers depend on this early setup. Getting it in place now prevents damage and saves time when growth accelerates.
May is full and busy. It’s physical, hopeful, and sometimes a little overwhelming. There’s a constant awareness of how much depends on timing, weather, and care. But it’s also one of the most beautiful times on the farm. The air just feels different, there are plants turning growing all around, and the days keep getting longer. Each year I feel like I grow a little
more appreciation for Spring. The weather can be all over the place, but it’s also the time when the earth is re-awakening. Everything might not be blooming yet but by this time, everything in motion, and that in itself is something worth celebrating!
All for now,
Chase
