Diary dates for May

PLEASE NOTE We have made every effort to ensure these details were correct at the time of going to press, but recommend you check with the organisers before travelling

GARDEN SHOW AND FESTIVALS

Garden Show Ireland May 5-7 Antrim Castle Gardens, Randalstown Road, Antrim. 10am-6pm. www.gardenshowireland.com

RHS Malvern Spring Festival May 11-14. The Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire. 9am-6pm. 01684 584924 www.threecounties.co.uk/rhsmalvern

Devon Chilli Fiesta May 20. RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Devon. Plants, stalls, cookery, food, music; 10am-6pm. 01805 626800 www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor

Royal Welsh Spring Festival May 20-21. Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, Powys. Smallholding, gardening and rural life. 01982 553683 www.rwas.wales/spring-festival

RHS Chelsea Flower Show May 23-27. Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London SW3. Innovative designs and horticultural exhibits at one of the most famous flower shows. www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows

River Cottage Spring Fair. May 27-29. River Cottage HQ, Park Farm, nr Axminster, Devon. Food stalls, garden talks and tours, cookery masterclasses; 10am-5pm. 01297 630300, www.rivercottage.net

Gardening Scotland June 2-4. Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh. Scotland’s national gardening festival; 10am-5pm. www.gardeningscotland.com

RHS Chatsworth Flower Show June 7-11. Chatsworth, Bakewell, Derbyshire. New show for 2017. www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows

Strawberry Fair June 11. Brogdale Farm, Faversham, Kent. Enjoy the first fruits of the season, market, orchard tours. 01795 536250 www.brogdalecollections.co.uk

RHS Harlow Carr Flower Show June 23-25. RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate, Yorkshire. 0845 265 8070 www.rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr

TOURS & OPEN DAYS

Jekka’s Herb Farm open days May 5-6, June 2-3. Rose Cottage, Shellards Lane, Alveston, Bristol. Look round the herbetum, and buy herbs and seeds, 10am-4pm. 01454 418878 www.jekkasherbfarm.com

Spring vegetable weekend May 13-14. Barnsdale Gardens, The Avenue, Exton, Oakham, Rutland. View productive areas normally off-limits; chat with expert growers; 11am-4pm. 01572 813200 www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk

Kitchen garden tour May 24. Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire. A behind the scenes look at the work involved, 2-4pm. Book on 01625 374428 www.tattonpark.org.uk

Ewell summer show June 17. Blenheim High School, Epsom, Surrey. 2.30-4.30pm. www.ewellhortassn.co.uk

Open garden squares weekend June 17-18. Explore a range of gardens across London, including allotments and fruit & vege plots. www.opensquares.org

Homeacres open garden June 18. Alhampton, Shepton Mallet, Somerset. Charles Dowding’s garden open; see beds full of early season vege; 1-5pm. 01749 860292 www.charlesdowding.co.uk

VEGE GROWING COURSES

Grow vege no dig May 6 or June 7. Alhampton, Shepton Mallet, Somerset. Course with Charles Dowding, 10.30am-4pm. Book on 01749 860292 www.charlesdowding.co.uk

Growing under glass May 9. Barnsdale Gardens, The Avenue, Exton, Oakham, Rutland. Get the most from a productive greenhouse or polytunnel, 10am-12.30pm. Book on 01572 813200 www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk

The vegetable garden in summer May 11. RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey. Practical day on sowing, planting and harvesting; 10.30am-4pm. Book on 0203 176 5830 www.rhs.co.uk/gardens/wisley

Get growing May 12 or June 8. River Cottage HQ, Park Farm, nr Axminster, Devon. Make the most of your growing space; 9.30am-5pm. 01297 630300, www.rivercottage.net

Salad growing no dig May 13. Perch Hill Farm, Brightling, Burwash, Kent. Course with Charles Dowding; 10.30am-3.30pm. www.sarahraven.com

Starting from scratch May 13. Hyde Hall, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex. Beginner’s guide to growing fruit and vege; 10.30am-4pm. Book on 020 317 65830 www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall

Growing in straw bales May 15. RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate, Yorkshire. Using alternative growing media for growing fruit and vege; 10am-12noon. Book on 020 317 65830 www.rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr

Microgreens May 26. RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate, Yorkshire. Herb and vege seedlings as flavour-packed baby edibles; 10am-4pm. Book on 020 317 65830 www.rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr

Grow your own fruit and vege June 7. Hyde Hall, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex. Summer workshop. 11am-1pm. Book on 020 317 65830 www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall

The productive greenhouse June 10. RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey. Growing salads, fruit and vege undercover in summer; 10am-1pm. Book on 020 317 65830 www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley

Vegetable growing June 10. Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire. Principles and practice, with Tatton’s expert gardeners; 10am-3pm. Book on 01625 374428 www.events.tattonpark.org.uk

Organic vege growing June 15. Ryton Organic Gardens, Wolston Lane, near Coventry. Introductory course on planning and growing on your plot, 10am-4pm. Book on 02476 303517 www.gardenorganic.org.uk

Grow your own fruit and vege June 18. West Dean Gardens, Chichester, West Sussex. Managing your plot throughout the summer; suitable for beginners; 9am-5pm. Book on 01243 811301 www.westdean.org.uk

Growing exotic vege June 20. Barnsdale Gardens, The Avenue, Exton, Oakham, Rutland. A voyage of discovery for adventurous gardeners, with Sally Cunningham; 10.30am-4.30pm. Book on 01572 813200 www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk

Year round vege June 20. Perch Hill Farm, Brightling, Burwash, Kent. Concentrating on crops that are productive, long-season and tasty; day course with Sarah Raven; 10.30-3.30. www.sarahraven.com

FRUIT PROPAGATION & CARE

Care of fruit trees May 20 or 22. Stanmer Park, Brighton, Sussex. Keep your trees healthy and productive; 9.30am-5pm. Book on 07746 185927 www.brightonpermaculture.org.uk

Growing soft fruit June 2. RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey. Different fruits and their care, 10.30am-1pm. Book on 0203 176 5830 www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley

Growing tree fruit June 22. RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey. Workshop with Wisley’s fruit experts; 10.30am-1pm. Book on 020 317 65830 www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley

Orchard design June 24. Brogdale Farm, Faversham, Kent. Site assessment, varieties, layout; aimed at those establishing an orchard or involved with a community orchard; 10am-4pm. Book on 01795 536250 www.brogdalecollections.co.uk

Summer fruit pruning June 27. RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey. How to prune a range of fruit trees and bushes, with Wisley’s fruit experts; 10.30am-1pm. Book on 020 317 65830 www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley

BEES AND CHICKENS

Beekeeping May 1 or 13, June 11 or 23. River Cottage HQ, Park Farm, nr Axminster, Devon. Complete introduction – theory and practical; 9.30am-5pm. 01297 630300, www.rivercottage.net

Meet the bees May 12 or 26. Helmsley Walled Garden, Cleveland Way, Helmsley, North Yorkshire. Talk and practical; 4-6pm. Book on 01439 771427 www.helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk

Home to roost May 13. Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire. All aspects of poultry keeping, 10am-12noon. Book on 01625 374428 www.tattonpark.org.uk

Introduction to beekeeping May 14. Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire. Overview of beekeeping and how to get started; 10am-3.30pm. Book on 01625 374428 www.tattonpark.org.uk

Bee weekend June 3-4. RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate, Yorkshire. Learn about bees and beekeeping, live bee demonstrations and other activities. 0845 265 8070 www.rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr

The world of beekeeping June 14. RHS Centre, Pershore College, Worcestershire. 10.30am-4pm. Book on 01386 554609 [email protected]

HERBS

Aromatics for the garden May 3, The Cottage Herbery, The Mill House, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire. 10.30am-12.30pm 01584 781785 www.thecottageherbery.co.uk

Herbalicious May 10. RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate, Yorkshire. Medicinal herbs specifically for women’s health; 10am-4pm. Book on 020 317 65830 www.rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr

Herb propagation May 13. Jekka’s Herb Farm, Rose Cottage, Shellards Lane, Alveston, Bristol. Practical master class with Jekka McVicar; 10am-4pm. Book on 01454 418878 www.jekkasherbfarm.com

Year round herbs June 17. Jekka’s Herb Farm, Rose Cottage, Shellards Lane, Alveston, Bristol. How to keep your culinary herbs productive all year round. Practical master class with Jekka McVicar; 10am-4pm. Book on 01454 418878 www.jekkasherbfarm.com

OTHER GROW-YOUR-OWN COURSES

Composting May 10. Ryton Organic Gardens, Wolston Lane, near Coventry. Full introduction to cornerstone of organic vege growing. 10am-4pm. Book on 02476 303517 www.gardenorganic.org.uk

Soil health June 7. Ryton Organic Gardens, Wolston Lane, near Coventry. What makes a healthy soil and ways to test it in the garden. 10am-4pm. Book on 02476 303517 www.gardenorganic.org.uk

The cutting garden June 13. Perch Hill Farm, Brightling, Burwash, Kent. How to prepare, plant and harvest your own cut flower patch; day course with Sarah Raven; 10.30am-4.30pm. www.sarahraven.com

Wonderful wormeries June 27. Ryton Organic Gardens, Wolston Lane, near Coventry. How to get the best from a wormery, 9.30am-1pm. Book on 02476 303517 www.gardenorganic.org.uk