Sowing in May
May splits at the mid-month cold snap. Before it, frost is still a risk; after it, everything that wants warmth can go out: tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, squash, beans. The bed fills up within a few weeks — keeping to the spacings pays off later.
Start indoors in May
15 plants
- BasilOcimum basilicum
- BroccoliBrassica oleracea var. italica
- Butterhead lettuceLactuca sativa var. capitata
- CauliflowerBrassica oleracea var. botrytis
- CourgetteCucurbita pepo
- CucumberCucumis sativus
- KaleBrassica oleracea var. sabellica
- KohlrabiBrassica oleracea var. gongylodes
- Lemon balmMelissa officinalis
- OreganoOriganum vulgare
- PumpkinCucurbita maxima
- SageSalvia officinalis
- Savoy cabbageBrassica oleracea var. sabauda
- SweetcornZea mays convar. saccharata
- ThymeThymus vulgaris
Sow outdoors in May
27 plants
- BeetrootBeta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris
- Butterhead lettuceLactuca sativa var. capitata
- CarrotDaucus carota subsp. sativus
- ChervilAnthriscus cerefolium
- ChivesAllium schoenoprasum
- Climbing beanPhaseolus vulgaris var. vulgaris
- CorianderCoriandrum sativum
- CourgetteCucurbita pepo
- CucumberCucumis sativus
- DillAnethum graveolens
- Dwarf beanPhaseolus vulgaris var. nanus
- Hamburg parsleyPetroselinum crispum subsp. tuberosum
- KohlrabiBrassica oleracea var. gongylodes
- Loose-leaf lettuceLactuca sativa var. crispa
- MangetoutPisum sativum var. saccharatum
- Mooli radishRaphanus sativus var. longipinnatus
- ParsleyPetroselinum crispum
- ParsnipPastinaca sativa
- PeaPisum sativum
- PumpkinCucurbita maxima
- RadishRaphanus sativus var. sativus
- RocketEruca vesicaria subsp. sativa
- Spring onionAllium fistulosum
- Summer savorySatureja hortensis
- SwedeBrassica napus subsp. rapifera
- SweetcornZea mays convar. saccharata
- Swiss chardBeta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris var. cicla
Plant out in May
29 plants
- AubergineSolanum melongena
- BasilOcimum basilicum
- BroccoliBrassica oleracea var. italica
- Brussels sproutsBrassica oleracea var. gemmifera
- Butterhead lettuceLactuca sativa var. capitata
- CauliflowerBrassica oleracea var. botrytis
- CeleriacApium graveolens var. rapaceum
- ChilliCapsicum annuum
- CourgetteCucurbita pepo
- CucumberCucumis sativus
- KohlrabiBrassica oleracea var. gongylodes
- LeekAllium porrum
- Lemon balmMelissa officinalis
- LovageLevisticum officinale
- MarjoramOriganum majorana
- MintMentha × piperita
- OreganoOriganum vulgare
- PotatoSolanum tuberosum
- PumpkinCucurbita maxima
- Red cabbageBrassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra
- RosemarySalvia rosmarinus
- SageSalvia officinalis
- Savoy cabbageBrassica oleracea var. sabauda
- Sweet pepperCapsicum annuum
- SweetcornZea mays convar. saccharata
- TarragonArtemisia dracunculus
- ThymeThymus vulgaris
- TomatoSolanum lycopersicum
- White cabbageBrassica oleracea var. capitata f. alba
Harvest in May
16 plants
- Butterhead lettuceLactuca sativa var. capitata
- ChervilAnthriscus cerefolium
- ChivesAllium schoenoprasum
- KohlrabiBrassica oleracea var. gongylodes
- Lemon balmMelissa officinalis
- Loose-leaf lettuceLactuca sativa var. crispa
- LovageLevisticum officinale
- MintMentha × piperita
- ParsleyPetroselinum crispum
- RadishRaphanus sativus var. sativus
- RocketEruca vesicaria subsp. sativa
- RosemarySalvia rosmarinus
- SageSalvia officinalis
- SpinachSpinacia oleracea
- TarragonArtemisia dracunculus
- ThymeThymus vulgaris
These timings are for the moderate climate band. In the mild west everything runs about two weeks earlier, in harsh uplands two weeks later. Adjust for your region
All timings are guide values for the given climate, not a guarantee. Weather, aspect and variety all have a say.