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
- Basilall monthOcimum basilicum
- Broccoliall monthBrassica oleracea var. italica
- Butterhead lettuceall monthLactuca sativa var. capitata
- Cauliflowerall monthBrassica oleracea var. botrytis
- Courgetteuntil early MayCucurbita pepo
- Cucumberuntil early MayCucumis sativus
- Kaleall monthBrassica oleracea var. sabellica
- Kohlrabiall monthBrassica oleracea var. gongylodes
- Lemon balmuntil early MayMelissa officinalis
- Oreganountil early MayOriganum vulgare
- Pumpkinuntil early MayCucurbita maxima
- Sageuntil early MaySalvia officinalis
- Savoy cabbageall monthBrassica oleracea var. sabauda
- Sweetcornuntil early MayZea mays convar. saccharata
- Thymeuntil early MayThymus vulgaris
Sow outdoors in May
27 plants
- Beetrootall monthBeta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris
- Butterhead lettuceall monthLactuca sativa var. capitata
- Carrotall monthDaucus carota subsp. sativus
- Cherviluntil mid MayAnthriscus cerefolium
- Chivesall monthAllium schoenoprasum
- Climbing beanfrom mid MayPhaseolus vulgaris var. vulgaris
- Corianderall monthCoriandrum sativum
- Courgettefrom mid MayCucurbita pepo
- Cucumberfrom mid MayCucumis sativus
- Dillall monthAnethum graveolens
- Dwarf beanfrom mid MayPhaseolus vulgaris var. nanus
- Hamburg parsleyuntil mid MayPetroselinum crispum subsp. tuberosum
- Kohlrabiall monthBrassica oleracea var. gongylodes
- Loose-leaf lettuceall monthLactuca sativa var. crispa
- Mangetoutuntil mid MayPisum sativum var. saccharatum
- Mooli radishall monthRaphanus sativus var. longipinnatus
- Parsleyall monthPetroselinum crispum
- Parsnipuntil mid MayPastinaca sativa
- Peauntil early MayPisum sativum
- Pumpkinfrom mid MayCucurbita maxima
- Radishuntil mid MayRaphanus sativus var. sativus
- Rocketall monthEruca vesicaria subsp. sativa
- Spring onionall monthAllium fistulosum
- Summer savoryall monthSatureja hortensis
- Swedefrom mid MayBrassica napus subsp. rapifera
- Sweetcornfrom early MayZea mays convar. saccharata
- Swiss chardall monthBeta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris var. cicla
Plant out in May
34 plants
- Auberginefrom late MaySolanum melongena
- Basilfrom mid MayOcimum basilicum
- Broccoliall monthBrassica oleracea var. italica
- Brussels sproutsfrom mid MayBrassica oleracea var. gemmifera
- Butterhead lettuceall monthLactuca sativa var. capitata
- Cape gooseberryfrom mid MayPhysalis peruviana
- Cauliflowerall monthBrassica oleracea var. botrytis
- Celeriacfrom early MayApium graveolens var. rapaceum
- Chillifrom mid MayCapsicum annuum
- Courgettefrom mid MayCucurbita pepo
- Cucamelonfrom mid MayMelothria scabra
- Cucumberfrom mid MayCucumis sativus
- Figall monthFicus carica
- Kohlrabiall monthBrassica oleracea var. gongylodes
- Leekfrom mid MayAllium porrum
- Lemon balmall monthMelissa officinalis
- Lovageall monthLevisticum officinale
- Marjoramfrom mid MayOriganum majorana
- Melonfrom mid MayCucumis melo
- Mintall monthMentha × piperita
- Oreganofrom early MayOriganum vulgare
- Potatountil early MaySolanum tuberosum
- Pumpkinfrom mid MayCucurbita maxima
- Red cabbageall monthBrassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra
- Rosemaryfrom mid MaySalvia rosmarinus
- Sagefrom early MaySalvia officinalis
- Savoy cabbageall monthBrassica oleracea var. sabauda
- Sweet pepperfrom mid MayCapsicum annuum
- Sweetcornfrom mid MayZea mays convar. saccharata
- Table grapeall monthVitis vinifera
- Tarragonall monthArtemisia dracunculus
- Thymeall monthThymus vulgaris
- Tomatofrom mid MaySolanum lycopersicum
- White cabbageall monthBrassica oleracea var. capitata f. alba
Harvest in May
17 plants
- Butterhead lettuceall monthLactuca sativa var. capitata
- Chervilall monthAnthriscus cerefolium
- Chivesall monthAllium schoenoprasum
- Kohlrabifrom mid MayBrassica oleracea var. gongylodes
- Lemon balmfrom mid MayMelissa officinalis
- Loose-leaf lettuceall monthLactuca sativa var. crispa
- Lovageall monthLevisticum officinale
- Mintfrom mid MayMentha × piperita
- Parsleyfrom mid MayPetroselinum crispum
- Radishall monthRaphanus sativus var. sativus
- Rhubarball monthRheum rhabarbarum
- Rocketall monthEruca vesicaria subsp. sativa
- Rosemaryall monthSalvia rosmarinus
- Sageall monthSalvia officinalis
- Spinachall monthSpinacia oleracea
- Tarragonfrom mid MayArtemisia dracunculus
- Thymeall monthThymus 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.