What Foods to Plant in May (Vegetables, Fruit & Herbs)

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May feels like when spring really gets going and you can better trust the weather not to throw some random snow or an icy patch in there.  It is also the peak time planting everything from seasonal vegetables to herbs.  Let’s look at what foods to plant in May to get the best crops.

What vegetables to plant in May

It is always worth being guided by the weather but as a general rule, May is when you can plant a lot of vegetables and fruits, many of which can start outdoors.  

Direct sow outdoors

May is the time to direct sow outdoors a number of vegetables grown from seed.  These include:

• Beetroot 
• Broad beans
• Carrots
• Kohlrabi
• Lettuce
• Onions 
• Parsnips
• Peas 
• Radish
• Salad leaves
• Spinach
• Summer cabbage + cauliflower
• Swiss chard

You should also plant onions, garlic and shallot sets as well as tubers from Jerusalem artichokes and asparagus crowns.  

Now is the time to chit those early and maincrop potatoes.

Sow in the greenhouse or indoors

There are still a few vegetables that are best off being planted indoors for now.  These include tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet peppers and aubergines as well as celery and both globe and salad artichokes.

You can start courgette, marrow, squash and pumpkin grown from seed in the greenhouse now as well as sweetcorn.  Always aim for at least 12 of these plants to get plenty of pollination.

It seems a long time off but May is a good time to plant kale seeds under cover for a winter crop.

What fruit to plant in May

If you want to plant bare-root fruit trees, May really is the last opportunity to get them started.  You can also plant both cold-stored strawberry runners and alpine strawberries as well as cranberries and lingonberries.

Indoors, this is the perfect time to start growing melons but look for varieties that are suitable for the climate.  Orange Sherbert is one example.

What herbs to plant in May

Herbs really start to pick up in May and most of them can be grown outdoors.

Herbs such as chives, coriander, parsley and dill can be sown either in containers or straight into the ground while borage and comfrey work best straight into the ground.  Chicory is another that works best in the ground and can be planted in May.

Basil still need to be indoors because it’s Mediterranean background means it isn’t quite up to standard UK May weather.  You can also start perennial herbs such as rosemary, sage and thyme in the greenhouse to give them a good start.

Other jobs to do

May is when the gardener’s job list starts to get a bit busier with jobs to do in upkeep as well as new planting.

Vegetable jobs

Keep that protective covering in place on outdoor sowings just in case there is a cold spell and make sure you cultivate and prepare seedbeds then keep them covered too before anything goes into them.

Create or prepare your runner bean supports and trenches to sow in later May or plant out in June.  Also, make sure your pea supports are ready.

Feed any crops that have been standing all winter to give them a boost.  Otherwise, avoid digging in the garden too much in the wet weather but if you do, stand on a plank of wood so as not to compact the soil too much

Fruit jobs

As the fruit blossoms start to appear, the aim is to protect them from frost where possible but still allow insects access.  Other important jobs include:

• Adding nitrogen feed to blackcurrants, cherries, plums, cooking apples and pears
• Increase water and switch to summer feed for citrus trees
• Mulch raspberries, blueberries, cranberries and lingonberries with well-rotted farmyard manure but avoid mushroom compost
• Also, add some mulch around fruit trees and bushes as well as any nut trees but only if the ground isn’t frozen

Finally, repot any container-grown fruit if it needs it to get ready for the growth spurt to come.

Work now to get those crops

May is one of the times where you put in a bit extra work but it pays off later in the year with good crops.  Keep an eye on the weather to make sure you know what to adjust and when to deal with it but otherwise, it is a steady month for gardening.