With the longer, warmer days, as we edge from spring towards summer, your garden is going to be busy with growth and activity. If you’re seeking some inspiration for flowers and vegetables to start growing in May, here are some ideas and places to start.
Vegetables to sow outside in May
Now that we’re beyond the chilly grasp of frosty mornings, the options for what we can plant directly outside has expanded significantly. If you have you room in your greenhouse, you can continue to plant in trays or pots and transplant when the shoots are bigger. But at this time of year, you may also choose to get planting directly in soil and raised beds outside. Here are some ideas for what to grow in May:
Beans
Whether you prefer runner, French or broad, the warmth of the soil in May is perfect to get your beans directly into your veg patch or outside containers. They’ll be shooting up in no time, so be ready to train them onto whatever support structures you prefer for them. If you’ve grown beans before, you’ll know that harvesting them before the pods mature is the way to make sure the plant keeps producing. Whichever kind of beans you decide to plant, be ready to enjoy a lot of them later in the summer!
Carrots
If you want to keep a steady crop of carrots throughout the summer, get planting small batches every three to four weeks, directly in the soil, from May. Make a drill and place your sees into watered soil along it. Stay patient, because carrot seeds take time to germinate. Once they pop up, you’ll need to protect them from slugs and other munching pests. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t plant in places that have recently had carrots, to avoid carrot fly. We always recommend trying brightly colored varieties, which will add color to your plate come time to harvest.
Radishes
One of the joys of radishes is how quick they are from sowing to harvest. If you get them into the ground in May, you’ll be enjoying their crunch and flavor in June!
Sweetcorn
If you have a warm and sunny spot, this is the time of year to plant sweetcorn. Find a variety that is right for you, as some are sweeter in flavor and tougher in texture than others. Sweet corn should be planted in a grid instead of rows, and will thrive in hot summers.
Vegetables to Sow in Your Greenhouse in May:
Just because it’s warmer outside, doesn’t mean we can’t put our greenhouses to excellent use. This is when we can use them to sow tender plants, or ones that really do need the heat and controlled moisture. Or to give our seedlings a head-start before planting them out. Here are some ideas for vegetables to plant in your greenhouse in May:
Tomatoes & Peppers
If you haven’t already started, or even if you have, now is a great time to plant peppers and tomatoes from seed under glass, to set you up for a bountiful late-summer crop. Choose the varieties you love the most, or get adventurous to try something new.
As the sun will be hotter now, remember to maintain good moisture levels for your seedlings and young plants in your greenhouse over the coming weeks, until they’re ready to plant out.
Cucumbers
If there’s one veg that’s worth growing for the remarkable difference in flavor compared to supermarket varieties, it’s cucumbers. They are great plants to grow, love warm conditions and can produce absolutely delicious crops.
Basil, Coriander & Dill
Keep your cooking aromatic and mouth-wateringly delicious with warmth-loving herbs such as basil, coriander and dill. You can grow these from seed in your greenhouse and keep a healthy supply of them flowing into your kitchen all summer long.
Flowers to Sow in May
With the frosts no longer a concern, May is a great time to sow flowers, both inside and out. Here are some ideas for flowers that will bring cheer to your garden across the summer.
Sunflowers
These glorious crowns give bright joy to any garden in the summer months. Sunflowers are a firm family favorites because of how easy they are to grow, and how impressively they shoot up! Whether in pots to plant out later in the summer, or, now that we’re into May, straight in the flower bed, just pick a spot that is a little sheltered from the wind, and be ready with a bamboo cane to support if it needs it.
Marigolds
Bright and cheerful, marigolds are easy to grow from seed. They pair wonderfully with tomatoes, because they deter pests such nematodes and whitefly. Like tomatoes, they also like a sunny spot and well-drained soil. And just around the time your toms are ripening their splashes of red will look wonderful alongside the rich golds, yellows and oranges of marigolds.
Nasturtiums
Easy to grow and care for, Nasturtiums are both beautiful and edible, so a firm favorite in vegetable patches. Get your seeds in the soil now, and you’ll be enjoying bright flowers for a long season, potentially lasting right into October. The flowers, leaves and seeds are all edible, and give a glorious boost to a homegrown salad bowl.
Cosmos & Zinnias
These two pretty summer flowers are often paired together, and offer wonderful long-flowering blooms. As lovely as they are for us as we enjoy our gardens, they are also great for attracting pollinators.
Beyond all these ideas are a hundred more. May is the perfect time for gardeners to get busy, getting those seeds in the ground that will fill our plates and burst into blossom across the summer. Enjoy making the most of May in your garden and greenhouse!
