Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus)
Delicious in salads and sandwiches, the crisp, sweet crunch of a cucumber is one of the joys of summer.
May can be a mixed bag as far as the weather goes, with warm sunny days followed by rainy days and even the occasional late frost. It’s a busy month in the garden, with everything starting to grow, and it’s also a great chance to get lawns in shape for summer. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and be prepared to protect young plants with fleece or cloches if the temperature drops suddenly.
There’s plenty to do in the garden in May, with seeds to sow and young seedlings to plant out. Whatever your big May garden project – whether you’re growing your own fruit and veg, or planting flowers for a spectacular summer display – choose a category below and read our essential growing and planting tips for May.
Delicious in salads and sandwiches, the crisp, sweet crunch of a cucumber is one of the joys of summer.
Runner beans (Phaseolus coccineus) are among the easiest and most rewarding vegetables to grow.
Grow your own salad and you can pick exactly how much you want and need.
Sweetcorn, or maize, is sweet, tender and delicious – especially when cooked as soon as it is picked. Plenty of sun and...
Spring onions are a delicious addition to a whole range of dishes, from summer salads to stir-fries.
Nothing beats the taste of your own home-grown tomatoes, freshly-picked and warm from the summer sun.
Lupins are a traditional addition to any garden, providing colourful flowers from late spring through to mid-summer.
French beans are a versatile vegetable, producing attractive, long, thin pods, and creamy haricot beans.
‘Cavolo Nero’ is a variety of kale, closely related to broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage.
Salad rocket, like its name, is a fast-growing salad leaf, perfect for adding a peppery spiciness to your salads.
Chard, or Swiss Chard, is a delicious and beautiful plant which will bring harvests to the kitchen and colour to the...
Sorrel is a great substitute for spinach, with a similar texture but a sharper citrus flavour.
Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) is a hardy perennial known for its hot and peppery roots, widely used in cooking and...
If you’re a strawberry fan, the many varieties of ‘Fragaria × ananassa’ are easy to grow at home.
Avocados are a favourite fruit used in kitchens around the world - why not try planting the stone to grow your own?
With their exotic and enormous foliage, banana plants add a taste of the tropics to the garden.
Butternut squash are a late season favourite, with attractive fruits which will keep well throughout the autumn and...
What better way to round off a summer meal than with a luscious peach? Even better, a peach you’ve grown yourself!
Everyone loves mangoes, but did you know that you can grow a mango tree from a seed?
Fig trees (Ficus carica) are Mediterranean natives that thrive in climates with hot, dry summers and cool winters...
Roses (Rosa) are among the UK’s favourite garden plants – and deservedly so.
If you want to grow something spectacular, plant sunflowers.
There are over 900 distinct species of Salvia, providing a huge range of smells and vivacious colours.
Most Honeysuckles have a sweet heady summer fragrance and are very beneficial to garden wildlife.
Bearing bold flowers in orange, red and yellow, Heleniums are a bright and cheerful addition to the garden border.
Perfect for autumn colour, the brightly coloured Nerine is a great addition to a sun-soaked border. They can also be...
The Viola is an adaptable low growing bedding plant coming in both classic and trailing varieties.
Cosmos, also known as ‘Mexican Aster’, is a great low maintenance and long flowering annual.
Anemones are a cheerful and vibrant group of plants, providing interest from early spring onwards.
Plants in the Sedum genus are easy to grow, produce lots of nectar for pollinators, and provide lovely autumn colour.
Calathea do have a reputation of being tricky to grow, but these challenges are well worth mastering
Hostas are usually grown for their beautiful leaves, with the attractive foliage coming in various shades of green, blue...
Geraniums are versatile plants which can add a multitude of colours and scents to the garden.
With beautiful flowers and a beautiful scent, it’s easy to see why lilac is such a well-loved plant.
Crocosmia bring flashes of bright colour and vibrance to a garden, with their graceful, delicately arching flower stalks...
Ceanothus is a beautiful and eye-catching perennial shrub. The vivid and prolific blooms are usually blue, but white and...
Hailing from a diverse range of habitats/regions, there’s a Euphorbia to suit you – whether you’re looking for a...
Commonly known as the butterfly bush, Buddleia davidii is a hardy, summer flowering shrub which is very easy to grow.
A slow-growing and easy-to-care-for plant, the bay tree is extremely popular. The aromatic leaves are widely used in all...
Asters are perennials which produce lots of colourful daisy-like flowers year after year.
You may have heard of Carnations, Sweet Williams, and Pinks - these are all types of Dianthus, the collective name for...
The many different species of Verbena are great for bringing useful pollinators to the garden.
Gypsophila has earned its nickname from the sweet-sour milk smell of its flowers, which resemble that of baby’s breath.
The vibrant blue flowers of Forget-Me-Nots make them a pretty choice for brightening a spring garden.
Common hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) are an elegant, traditional flower, perfect for a classic cottage garden.
Begonias are cherished in UK gardens and homes for their vibrant flowers and distinctive foliage. With a wide variety of...
With its bright colours and light, airy appearance, bougainvillea evokes the charm of Mediterranean gardens in Italy...
Catnip is widely recognized as the plant that can send cats wild with its scent! However, its benefits extend far beyond...
Gardenias are cherished for their beautifully fragrant blooms and glossy, evergreen foliage. These warm-climate shrubs...
Cultivated in herb gardens for centuries, Basil is one of the easiest herbs to grow from seed and it makes a delicious...
Coriander is a must in salads and as a fragrant green addition to Indian, Thai and Chinese curries.
Peppermint is super easy to grow. The flowers attract beneficial wildlife to the garden, and peppermint plants are...
Borage, or starflower, is an easy-to-grow herb with edible flowers and leaves.
May is a busy time for seed sowing, especially in the vegetable garden. Although the weather is much warmer, there’s still a chance of cold snaps in early May, so some seeds are still better sown in pots or modules indoors and placed in a greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill to germinate and grow on until June. For seeds sown directly outdoors, prepare the ground first by digging it over, clearing weeds and stones, and raking it smooth.
To harden off tender seedlings before planting them out, place them outdoors during the day and move them back inside at night. Do this for between 7-10 days before planting out.
Sow indoors:
Sow outdoors:
Plant out:
May is a great time in your vegetable garden. You’ll really start to see all the hard work paying off, with the following vegetables ready to harvest in May.
Plant soft fruit in May including:
May is a great month for roses, with so many of them just starting to come into bloom.
While you’re enjoying the colours and fragrances of your favourite flowers, keep an eye out for pests like aphids and rose sawfly, as well as any signs of disease, and tackle problems early before they have a chance to build up. Avoid spraying pesticides once the roses are in flower, as this can harm bees and other pollinators.
May is when many of our favourite garden plants burst into flower. Spring bulbs like daffodils and tulips are almost finished, but it’s not long until the summer bulbs like lilies take over. All hardy perennials can be planted in May. Wait until the end of the month to plant tender plants like summer bedding and climbing annuals, to avoid any last frosts.
Sow outdoors:
Plant:
Trees and shrubs are growing strongly in May, so any new trees or shrubs planted will need extra care to ensure they get the water and nutrients they need.
Prune early spring-flowering shrubs, including:
As the weather warms up in May, it’s time to start thinking about sowing tender herbs like basil and coriander.
All hardy herbs and spices can be planted in May, including:
Sow indoors:
Sow outdoors:
Hardy herbs like rosemary, thyme and sage can be harvested all year round, and regular harvesting from spring to autumn will encourage them to produce fresh new growth, ideal for cooking.