What to sow and harvest in May?
Sow indoors
- Basil Ocimum basilicum: don’t cover: light germinator, germinates from 15 °C (best 25 °C), comes up after 7–14 days
- Broccoli Brassica oleracea var. italica: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 8 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 5–10 days
- Cauliflower Brassica oleracea var. botrytis: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 8 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 5–10 days
- Courgette Cucurbita pepo: sow 2 cm deep, germinates from 15 °C (best 25 °C), comes up after 5–8 days
- Cucumber Cucumis sativus: sow 1.5 cm deep, germinates from 15 °C (best 25 °C), comes up after 4–8 days
- Florence fennel Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 12 °C (best 22 °C), comes up after 8–14 days
- Gherkin Cucumis sativus: sow 1.5 cm deep, germinates from 15 °C (best 25 °C), comes up after 4–8 days
- Kale Brassica oleracea var. sabellica: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 8 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 5–10 days
- Pumpkin Cucurbita maxima: sow 2.5 cm deep, germinates from 15 °C (best 25 °C), comes up after 5–10 days
- Savoy cabbage Brassica oleracea var. sabauda: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 8 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 5–10 days
- Sweetcorn Zea mays var. saccharata: sow 4 cm deep, germinates from 12 °C (best 25 °C), comes up after 7–12 days
Sow outdoors
- Annual mallow Lavatera trimestris: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 12 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 10–20 days
- Beetroot Beta vulgaris var. conditiva: sow 2 cm deep, germinates from 8 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 7–14 days
- Carrot Daucus carota subsp. sativus: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 7 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 10–21 days
- Chervil Anthriscus cerefolium: sow 0.5 cm deep, light germinator: cover very thinly, germinates from 8 °C (best 18 °C), comes up after 10–14 days
- Chicory (witloof) Cichorium intybus var. foliosum: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 10 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 7–14 days
- Chives Allium schoenoprasum: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 10 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 10–14 days
- Climbing French bean Phaseolus vulgaris var. vulgaris: sow 3 cm deep, germinates from 12 °C (best 25 °C), comes up after 7–10 days
- Coriander Coriandrum sativum: sow 1.5 cm deep, germinates from 10 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 7–14 days
- Cornflower Centaurea cyanus: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 10 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 7–14 days
- Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus: sow 0.5 cm deep, germinates from 15 °C (best 22 °C), comes up after 7–14 days
- Courgette Cucurbita pepo: sow 2 cm deep, germinates from 15 °C (best 25 °C), comes up after 5–8 days
- Cucumber Cucumis sativus: sow 1.5 cm deep, germinates from 15 °C (best 25 °C), comes up after 4–8 days
- Dill Anethum graveolens: sow 0.5 cm deep, light germinator: cover very thinly, germinates from 10 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 10–14 days
- Dwarf French bean Phaseolus vulgaris var. nanus: sow 3 cm deep, germinates from 12 °C (best 25 °C), comes up after 7–10 days
- Foxglove Digitalis purpurea: don’t cover: light germinator, germinates from 15 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 14–21 days
- French marigold Tagetes patula: sow 0.5 cm deep, germinates from 15 °C (best 22 °C), comes up after 5–10 days
- Garden pea Pisum sativum: sow 4 cm deep, germinates from 5 °C (best 15 °C), comes up after 7–14 days
- Gherkin Cucumis sativus: sow 1.5 cm deep, germinates from 15 °C (best 25 °C), comes up after 4–8 days
- Hollyhock Alcea rosea: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 12 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 10–20 days
- Honesty Lunaria annua: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 12 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 10–20 days
- Kale Brassica oleracea var. sabellica: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 8 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 5–10 days
- Kohlrabi Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 10 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 5–10 days
- Leek Allium porrum: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 10 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 10–18 days
- Lettuce Lactuca sativa var. capitata: sow 0.5 cm deep, light germinator: cover very thinly, germinates from 5 °C (best 18 °C), comes up after 4–10 days
- Loose-leaf lettuce Lactuca sativa var. crispa: sow 0.5 cm deep, light germinator: cover very thinly, germinates from 5 °C (best 18 °C), comes up after 4–10 days
- Lupin Lupinus polyphyllus: sow 1.5 cm deep, germinates from 12 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 14–21 days, soak the seed overnight
- Mangetout Pisum sativum var. saccharatum: sow 4 cm deep, germinates from 5 °C (best 15 °C), comes up after 7–14 days
- Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus: sow 2 cm deep, germinates from 12 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 10–14 days
- Oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare: don’t cover: light germinator, germinates from 15 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 10–20 days
- Parsley Petroselinum crispum: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 8 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 14–28 days, soak the seed overnight
- Parsnip Pastinaca sativa: sow 1.5 cm deep, germinates from 7 °C (best 18 °C), comes up after 14–28 days
- Pot marigold Calendula officinalis: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 10 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 7–14 days
- Pumpkin Cucurbita maxima: sow 2.5 cm deep, germinates from 15 °C (best 25 °C), comes up after 5–10 days
- Radish Raphanus sativus: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 8 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 3–7 days
- Rocket Eruca vesicaria: sow 0.5 cm deep, germinates from 5 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 3–8 days
- Savoy cabbage Brassica oleracea var. sabauda: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 8 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 5–10 days
- Spring onion Allium fistulosum: sow 1 cm deep, germinates from 8 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 8–14 days
- Sunflower Helianthus annuus: sow 3 cm deep, germinates from 10 °C (best 25 °C), comes up after 7–14 days
- Sweet pea Lathyrus odoratus: sow 2 cm deep, germinates from 10 °C (best 18 °C), comes up after 10–20 days, soak the seed overnight
- Sweetcorn Zea mays var. saccharata: sow 4 cm deep, germinates from 12 °C (best 25 °C), comes up after 7–12 days
- Swiss chard Beta vulgaris var. cicla: sow 2 cm deep, germinates from 8 °C (best 20 °C), comes up after 7–14 days
- Yarrow Achillea millefolium: don’t cover: light germinator, germinates from 15 °C (best 22 °C), comes up after 10–14 days
- Zinnia Zinnia elegans: sow 0.5 cm deep, germinates from 18 °C (best 25 °C), comes up after 5–10 days
Planting out and planting
- Annual mallow Lavatera trimestris
- Aubergine Solanum melongena
- Basil Ocimum basilicum
- Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia fulgida
- Broccoli Brassica oleracea var. italica
- Brussels sprouts Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera
- Cauliflower Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
- Celeriac Apium graveolens var. rapaceum
- Celery Apium graveolens var. dulce
- Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus
- Courgette Cucurbita pepo
- Cucumber Cucumis sativus
- Dahlia Dahlia × hortensis
- Delphinium Delphinium × elatum
- Endive Cichorium endivia
- French marigold Tagetes patula
- French tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
- Gherkin Cucumis sativus
- Kohlrabi Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes
- Leek Allium porrum
- Lemon balm Melissa officinalis
- Lettuce Lactuca sativa var. capitata
- Loose-leaf lettuce Lactuca sativa var. crispa
- Lovage Levisticum officinale
- Lupin Lupinus polyphyllus
- Mint Mentha
- Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus
- Oregano Origanum vulgare
- Oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare
- Pak choi Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis
- Parsley Petroselinum crispum
- Pot marigold Calendula officinalis
- Pumpkin Cucurbita maxima
- Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea
- Purpletop vervain Verbena bonariensis
- Red cabbage Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra
- Sage Salvia officinalis
- Sunflower Helianthus annuus
- Sweet pea Lathyrus odoratus
- Sweet pepper Capsicum annuum
- Sweetcorn Zea mays var. saccharata
- Thyme Thymus vulgaris
- Tomato Solanum lycopersicum
- White cabbage Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. alba
- Yarrow Achillea millefolium
- Zinnia Zinnia elegans
Harvest from the vegetable garden
- Asparagus Asparagus officinalis
- Chervil Anthriscus cerefolium
- Chives Allium schoenoprasum
- Coriander Coriandrum sativum
- Kohlrabi Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes
- Lemon balm Melissa officinalis
- Lettuce Lactuca sativa var. capitata
- Loose-leaf lettuce Lactuca sativa var. crispa
- Lovage Levisticum officinale
- Mint Mentha
- Pak choi Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis
- Parsley Petroselinum crispum
- Radish Raphanus sativus
- Rhubarb Rheum × hybridum
- Rocket Eruca vesicaria
- Sage Salvia officinalis
- Spinach Spinacia oleracea
- Spring onion Allium fistulosum
- Swiss chard Beta vulgaris var. cicla
- Thyme Thymus vulgaris
To pick from trees and shrubs
- American basswood: leaves
- Bamboo: young shoots
- Beech: leaves
- Black pine: young shoots
- Blackcurrant: leaves
- Bog-myrtle: leaves
- Bramble: leaves
- Burnet rose: flowers
- Caucasian lime: leaves
- Common lilac: flowers
- Common myrtle: leaves
- Common sage: leaves
- Douglas fir: young shoots
- Downy birch: leaves
- Ebbinge’s silverberry: berries
- Elder: blossom
- English oak: leaves
- European silver fir: young shoots
- False acacia: flowers
- Garden thyme: leaves
- Grapevine: leaves
- Hawthorn: blossom
- Honeyberry: berries
- Japanese cherry: blossom
- Judas tree: flowers
- Large-leaved lime: leaves
- Loquat: fruit
- Midland hawthorn: blossom
- Norway spruce: young shoots
- Oleaster: berries
- Oriental beech: leaves
- Raspberry: leaves
- Rosemary: flowers
- Scots pine: young shoots
- Sessile oak: leaves
- Silver birch: leaves
- Small-leaved lime: leaves
- Thorny olive: berries
- Weymouth pine: young shoots
To pick from perennials and herbs
- Anise hyssop: leaves
- Apple mint: leaves
- Bladder campion: young shoots
- Bloody dock: leaves
- Breckland thyme: leaves
- Broad-leaved thyme: leaves
- Cheddar pink: flowers
- Clary sage: leaves
- Common mallow: leaves
- Common pink: flowers
- Common sorrel: leaves
- Corsican mint: leaves
- Costmary: leaves
- Cowslip: flowers
- Creeping thyme: leaves
- Cuckooflower: flowers, leaves
- Curry plant: leaves
- French sorrel: leaves
- Garden angelica: stems
- Garlic chives: leaves
- Horned violet: flowers
- Horse mint: leaves
- Hyssop: leaves
- Korean mint: leaves
- Lemon thyme: leaves
- Lesser calamint: leaves
- Marsh mallow: leaves
- Meadow clary: flowers, leaves
- Meadowsweet: leaves
- Musk mallow: leaves
- Rosebay willowherb: leaves, young shoots
- Salad burnet: leaves
- Scarlet beebalm: leaves
- Society garlic: leaves
- Spanish sage: leaves
- Spearmint: leaves
- Sweet cicely: leaves
- Sweet violet: leaves
- Sweet woodruff: leaves
- Wild bergamot: leaves
- Wild garlic: flowers, seeds
- Wild strawberry: leaves
- Winter savory: leaves
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