May in the garden
What the catalogue says can be sown, planted and harvested in May, resolved for United Kingdom (general). Your own garden may run a fortnight either way.
Sow under cover (5)
Sow outdoors (31)
Plant (46)
- Agapanthus
- Armand clematis
- Bay
- Blue fescue
- Californian lilac
- Canna
- Chamomile
- Chives
- Dahlia
- Echinacea
- Escallonia
- Evergreen climbing hydrangea
- Fatsia
- Feather reed grass
- Fig
- Fuchsia
- Gladiolus
- Hebe
- Henry's honeysuckle
- Hyssop
- Japanese forest grass
- Lavender
- Lemon thyme
- Lemon verbena
- Lemongrass
- Mexican feather grass
- Mexican orange blossom
- Mint
- Miscanthus
- Nerine
- Onion
- Oregano
- Osmanthus
- Passionflower
- Potato
- Rosemary
- Rudbeckia
- Sage
- Salvia
- Sedge
- Star jasmine
- Tarragon
- Thyme
- Tiger flower
- Tuberous begonia
- Winter savory
Plant out (17)
Harvest (29)
Prune (28)
Divide (4)
Last chance in May
These windows are open now and shut at the end of the month. Missing the close of a sowing window usually costs a year rather than a fortnight, which is why they are listed apart from everything else that can be done in May.
Sow under cover (4)
Plant (32)
- Agapanthus
- Armand clematis
- Bay
- Blue fescue
- Californian lilac
- Chamomile
- Dahlia
- Echinacea
- Escallonia
- Evergreen climbing hydrangea
- Fatsia
- Feather reed grass
and 20 more — see the whole year
Plant out (11)
Pot on (1)
Prune (15)
- Armand clematis
- Camellia
- Curry leaf
- Dieffenbachia
- Fatsia
- Forsythia
- Hebe
- Jade plant
- Lemon thyme
- Lemon verbena
- Mahonia
- Peach
and 3 more — see the whole year
Take cuttings (3)
Protect (1)
Coming up in June
Nothing here can be done yet — these are the windows that open when May ends, worth knowing about now because most of them need something ordered, cleared or prepared first.
- Sow outdoors1 plant — endive
- Plant out3 plants — kale, shiso, thai basil
- Pot on1 plant — leek
- Harvest23 plants — amelanchier, basil, beetroot, borage and others
- Prune9 plants — bay, californian lilac, deutzia, gooseberry and others