What to Sow in May: Your Guide to a Blooming and Productive Garden
May is a rewarding month for gardeners. With the days growing longer and the soil warming up, the garden is full of potential — and whether you're tending a veg patch, an allotment, or a few pots on the patio, there’s plenty you can get stuck into.
It’s also a month of transition: cool-season crops are still going strong, but it's time to start sowing summer favourites too. Here’s what you can plant in May to keep your garden productive and full of life in the months to come.
🌿 Vegetables to Sow or Plant Outside
May is perfect for direct sowing a wide range of quick-growing, heat-loving vegetables. Here are some to try:
- Beetroot – Easy to grow and versatile in the kitchen. Sow little and often for a steady supply.
- Carrots – Choose a sunny spot with light soil. Sow in rows and thin out once seedlings appear.
- Lettuce and Salad Leaves – Keep sowing every few weeks for fresh leaves all summer.
- Spinach and Chard – These leafy greens grow quickly and can be harvested young.
- Radishes – One of the quickest crops to grow — great for getting children involved.
- Turnips – Sow now and harvest young for a sweet, mild flavour.
Top tip: Keep rows short and stagger your sowings. This way, you avoid gluts and keep your garden productive for longer.
🫘 Beans, Courgettes and More Warm-Weather Crops
As temperatures rise, it's safe to sow or plant out tender crops — just keep an eye on the forecast in case of any late frosts.
- Runner Beans and French Beans – Can go straight into the ground now, or plant out if you've started them indoors.
- Sweetcorn – Likes a sunny, sheltered spot. Sow in blocks to help with pollination.
- Courgettes, Marrows, Pumpkins and Squash – Sow under cover or plant out hardened-off seedlings later in the month.
- Peas – Still time to sow more for succession cropping.
Did you know? Courgette plants are famously generous — two or three plants can feed a household all summer.
🌱 Herbs to Sow Now
Herbs are easy to grow and brilliant for brightening up meals. Many are also excellent companion plants, helping to attract pollinators or deter pests.
- Basil – Loves warmth, so best grown in pots on a sunny windowsill or patio.
- Coriander – Quick to grow and ideal for salads, salsas and curries.
- Dill, Parsley, Chives – Sow outdoors now or pot up small plants to keep near the kitchen.
🌸 Flowers to Sow in May
May is one of the last chances to sow annuals for summer colour — perfect for brightening beds, borders, and containers.
- Sunflowers – Tall, bold, and easy to grow from seed. Great for kids.
- Cosmos and Zinnias – Excellent for cutting and a magnet for bees and butterflies.
- Nasturtiums and Marigolds – Not just pretty — they’re brilliant for keeping aphids off your veg.
- Sweet Peas – If you’ve started them earlier, plant them out now in a sunny spot.
Try this: Mix companion flowers like marigolds and nasturtiums among your veg — they add colour and help keep your garden healthy.
🧑🌾 Other Jobs for May
Sowing isn’t the only thing on the agenda this month. Here are a few other jobs to keep your garden on track:
- Plant out second early and maincrop potatoes
- Harden off tomatoes, courgettes, and squash before planting out
- Transplant leek seedlings
- Sow winter brassicas like kale, winter cabbage, and purple sprouting broccoli
- Keep watering young plants and seedlings, especially during dry spells
Gardening in May: A Time of Growth
Gardening in May is about setting the stage for summer — getting plants in the ground, protecting them from any last-minute cold snaps, and making the most of the growing light. With a little planning and regular sowing, your garden or allotment can be bursting with life all the way into autumn.
Whether you’re after advice on what to sow next, tips for tricky spots in your garden, or simply a bit of inspiration, the team at Kings Garden and Leisure is always happy to help.
Pop in to see us in Exmouth or Sidmouth, or explore our blog for more gardening tips and seasonal guidance. We love sharing the joy of growing with our community — and May is the perfect time to get involved.
🌱 Happy gardening from all of us!