What to sow in May
The clocks have changed and every evening you get an extra hour at the plot. Use it. May is when the tender stuff finally goes outside, the direct sowing picks up pace, and the allotment starts looking like an actual growing space instead of a mud field.
Your timing depends on where you are
The last frost date in Cornwall can be three weeks earlier than the Highlands. That changes when you can safely plant out tender crops — and when you need to start seeds indoors.
| Location | Last frost | Days behind Cornwall |
|---|---|---|
| Cornwallmildest — coastal Gulf Stream | 7 April | — |
| Londonurban heat island | 19 April | +12 |
| Bristolsouth-west, sheltered | 18 April | +11 |
| Birminghammidlands | 24 April | +17 |
| Manchesternorth-west | 30 April | +23 |
| LeedsYorkshire | 2 May | +25 |
| Edinburghcentral Scotland | 13 May | +36 |
| InvernessHighlands — latest frost | 22 May | +45 |
These are estimates based on latitude and coastal proximity. Enter your postcode on our frost map for a date specific to your plot.
Sow directly outside
Hardy enough for the soil temperature right now. Sow where they are going to grow.
Plant in a block, not a row — they're wind-pollinated and need neighbours. Each plant gives you 1-2 cobs, so don't be stingy with numbers.
Needs: Full sun. Sheltered spot. Rich soil.
- Swift — Early-maturing — good for shorter UK summers
- Golden Bantam — Heritage, deep yellow, sweet
Companions: Squash, French beans, Pumpkins
See recommended kit →You only need 2-3 plants. Seriously. Pick them small (15cm) or they turn into marrows overnight.
Needs: Full sun. Rich soil. Lots of water.
- Black Beauty — Classic dark green, heavy cropper
- Defender — Compact, great for smaller plots
Companions: Sweetcorn, French beans
See recommended kit →Dwarf varieties need no support. Pick every few days — once they start producing, they don't stop (unless you let pods go to seed).
Needs: Sun. Sheltered spot. Decent soil.
- Tendergreen — Stringless bush variety, very reliable
- Cobra — Climbing, prolific, keeps going for months
Companions: Sweetcorn, Squash, Carrots
See recommended kit →Bolts at the slightest excuse. Sow every 3-4 weeks, pick frequently, and choose slow-bolt varieties. It's a race you can win if you stay on top of it.
Needs: Partial shade in summer. Moist soil. Grows well in pots on a windowsill.
- Calypso — Slow to bolt — the whole point
- Leisure — Leafy and long-lasting
Companions: Tomatoes, Spinach
Sow early spring or after midsummer — it'll bolt faster than you can blink in the heat. Worth it though. Fast-growing and very rewarding.
Needs: Partial shade. Moist soil. Slug protection is non-negotiable.
- Joi Choi — Vigorous and bolt-resistant
- Canton Dwarf — Compact — good for tight spaces
Companions: Onion sets, Garlic
Sow after midsummer for best bulbs — earlier sowings often bolt. Don't transplant bare-root, it hates root disturbance. Use modules.
Needs: Full sun. Well-drained, fertile soil. Regular water.
- Rondo — Bolt-resistant — important for fennel
- Zefa Fino — Quick to bulk up, reliable
Sow direct — dill absolutely hates being transplanted. Short rows every few weeks for continuous supply. Gets to 90cm, so give it a sheltered spot.
Needs: Full sun. Sheltered spot. Well-drained soil.
- Bouquet — Best for leaf production
- Mammoth — Tall, great for seeds and pickles
Companions: Lettuce, Cucumbers
Build a strong frame — they get seriously heavy. Pick every 2-3 days or they go stringy and the plant stops producing.
Needs: Sun. Deep rich soil. A tall, solid support frame.
- Scarlet Emperor — The classic — red flowers, heavy crops
- Enorma — Exhibition-length pods
Companions: Sweetcorn, Squash
See recommended kit →Pinch out flower buds to keep leaves coming. Harvest from the top to encourage bushy growth. Loves heat — don't even think about putting it outside before June.
Needs: Full sun. Warmth. Sheltered spot. Rich, moist soil. Perfect for pots.
- Genovese — Classic Italian, the one for pesto
- Greek — Tiny leaves, compact plant, great in pots
Companions: Tomatoes, Peppers
See recommended kit →Plant out this month
Seedlings started earlier that are ready to go into their final positions.
Each seed cluster produces several seedlings — thin to the strongest. Don't chuck the leaves, they're delicious wilted with butter.
Needs: Sun or light shade. Any reasonable soil. One of the easiest root veg.
- Boltardy — The reliable one — bolt-resistant
- Chioggia — Candy-stripe rings inside, stunning
Companions: Lettuce, Onion sets
See recommended kit →Beautiful and productive. Pick outer leaves and it keeps going for months. Rainbow chard looks stunning.
Needs: Sun or partial shade. Moist soil. Hardly any pest problems.
- Bright Lights — Rainbow stems — stunning in the plot
- Fordhook Giant — White-stemmed classic, heavy yielder
Drop seedlings into deep holes and just water in — no need to fill the hole. They'll fatten up on their own.
Needs: Sun or partial shade. Rich, well-drained soil.
- Musselburgh — Tough-as-nails Scottish classic
- King Richard — Early variety, long white stems
Companions: Carrots, Celery
See recommended kit →Cut the main head first and you'll get side shoots for weeks. Purple sprouting is the real star — worth the long wait.
Needs: Sun. Firm, fertile soil. Net against pigeons and cabbage white butterflies.
- Purple Sprouting Early — The star of late winter/early spring
- Green Magic — Quick calabrese for summer heads
Companions: Beetroot, Onion sets, Celery
See recommended kit →Plant in a block, not a row — they're wind-pollinated and need neighbours. Each plant gives you 1-2 cobs, so don't be stingy with numbers.
Needs: Full sun. Sheltered spot. Rich soil.
- Swift — Early-maturing — good for shorter UK summers
- Golden Bantam — Heritage, deep yellow, sweet
Companions: Squash, French beans, Pumpkins
See recommended kit →You only need 2-3 plants. Seriously. Pick them small (15cm) or they turn into marrows overnight.
Needs: Full sun. Rich soil. Lots of water.
- Black Beauty — Classic dark green, heavy cropper
- Defender — Compact, great for smaller plots
Companions: Sweetcorn, French beans
See recommended kit →Dwarf varieties need no support. Pick every few days — once they start producing, they don't stop (unless you let pods go to seed).
Needs: Sun. Sheltered spot. Decent soil.
- Tendergreen — Stringless bush variety, very reliable
- Cobra — Climbing, prolific, keeps going for months
Companions: Sweetcorn, Squash, Carrots
See recommended kit →Big hungry plants — give them space and feed them well. Leave to cure in the sun before storing and they'll keep for months.
Needs: Full sun. Rich soil. Space — they spread like they own the place.
- Crown Prince — Blue-grey, incredible nutty flavour
- Uchiki Kuri — Orange onion squash, sweet and easy
Companions: Sweetcorn, French beans
See recommended kit →Limit each plant to 2-3 fruits for bigger pumpkins. Sit them on a tile or slate to stop rot from underneath.
Needs: Full sun. Very rich soil. Lots of water. Lots of space.
- Jack O'Lantern — The classic carving pumpkin
- Atlantic Giant — If you fancy growing a monster
Companions: Sweetcorn, French beans
See recommended kit →Sow early spring or after midsummer — it'll bolt faster than you can blink in the heat. Worth it though. Fast-growing and very rewarding.
Needs: Partial shade. Moist soil. Slug protection is non-negotiable.
- Joi Choi — Vigorous and bolt-resistant
- Canton Dwarf — Compact — good for tight spaces
Companions: Onion sets, Garlic
Sow after midsummer for best bulbs — earlier sowings often bolt. Don't transplant bare-root, it hates root disturbance. Use modules.
Needs: Full sun. Well-drained, fertile soil. Regular water.
- Rondo — Bolt-resistant — important for fennel
- Zefa Fino — Quick to bulk up, reliable
Sow seeds on the surface — they need light to germinate. Start early in a propagator. Cutting celery is much easier than trench celery if you're new to it.
Needs: Sun or partial shade. Rich, moist soil. Thirsty plant — water and feed regularly.
- Victoria — Self-blanching, easy to grow
- Tall Utah — Crisp green stalks, old-school reliable
Companions: Leeks, Cabbage, Cauliflower
Pinch out side shoots on cordon types. Feed weekly with tomato feed once the first truss sets. Don't overwater — flavour comes from a bit of stress.
Needs: Full sun. Sheltered. Rich soil. Regular feeding once fruiting.
- Gardener's Delight — Cherry — the most reliable tomato in the UK
- Sungold — Orange cherry, absurdly sweet
Companions: Basil, Parsley, Carrots, Garlic
See recommended kit →Start early — they're slow growers. Pinch out the first flower to encourage bushier growth and more fruit overall.
Needs: Full sun. Warmth. Sheltered spot or greenhouse. They sulk in the cold.
- California Wonder — Big blocky sweet pepper, reliable
- Jimmy Nardello — Italian sweet frying pepper, incredible
Companions: Basil, Tomatoes, Carrots
See recommended kit →Need heat to germinate — use a propagator or the warmest windowsill you've got. The more sun they get, the hotter the fruit.
Needs: Full sun. Warmth. Sheltered or under cover. Perfect for a sunny patio in pots.
- Apache — Compact, prolific, perfect for pots
- Hungarian Hot Wax — Mild-medium, great for beginners
Outdoor varieties are tougher and easier than greenhouse ones. Keep picking and they keep producing — ignore them and they swell to marrow size.
Needs: Sun. Shelter. Rich moist soil. A frame or trellis saves space.
- Marketmore — Outdoor variety, reliable and prolific
- Crystal Lemon — Round yellow cukes — fun and different
Companions: Dill, Lettuce, Peas
See recommended kit →Build a strong frame — they get seriously heavy. Pick every 2-3 days or they go stringy and the plant stops producing.
Needs: Sun. Deep rich soil. A tall, solid support frame.
- Scarlet Emperor — The classic — red flowers, heavy crops
- Enorma — Exhibition-length pods
Companions: Sweetcorn, Squash
See recommended kit →Start very early — January isn't too soon. Limit to 5-6 fruits per plant if you want decent-sized aubergines rather than marbles.
Needs: Full sun. Warmth. Best under cover in most of the UK. Not for cold, exposed plots.
- Black Beauty — The reliable standard
- Moneymaker — Good for UK conditions
Companions: Peppers, Tomatoes
See recommended kit →Pinch out flower buds to keep leaves coming. Harvest from the top to encourage bushy growth. Loves heat — don't even think about putting it outside before June.
Needs: Full sun. Warmth. Sheltered spot. Rich, moist soil. Perfect for pots.
- Genovese — Classic Italian, the one for pesto
- Greek — Tiny leaves, compact plant, great in pots
Companions: Tomatoes, Peppers
See recommended kit →What kit you will need
A few essentials for this month. We have tested and reviewed the kit that actually matters.
Browse all recommended kit →Get personalised dates for your postcode
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