What to sow in May

Based on UK average frost date (mid-April). Enter your postcode on the homepage for personalised dates.

Direct sow outdoors

Plant out

Beetroot

Each seed cluster produces several seedlings — thin to the strongest. Leaves are...

Swiss chard

Beautiful and productive. Pick outer leaves and it keeps going for months. Rainb...

Leeks

Drop seedlings into deep holes and just water in — no need to fill the hole. The...

Broccoli

Calabrese types give a main head plus side shoots for weeks. Cut the main head f...

Sweetcorn

Plant in a block (not a row) for wind pollination. Each plant gives you 1-2 cobs...

Courgettes

You only need 2-3 plants. Seriously. Pick them small (15cm) or they turn into ma...

French beans

Dwarf varieties need no support. Pick every few days to keep them cropping....

Squash

Big hungry plants. Give them space and feed them. Leave to cure in the sun befor...

Pumpkins

Limit each plant to 2-3 fruits for bigger pumpkins. Sit them on a tile to stop r...

Pak choi

Best sown in early spring or after midsummer — bolts quickly in heat. Fast-growi...

Fennel

Sow after midsummer for best bulbs — earlier sowings often bolt. Don't transplan...

Celery

Sow seeds on the surface — they need light to germinate. Start early in a propag...

Tomatoes

Pinch out side shoots on cordon types. Feed weekly once fruits form. Don't overw...

Peppers

Start early — they're slow. Pinch out the first flower to encourage bushier grow...

Chillies

Need heat to germinate — use a propagator or warm windowsill. The more sun, the ...

Cucumbers

Outdoor varieties are tougher than greenhouse ones. Keep picking to keep them pr...

Runner beans

Build a strong frame — they get heavy. Pick every 2-3 days or they go stringy....

Aubergine

Start very early. Limit to 5-6 fruits per plant for decent-sized aubergines....

Basil

Pinch out flower buds to keep leaves coming. Harvest from the top to encourage b...