In The Vegetable Garden This May

May is prime time in the vegetable garden—things really start to ramp up. Here’s your hit list of top tips for growing success this month: 

🥕 1. Direct sow like a pro 

May is ideal for sowing lots of veg straight into the ground: 

• Carrots, beetroot, parsnips, radishes 

• Lettuce, spinach, chard, rocket 

• French beans, runner beans, peas, courgettes (once the frost risk is gone) 

Tip: Sow little and often (every 2-3 weeks) for a steady harvest. 

🌱 2. Harden off seedlings 

If you’ve raised crops indoors or in a greenhouse (like tomatoes, courgettes, pumpkins), start hardening them off by putting them outside during the day and bringing them in at night for a week or two before planting out. 

🧅 3. Plant out 

• Brassicas (cabbage, kale, broccoli) can go out now. 

• Leeks and onions can be planted into their final positions. 

• Tomatoes can go outside after the last frost—usually late May.

💧 4. Water wisely 

• Newly sown seeds and young plants need consistent moisture. 

• Water early morning or evening to reduce evaporation. 

• Try to water at the base to avoid fungal issues. 

🌿 5. Mulch where you can 

Apply compost, well-rotted manure, or straw around established crops to conserve moisture, reduce weeds, and feed the soil. 

🐛 6. Keep pests in check 

• Net brassicas to protect from pigeons and cabbage white butterflies. 

• Watch for carrot fly—use barriers or fleece to keep them out. 

• Slug patrol: Go out at dusk with a torch, or try organic traps. 

🌼 7. Encourage pollinators 

• Grow flowers like calendula, nasturtium, and borage near your vegetables to bring in bees. 

• More pollinators = more fruit on crops like courgettes and beans. 

🔪 8. Thin seedlings 

Once your direct-sown veg are up, thin them out to avoid overcrowding (especially carrots, beets, and lettuces). It feels harsh but gives better crops.