What to sow and grow in May
We’ve been soaking up the sunshine here at Fat Tomato after what felt like a never-ending dull and wet winter. The recent run of dry days has finally given us a bit of breathing space - a chance to catch up on all those garden jobs we’d been putting off. We’re also working on building a pond (don’t forget we are on the side of a hill!) - a work-in-progress, but a hopeful one.
May is a golden month in the garden. The soil is warming up fast, the days are stretching out, and everything seems to be growing in fast-forward. After a slow, soggy start to the year, this feels like the real turning point. Blossoms are everywhere, bees are back, and it’s finally safe to plant out more tender crops.
In the polytunnel, it’s a tangle of pots - tomatoes, chillies, cucumbers, courgettes, edible flowers - all getting ready for their final spots by the end of the month. The raised beds are racing ahead too, with overwintered onions starting to swell, greens going to seed in the heat, and pods forming on the peas and broad beans.
Here is what we are SOWING AND GROWING IN MAY
Tomatoes
Our tomatoes are well underway, with over 100 varieties already sown. We might sow some of the late varieties so we can have tomatoes well into December.
We’ll be planting into the polytunnel and outdoor beds at the end of the month.
Plants will be available at the Honesty Farm Shop by the June Bank Holiday.
Courgettes, Pumpkins and Squash
April-sown seedlings now have true leaves and are nearly ready to plant out.
We are sowing a few more courgettes this month for a staggered harvest.
If you are growing some, make sure you harden off gradually and protect from slugs and late cold snaps.
Runner Beans and Dwarf French Beans
Early sowings of dwarf French beans in pots will be planted among tomatoes at the end of this month.
Runner beans require sturdy supports; we use a bean frame, but you can also use bamboo canes.
We’re succession sowing more dwarf French beans every two weeks until July.
Sweetcorn
We will be sowing in large modular trays while the weather is warm.
Plant out in blocks (e.g. 4 x 4) to improve wind pollination and support.
Our first batch is scheduled to go out later this month.
Beetroot and Carrots
The first beetroot plants are in the ground, with more from modules ready to be planted.
Carrots will be direct-sown in the ground later this month once we receive rain to help with germination.
Salads and Leafy Greens
Rocket, spinach, mustard greens, and mixed lettuce are all growing fast. Maybe a bit too fast in the warm weather. We are constantly watering them to keep the ground damp.
More lettuce trays are germinating outdoors in the shade, as they dislike heat.
Cucumbers and Melons
Indoor cucumbers are stretching out nicely in the tunnel. We still have most of ours in pots, but plan to sow them in the ground this month.
If you want to sow some, the Marketmore is a reliable outdoor variety - still time to sow. (We have some seeds left for sale in our Honesty Farm Shop and online store.)
Melons are thriving in compost-rich soil and receiving regular feeding. We grow them up strings to get full sun exposure.
Herbs
Planting out parsley, coriander, chervil, and dill.
Sowing new herb batches for the Honesty Farm Shop.
Rooting oregano, rosemary, and pineapple sage with local raw honey.
Potted herbs are now on a seaweed tea feeding schedule.
Potatoes – Earthing Up Time
Everything planted in March and April is growing well in pots.
We’re earthing up stems with grass clippings and compost as they grow.
Plants are being fed with comfrey tea to support tuber development.
Flowers for Pollinators
Now’s the time to direct sow nasturtiums, calendula, borage, cornflowers, and cosmos.
We grow flowers between the veg - good for the garden, great for the bees.
OTHER JOBS FOR MAY
Weed and mulch regularly - the key to keeping on top of it is to do it little and often. We feed the weeds to our hens before they set seed.
Fruit-bearing plants should be fed weekly with an organic liquid feed, such as seaweed or comfrey tea.
Water daily, especially in pots and raised beds, which dry out quickly.
We’ve got a full range of organically grown, open-pollinated heritage seeds ready to sow now - all chosen for flavour, resilience, and success in Irish gardens. You can find them at our Honesty Farm Shop and in our online store.
Let us know how your garden is growing - tag us on Instagram or drop us a message. Here’s to the joy of May in the garden.