WHAT SEEDS TO SOW IN May IN IRELAND
We welcomed new feathered friends to Fat Tomato
The last few weeks have been dry, bright, and busy — though the cold winds and chilly nights are still lingering, reminding us not to get too confident just yet. The biggest challenge at the moment? Slugs and snails. They’re everywhere. Every morning feels like a small inspection round, checking what survived the night.
Still, May always feels generous.
The soil is warming quickly now, the evenings are stretching out beautifully, and the whole garden seems to shift into fast-forward. Blossoms are everywhere, bees are back in force, and the garden suddenly feels alive from morning until dusk.
At Fat Tomato, the polytunnel is turning into organised chaos — trays of tomatoes, chillies, cucumbers, tomatillos, aubergines, courgettes, herbs, and edible flowers all waiting for their final homes. Outdoors, overwintered onions are beginning to swell, broad beans are flowering, and rhubarb seems to grow by the hour.
We’ve also introduced eight new hens to the garden, along with a young Plymouth Rock cockerel called Eddie, named after my grandad, who once farmed this land. They’ve settled in quickly — pecking order and all — and with a bit of luck, we’ll soon have an even wider mix of colourful eggs joining the honesty shop.
Alongside the growing, we’re slowly repairing some of the damage left behind by winter — rebuilding a wall, fixing raised strawberry benches beside the polytunnel, and trying to stay one step ahead of the garden as it races forward.
Our May List — what we’re actually doing
Tomatoes
The tunnel is filling up quickly now. We’ve sown well over 110 varieties of tomatoes at this stage and are still sowing a few later crops to stretch the harvest into winter.
The strongest plants will head into the polytunnel beds by the end of the month, with outdoor tomatoes following once the nights improve.
Lots of tomato plants are heading to the honesty shop as well. If you have pre-ordered some, we will be in touch.
Courgettes, Pumpkins & Squash
April-sown plants are growing fast and beginning to take over every spare surface. We’re sowing a few extra courgettes now for succession and staggering harvests later in summer.
We will start sowing pumpkins and squash this month and plant them out in June, when the nights are warmer.
Runner Beans & French Beans
We will be sowing a few varieties of dwarf French beans and runner beans. Dwarf beans will be planted among the tomato plants.
We sow little and often through May and June rather than all at once — it keeps harvests manageable and productive for longer.
Sweetcorn
Sweetcorn is growing steadily in large module trays while the weather improves. We’ll plant in blocks rather than rows for better pollination later on.
Beetroot & Carrots
The first beetroot is already in the ground, with more modules waiting to follow.
Carrot sowing is done directly in sandy soil, and we will interplant some onions and spring onions to keep carrot flies away.
Salads & Leafy Greens
Rocket, lettuce, mustard greens, spinach, and mixed leaves are growing quickly now — sometimes too quickly in the heat. We’re constantly watering and succession-sowing to prevent everything from bolting at once.
Cucumbers & Melons
Tunnel cucumbers are racing away now, while melons are slowly beginning to settle in. We grow many vertically on strings to maximise light and airflow.
Herbs
Parsley, coriander, dill, chervil, basil, mint, oregano, rosemary, pineapple sage — herbs are everywhere at the moment.
We’re potting up herbs for the Honesty Farm Shop while also taking cuttings and rooting perennial varieties.
Potatoes and Jerusalem Artichokes
We have planted 8 varieties of potatoes this year, all in big plant pots, as we just don’t have the space to give them the raised beds. Growing in pots makes it easier to harvest them later in the year. You can also yield a better crop if you keep them moist, as the soil can dry out quickly.
We’re earthing them up regularly with compost and grass clippings and feeding them with homemade comfrey tea.
Flowers for Pollinators
Calendula, nasturtiums, cosmos, borage, and cornflowers are all being direct sown now.
We scatter flowers right through the vegetable beds — for pollinators, biodiversity, pest balance, and simply because they make the garden feel alive.
Other Jobs Around the Garden
Hardening off tender plants before planting out
Battling slugs and snails after damp nights - treats for the hens and ducks!
Watering pots and raised beds constantly during dry spells
Mulching wherever possible to hold moisture in the soil
Feeding hungry crops with seaweed and comfrey tea
Ventilating the polytunnel early each morning as temperatures rise
Supporting climbing crops before they suddenly surge away
Seeds for the Season Ahead
May is one of the best months for sowing — the soil is warming, growth is faster, and conditions are generally far more forgiving.
We’ve got a growing range of organically grown, open-pollinated heritage seeds available through our online store and at the Honesty Farm Shop, all selected for flavour, resilience, and suitability for Irish gardens.
Let us know how your garden is growing — tag us on Instagram or drop us a message.