May is the month to start sowing vegetables as the soil warms and the longer days encourage good growth.
Get going now, and in a few months you can be tucking into sweetcorn slathered in butter, fresh salads filled with herbs, beans and beetroot and courgettes diced or sliced into something delicious – all grown with your very own hands!
Richard Barker, horticultural expert and commercial director of LBS Horticulture, shares his advice on the best veggies to get in the ground in the coming weeks, while Protek offers tips on getting herbs started outdoors as the risk of frost passes. Read on for your ultimate May planting guide…
1. Beetroot
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Look out for different varieties of beetroot to plant
For a reliable crop later in the season, beetroot is a great vegetable to sow now. Richard Barker tells Country Living: “Beetroot can be sown outdoors between April and June. Sow seeds in a shallow drill around a centimetre deep, spacing the seeds 10cm apart.
“If you want to harvest beetroot when they are smaller, seedlings can be planted closer together. Beetroot plants need to be watered regularly, as this will stop the roots from becoming woody or splitting.
“Most beetroot will be ready to harvest in 8 to 10 weeks, but some varieties can take up to 20 weeks.”
Look out for more unusual varieties like striped ‘Chioggia’ and golden ‘bolder’.
2. Sweetcorn
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Few things taste better than homegrown sweetcorn
Sweetcorn can be started off in May, but Richard recommends giving it a little protection first. He says: “It is best to start sweetcorn in pots and move seedlings outside later. Each seed should have its own pot, and place them on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse to germinate. Once the risk of frost has passed, harden off sweetcorn plants by placing them outside during the day for a week. When placing sweetcorn outside, it should be in a warm, sunny and sheltered spot.”
As sweetcorn is wind-pollinated, place plants in a grid formation instead of in a row, Richard explains. Sweetcorn should also be watered regularly, as it uses a lot of water due to the large leaf area of the plant.
3. Courgettes
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Courgettes crop easily and prolifically over a long period
If you want a later crop of courgettes, late May is a good time to sow them directly outside. Richard says: “Prepare the site beforehand by digging in compost, and then sow seeds 90cm apart and 2.5cm deep. Cover the seeds with cloches, and leave them in place until seedlings appear. Remove any weaker seedlings so that one remains in each position, and ensure that each plant has around a square metre of growing space.”
Richards suggests keeping the soil of courgette plants just-moist consistently for the best crops, and give the plants a high potash feed weekly to promote growth and flowering.
4. Runner beans
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Runner beans are just as good raw as they are cooked
Runner beans can also be sown outside in May, although gardeners will need to be patient for the first harvest. Richard explains: “Runner beans can be sown directly outside in May, but they will not produce crops until July or August. When growing runner beans, ensure that they have a strong support, such as using canes to form a wigwam.
“As the plants grow, you will need to help them grip the support by tying new shoots to the canes. When the beans reach the top of the canes, pinch out the tips to encourage bushier growth.”
The beans are usually ready to harvest 12 to 14 weeks after sowing, and regular picking can encourage the plant to produce more flowers and beans.
5. Rocket
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Rocket prefers moist, fertile soil
For a quick and peppery crop, rocket is an easy salad leaf to sow directly outside. Richard says: “Rocket seeds can be sown directly into well prepared soil into a shallow drill about one centimetre deep.
“Sowing seeds every fortnight can provide a continuous supply, and seedlings may need to be thinned out if necessary to prevent overcrowding. Remove the flower stalks of rocket to prolong leaf production and ensure that the plants have shade in summer to prevent bolting.”
Aim to keep the soil of rocket moist, but do not overwater the plants as this can dilute the flavour of the leaves.
6. Rosemary, coriander, dill and parsley
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Dill is an underrated, versatile herb
May is also a good month to turn your attention to herbs, particularly once the last frosts have passed. Protek says: “Directly sow seeds of rosemary, coriander, dill and parsley outdoors now.”
Sowing a variety of cut-and-come-again herbs will lend itself to making many different dishes once they’re ready.
7. Basil
Grow herbs in a creative way
Basil is more tender than many other herbs, so it needs a little extra care before it is moved outside. Protek advises: “Keep tender herbs like basil indoors or in a greenhouse until mid-late May to avoid cold nights. If plants were started indoors, “harden them off” (gradually expose them to the outside) for a week or two before planting.”
Once your herbs are ready to go outside, they can be planted somewhere practical as well as decorative.
Protek suggests creatively planting the herbs in an easy-to-access specialist herb trough and to bring it to life with creative painting patterns – this will form an attractive feature planter that sits on a patio area just outside the kitchen for easy access.
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