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May is when the garden finally gets out of its own way. Everything you need for the growing year is in our Garden & Outdoor hub. The last frosts have passed — usually by mid-May across most of the UK, though gardeners in exposed or elevated sites always keep one eye on the forecast into the third week — and the tender crops that have been waiting on windowsills and in greenhouses can go outside at last. The pace of growth accelerates dramatically. Things you sowed in March that seemed to be doing nothing suddenly double in size. May is the most exciting month in the growing year.
The Last Frost Date: When to Trust It
The commonly cited “safe” planting-out date for tender crops in England is the Chelsea Flower Show weekend — the last week of May. It’s a reasonable rule of thumb for the south and midlands; gardeners in northern England and Scotland typically add another week or two. Local knowledge matters here: if your garden is in a frost pocket (low-lying, surrounded by hedges or walls that trap cold air), you might get frosts a week after they’ve stopped in gardens a mile away. When in doubt, wait. A courgette plant held back a fortnight will catch up with one planted too early and frosted.
What Goes Outside in May
After the last frost, the queue of indoor-grown plants can finally be hardened off and planted out. Always harden off before planting — a week of gradual outdoor exposure prevents the shock of sudden temperature change. Move plants outside for a few hours each day, starting somewhere sheltered; a cold frame makes this easier, but a doorstep works fine — just bring them back in before dark. See our full guide to hardening off plants.
- Tomatoes — plant out into their final positions (grow bags, large pots, or the ground) in full sun. Pinch out side shoots on cordon types. Water consistently; irregular watering causes blossom end rot.
- Courgettes and squash — plant after last frost, spacing generously (60–90cm for courgettes; 1.2m+ for winter squash). They’ll fill the space by July.
- French and runner beans — runner beans need support (bamboo canes or netting); French beans can be grown as dwarf bushy plants without staking. Plant after last frost.
- Sweetcorn — plant in a block rather than rows (wind pollination works better this way), 45cm apart each way. Don’t plant single rows.
- Cucumbers — either in a greenhouse or, from late May, in a sheltered sunny spot outside. Outdoor cucumbers need a really warm, sheltered position.
- Basil — only outside in warm, sunny, sheltered spots once all frost risk has truly passed. Better grown in pots you can bring in on cold nights.
Direct Sowings in May
- French and runner beans — can be sown direct from late May; faster than starting indoors at this point
- Courgettes and squash — direct sowing works well once the soil is warm; they germinate within days in May
- Continue salad successions — a short row every two to three weeks keeps salad leaves coming all summer
- Carrots, beetroot, swede — continue direct sowing for successional harvest through summer and autumn
- Annual flowers — tender annuals like sunflowers, cosmos, zinnias, and nasturtiums can go direct from late May
The First Harvests
May brings the first proper harvests of the year. Asparagus from established beds is at its peak — cut daily while spears are 15–20cm tall and the tips are tight. Rhubarb is ready to pull (twist and pull rather than cut). Radishes are my fastest crop. Those sown in March and April are ready now. Lettuces and salad leaves start coming. Overwintered spinach and chard are producing well. Herbs — chives, mint, flat-leaf parsley — are lush and ready to use.
Stop harvesting asparagus in mid-June to let the ferns develop and feed the crowns for next year. For warm-weather garden ideas, our Summer Outdoor hub picks up from here. Stop pulling rhubarb from late June for the same reason.
Pests and Problems
May brings slugs and snails out in force — particularly a problem for newly planted tender crops and seedlings. A few approaches: copper tape around raised beds, nematodes watered into the soil (effective but need moist conditions), traps, or simply going out at night with a torch and bucket. Avoid slug pellets in areas where hedgehogs or birds might eat them.
Aphids appear on broad beans (blackfly) from mid-May — pinch out the soft growing tips once beans are well-established to remove the most attractive feeding sites and reduce infestations. Cabbage white butterflies start laying from late May; cover brassicas with fine mesh netting to prevent egg-laying rather than dealing with caterpillars later.
May Jobs at a Glance
- Plant out tomatoes, courgettes, beans, sweetcorn after last frost
- Harden off all tender plants before planting — see our garden tools guide for what’s worth having in May
- Direct sow beans and squash directly into warm soil
- Continue succession sowings of salads and carrots
- Harvest asparagus, rhubarb, radishes, salads, and herbs
- Pinch out broad bean tips to reduce blackfly
- Net brassicas against cabbage white butterfly
- Watch for late frosts and protect tender plants as needed
The spring season is now in full swing. For everything that came before, browse back through our March and April guides, and see the full Spring Garden hub for all our spring growing content.
You’ll find more growing guides and seasonal advice in our Garden & Outdoor.
Good luck out there — drop me a note and let me know what’s going in this week. Last reviewed: April 2026
📋 From the D&L Shop: Planning your growing year? Our Your First Year on the Allotment guide covers every month from clearing the plot to your first proper harvest — written from 15+ years of UK growing experience. £9.99, instant PDF download. Also useful: the Allotment Plot Planner (£4.99) for mapping beds and planning crop rotation. Browse the full shop →
Nemasys Natural Fruit and Veg Protection Nematodes
SOL 1pk Copper Tape Slug Repellent UK - 25m Slug and Snail Control | Copper Tape Slug and Snail Repellent - Pet Friendly 25m Adhesive Strip for Indoor & Outdoor Pots, Raised Beds & Pathways
Elixir Gardens Strong Heavy Duty Professional Bamboo Plant Support Garden Canes | All lengths in stock 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8ft | Choose from a range of pack sizes from 10 to 250 | 6ft x 50
Butterfly Netting for Cabbage White Butterflies, Protect Your Brassica Vegetables (2m x 20m)
Looking ahead: our June garden jobs guide picks up from here, with July and August following on. Going away mid-summer? Set up the plot before you leave. And for the inevitable hot week, see watering through a heatwave.
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About Gareth
Gareth Isherwood is the editor of Danbury & Lovejoy. He has baked bread at home for 25+ years and has 15 years of growing experience across gardens, containers and other growing spaces, including an East Sussex allotment for the past three years. Read his full story →
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