May Allotments Tips
May is one of the busiest and most rewarding months on the allotment. As temperatures rise, plants begin to grow quickly, so a little regular care goes a long way.
🌱Here are our top tips for May:
- 🌿 Take extra care with young seedlings, as they can still be affected by late frosts, pests and strong winds.
- 🌱 Keep on top of weeds by hoeing regularly before they become established.
- 🐌 Start natural pest control early to protect tender new growth from slugs, snails and insects.
- 💧 Water deeply during dry spells and consider mulching to help retain moisture.
- 🥔 Earth up potatoes once the foliage reaches around 10–12 inches to protect developing tubers.
- 🌼 Harden off greenhouse-grown plants before planting them outside.
- 🥬 Sow little and often to enjoy a continuous harvest throughout the season.
- 🌸 Add flowers and herbs to attract pollinators and encourage beneficial insects.
🌿 Jobs for May
May is all about getting your allotment established for a productive summer.
This month’s key jobs include:
- Prepare beds by removing weeds and adding compost where needed.
- Plant out hardened-off seedlings into their final growing positions.
- Direct sow vegetables into warm soil.
- Water regularly, especially containers and raised beds.
- Apply mulch to reduce watering and suppress weeds.
- Install supports for climbing crops before they need them.
- Check plants regularly for pests and diseases.
- Thin crowded seedlings to give plants room to grow.
- Harvest early crops such as lettuce, spinach and radishes.
- Keep watering equipment, seed trays and tools clean and ready for continued sowing.
🌱 What to Sow in May
With warmer soil and longer days, May is a fantastic month for sowing and planting.
Sow outdoors
- Beetroot
- Carrots
- Parsnips
- Peas
- French beans
- Runner beans
- Sweetcorn
- Courgettes
- Lettuce
- Salad leaves
- Radish
- Broccoli
- Kale
- Cabbage
Grow under cover
- Cucumbers
- Squash
- Pumpkins
- Basil
- Tomatoes
Plant out
- Leeks
- Summer cabbage
- Brussels sprouts
- Onion sets (if not already planted)
Keep sowing little and often throughout the month to enjoy fresh vegetables over a longer harvest period.