The May Garden: What to Plant, Sow, & Celebrate This Month
- Tricia at Everlea Journal
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
As the days lengthen and the garden begins to hum with life, May is the perfect time to roll up your sleeves and tend to the spring garden. Whether you’re planting flowers, prepping your vegetable patch, or simply sitting quietly among the bees and blossoms, May is the month where spring meets summer. I’ll walk you through a gentle to-do list for the season.
🌼 What to Plant in May
May is a transition month—spring is in full swing, but summer’s warmth is just beginning to whisper through the leaves. This is a golden window for planting both flowers and vegetables that will carry you through the sunny season ahead.
🌸 Flowers to Direct Sow or Transplant:
Zinnias – Bright, cheerful, and beloved by pollinators. They are a favorite among butterflies.
Cosmos – Airy, whimsical blooms that thrive in full sun. They self-seed if you let them, making your garden feel like it plants itself year after year.
Nasturtiums – Edible and easy to grow, perfect for pots or garden beds. They bring a delightful cottage charm to any nook and even help protect your vegetables from pests.
Sunflowers – Plant now for towering blooms by midsummer. They grow fast, follow the sun, and offer seeds for birds or for saving to plant again.
Calendula – A soothing herb with sunny golden flowers.
Marigolds – Great companion plants for your vegetables, as they help protect your vegetables from pests.
Sweet Peas – If not already in, now is the last chance in cooler zones.
Tip: Sow seeds directly into the soil now that the ground has warmed and all danger of frost has passed.
🥕 Vegetables to Sow or Transplant:
Tomatoes – Transplant seedlings into rich, warm soil. With a little love, they’ll gift you fruit from midsummer through the first whispers of autumn.
Cucumbers – Direct sow or transplant, and provide a trellis; as they lift their fruits high and keep them clean for picking.
Beans – Both bush and pole beans love May’s warmth. Green, or yellow, beans are among the easiest and most satisfying vegetables to grow. You’ll be harvesting crisp, sweet pods in just a few weeks.
Zucchini & Squash – Quick growers with generous yields.
Lettuce & Salad Greens – In cooler zones, you can still plant successive rows.
Carrots & Beets – Direct sow these now for late summer harvests.
Herbs – Basil, parsley, thyme, dill, and cilantro thrive in May.
Garden Note: Harden off any seedlings you’ve been growing indoors before planting them out to avoid shock.
🐝 Garden Chores for May
May is more than planting—it’s about tending and preparing your space in order to bring order and ease to your garden for the summer. Here are a few simple chores to keep your garden happy:
Mulch beds to retain moisture and suppress weeds. It also helpd keep roots cool.
Stake taller plants like peonies, delphiniums, or tomatoes early. Use natural twine or soft plant ties to avoid damaging stems.
Weed regularly—young weeds are easier to remove and won’t steal nutrients yet. A little weeding each week goes a long way—especially when the soil is still soft from spring rain. In fact after a rain is the best time to pull dandelions. You can get the whole root!
Check for pests like aphids or slugs and treat naturally.
Deadhead spring bulbs but leave the foliage until it yellows completely, so that the bulbs store up energy for next year.
🌸 Seasonal Moments to Savor
The garden isn’t just about tasks—it’s a place to reconnect with the rhythm of nature. Take a pause and notice:
The first rosebud of the season.
Bees dancing between blossoms.
The scent of lilacs in the breeze.
The birds singing at dawn as everything comes alive.
Let your time in the garden this month be a kind of seasonal ritual. One that grounds you, delights you, and invites nature just a little closer.
Because in tending to your whimsical garden, you’re also tending to yourself.
The best part about working in the garden in May is the smell! If you have lily-of-the-valley and lilacs in your garden, you'll be in heaven.
What are you planting in your garden this May? Are there any flowers you look forward to most? Share your May garden moments in the comments or tag me in your posts—I'd love to see what’s blooming in your corner of the world. 🌿💛
Happy Gardening,
Tricia
Kommentare