May is where the real autumn action kicks in — harvests are slowing, but the prep work is just getting started. It’s a month of transition: out with summer stragglers, in with winter crops, and a whole lot of bed prep, bulb planting, and soil feeding.
If you’re gardening in a cool–temperate or temperate Australian climate, here’s what to tackle in the garden this month:
🌱 Sow & Plant This Month
- Garlic (if you haven’t already — now’s the final call)
- Onions (sets or seedlings)
- Shallots
- Broad beans
- Peas & snow peas (netting or trellis ready)
- Kale
- Spinach
- Turnips, radishes, and carrots
- Swedes and beetroot
- Lamb’s lettuce (mâche) for winter salads
Mrs E Tip: Start onions and leeks in trays now for transplanting later.
🛠️ Garden Maintenance & Prep
- Pull out tired summer crops and compost what’s still usable
- Add compost and organic matter to replenish tired soil
- Mulch all exposed soil to keep weeds down and warmth in
- Clean and store unused garden stakes or trellises
- Prune berries and summer fruiting bushes if needed
Planning ahead? Start mapping out spring bulb zones, and keep your asparagus patch weed-free while it rests.
🪴 Seedlings & Greenhouse Jobs
- Keep seedlings protected in trays or mini cloches
- Rotate trays to encourage even growth
- Reduce watering slightly as temps drop, but don’t let trays dry out
- Harden off any tray-grown brassicas for transplanting later in the month
🌿 Harvests to Enjoy This Month
- Late zucchinis, cucumbers or tomatoes (if still hanging on!)
- Silverbeet, kale and leafy greens
- Herbs like parsley, thyme, oregano and mint
- Early brassicas if planted mid-summer
👩🌾 Tasks for Kids in the Garden This May
- Help rake up leaves to mulch or compost
- Create stick signs for broad bean rows
- Measure garlic growth week-by-week
- Paint wooden spoons or stones as plant markers
🧄 Recipe Ideas for May
- Kale & bean soup
- Roasted beetroot and carrot tray bake
- Broad bean mash on toast with lemon and feta
- Garden herb flatbread
Stay tuned for next month’s list — or download the full Year-Round Garden Planner to have everything mapped out, season by season.