Plant, prep, and protect before the cold sets in
May is a bit of a seasonal tightrope.
The days are shorter, the air is cooler, and if you’re in a frost-prone area (like we are), the garden is shifting into survival and slow growth mode.
But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do—in fact, May is one of the most important months for setting up your winter garden well.
Here’s what I’m doing in our kitchen garden right now.
🌱 1. Plant Now, Not Later
This is your last real window to get your cool-season crops established before growth slows significantly.
Things to sow or transplant in May (cool temperate zones):
- Broad beans (in now = strong plants for spring)
- Garlic (plant before the end of May for a solid harvest)
- Winter greens – spinach, silverbeet, kale
- Lettuces – loose-leaf types do best now
- Onions, shallots & spring onions – get them in early for a long game
- Snow peas – one last sowing if the frosts aren’t harsh yet
If you haven’t already: get your seedlings in. Let them settle before the soil cools too much.
🧹 2. Clear, Compost & Condition
Now’s the time to:
- Pull out spent summer crops (especially anything diseased)
- Chop garden waste and add to compost
- Spread compost, aged manure or worm castings to feed the soil for winter crops
- Mulch beds with straw or leaf litter to retain warmth
Being a bit ruthless here creates space for the plants that will thrive in winter.
❄️ 3. Protect Against Frost (Even Mild Ones)
If you’ve got young seedlings or tender plants still hanging on (zucchini, tomatoes, capsicum), they may need cover on cold nights.
Tips:
- Use frost cloth, upturned buckets, or plastic domes
- Move potted herbs under cover if you can
- Harvest any half-ripe fruit and let it ripen indoors
🐌 4. Snails, Slugs & Soggy Soil
With extra rain and moisture, snails and slugs are thriving right now. So are fungal issues in crowded beds.
What to do:
- Remove lower leaves on dense greens for better airflow
- Water in the mornings to avoid overnight damp
- Set traps or sprinkle crushed eggshells around seedlings
👩🌾 May Garden Reminders
- Start pruning dormant berries and perennials
- Save seeds from any plants going to seed
- Plan your winter-to-spring crop rotation
- Take a quiet moment to just enjoy your garden as it winds down
Welcome to Sun, Snails and Soil Saturdays
Each week I’ll share what’s happening in the garden, what’s going wrong (snails, again), and what you can do right now—even if your patch is just pots on the porch.
💻 Read the May guide → [link]
📥 Grab your planting checklist or browse the Seasonal Garden Planner for more.