What to plant in May in the UK

RHS UK reference. Delay sowing in cold, wet soil; northern, upland and exposed gardens may need later dates. Windows refer to specified methods and may cover only part of a month.

Catalog compatibility covers USDA zones 7–9; it is not a frost forecast. Calendar months are native to the cited region, including Australian sources: no additional six-month shift is applied.

This list shows windows that overlap this month, not permission to plant throughout the entire month. Follow each crop's date range and distinguish sowing seeds from transplanting young plants.

Hardiness describes winter survival, not your last frost date. Protect tender plants if frost is forecast; do not use this calendar alone to decide outdoor planting is safe.

Pruning uses the separate recorded species instructions, not the planting calendars. Southern pruning reference months are shifted six months from northern records. Check flowering stage before pruning, and avoid cutting during frost or severe heat.

Calendar entries retain the source name, source URL, method, geographic scope and review date. Reviewed October 31, 2026. Local conditions and seed-packet instructions take priority.

Source: Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — carrot; Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — beetroot; Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — lettuce; Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — pea; Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — radish; Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — spinach; Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — chard; Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — kale