May in the Garden
Bloom where you’re planted 🌸
May is when your garden truly comes alive. The days are long, the air is warm, and the borders are bursting with fresh green growth. As bulbs fade and herbaceous plants leap ahead, it’s clear that summer is on its way. There’s plenty to sow, plant, and tend this month — just keep an eye out for the occasional late frost.
Top Jobs for May
- Watch out for late frosts and protect tender plants overnight.
- Earth up potatoes, and plant any remaining tubers promptly.
- Sow winter crops such as leeks, Brussels sprouts, and winter cabbage — starting them off in pots makes transplanting easier later.
- Harden off tomatoes by gradually introducing them to outdoor conditions. Don’t leave them out overnight until all frost risk has passed.
- Plant out summer bedding towards the end of the month (except in colder areas).
- Plant tender crops such as beans, courgettes, squashes, and sweetcorn once conditions are warm enough.
- Continue successional sowing of vegetables and salad crops for a steady harvest.
- Apply mulch around plants to conserve moisture and keep weeds down.
- Water early or late in the day to make the most of every drop — and recycle water where possible.
- Open greenhouse vents and doors on warm days to maintain airflow.
- Mow lawns weekly, as grass will be thriving in the warmer weather.
- Check for nesting birds before trimming hedges.
- Lift and divide spring bulbs such as daffodils if they’ve become overcrowded.
- Keep weeds in check with regular hoeing.
- Look out for pests including viburnum beetle and lily beetle grubs, and act early if spotted.
Seeds to Sow This Month
It’s a busy month for sowing — indoors, in greenhouses, or directly outdoors depending on your conditions. Try sowing:
Tomatoes, peas, beans, cucumbers, sweetcorn, chillies, radish, pumpkins, squash, kale, rocket, spinach, beetroot, carrots, lettuce, courgettes, swede, and broccoli.
Harvests will begin from as little as 25 days for rocket up to 100+ days for pumpkins and swede.
General Garden Care
As bulbs die back, bedding and border plants take centre stage. Start planting out summer bedding, take softwood cuttings from shrubs and perennials, and keep lawns well-fed and trimmed for a lush green finish. With longer, warmer days ahead, this is a month to enjoy being outside and watching your garden thrive.
What’s in Stock This Month 🌿
At Newquay Garden Centre, May is one of the liveliest times of the year — everything’s growing, blooming, and ready for you to plant!
You’ll find:
- Summer bedding plants bursting with colour
- Vegetable and salad plants ready to go in the ground
- Tomato growbags, compost, and fertilisers for healthy crops
- Lawn feed, topsoil, and mulch to keep your garden in top condition
- Flowering shrubs, roses, and hanging baskets to bring summer cheer to any space
Our friendly team is always on hand with expert advice — whether you’re growing your first veg patch or perfecting your flower borders.
Cornwall Gardening Tip
Cornwall’s mild coastal climate means you can often start planting summer bedding and tender vegetables a little earlier than elsewhere in the UK — but keep fleece handy for sudden cold snaps. The sandy soils common in our area can dry out quickly, so mulch generously and water deeply to keep moisture where roots need it most.
