Broad Beans
Sow seeds
A winter crop that feeds the soil; stake it if the site is windy. This is a may action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.
Canberra, ACT · Cool temperate, frosty
What to plant in Canberra in May
A data-backed may starting point for the Canberra & the ACT growing profile. GrowCal uses this profile to resolve the baseline schedule for each plant.
What to plant in May
These plants have dated GrowCal schedule data for this regional profile and include a sow or plant-out action in May. Select a plant name to read its broader Australian guide.
Brussels Sprouts
Sow seeds
A long, cold-season crop — worth the wait after the first frosts. This is a may action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.
Garlic
Plant out
Plant single cloves in full sun and free-draining soil; harvest in summer. This is a may action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.
Leek
Sow seeds
Plant deep and mound soil up the stems for a long white shank. This is a may action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.
Onion
Sow seeds
Choose a variety matched to your day length and keep the bed weed free. This is a may action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.
Peas
Sow seeds
Get the trellis in before sowing; peas hate root disturbance. This is a may action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.
Radish
Sow seeds
The quickest crop in the patch and a good one for impatient kids. This is a may action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.
Rocket
Sow seeds
Fast, hardy and best picked young; water well or it turns hot and bitter. This is a may action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.
Snow Peas
Sow seeds
Sow direct into damp soil, give them something to climb, and pick often. This is a may action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.
Spinach
Sow seeds
Grow it fast and keep the water up, or the leaves turn bitter. This is a may action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.
May garden jobs
GrowCal also surfaces maintenance and harvest actions when the resolved schedule lists them for this month.
Vegetables
- Broad BeansSow seeds
- Brussels SproutsSow seeds
- GarlicPlant out
- LeekSow seeds
- OnionSow seeds
- PeasSow seeds
- RadishSow seeds
- RocketSow seeds
- Snow PeasSow seeds
- SpinachSow seeds
Fruit Trees & Citrus
Why timing varies locally
Canberra is not one uniform growing environment. This page uses the mapped Canberra & the ACT profile, while a nearby locality may resolve differently. Frost pockets, shade, soil, aspect and the variety you grow can all change what is sensible in a particular garden. Treat these dates as a prompt to look at your garden, not a rigid instruction.
Read the GrowCal data & methodology for sources, validation status and limitations.
Ready to plan your year?
Enter your suburb, city or postcode to resolve the regional profile for your own garden and choose the plants you grow.
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