What to grow on your balcony or terrace in May?
May is the time to put on your gardening gloves! With spring in full swing, the longer days and milder weather are ideal for plant growth. But watch out for Ice Saints, from May 11 to 13. Frost can still show its face and cause damage ❄
Discover the plants you can sow, plant and harvest on your balcony in May.
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Contents
What to plant on my balcony in May?
In May, growing plants in pots offers many possibilities! Here are a few ideas for plants suitable for growing in pots, window boxes or tubs, to get your balcony vegetable garden off the ground.
Vegetables
Plant potatoes and sweet potatoes in your balcony garden!
- Potatoes: count on a 40L pot for 3 to 4 potato plants. Find a sunny spot for them. Plant the sprouted tubers at the bottom of your pot. Add substrate as the potatoes grow, so that they produce new tubers. Tubers should not be exposed to light. Harvest when foliage turns yellow!
- Sweet potato: if you've sprouted sweet potatoes, it's time to take the stems to make cuttings in water. Once rooted, transplant them into pots or plant them directly after the Ice Saints. You'll need a large pot with a minimum diameter of 40 to 50 cm for good harvests.
Fruit trees
As for fruit trees, plant strawberry, raspberry, redcurrant or blackcurrant bush es to enjoy red berries.
Plant your strawberry plants in a sunny spot, preferably in rich, cool, low-limestone soil. Make sure the pot is large enough, as they like to spread! You can easily propagate them from runners.
Aromatic plants
For aromatics, plant sage, thyme, savory, lemon verbena, mint, lemon balm, rosemary and basil (the latter is less resistant to the cold, so plant it outside after the Ice Saints).
Ornamental flowers
How about planting some flowering plants to decorate your balcony? Plant begonias, fuchsias, geraniums or petunias. Climbing plants include clematis, honeysuckle and bougainvillea.
What to sow in May
In May, it's sowing season madness! Sow preferably under cover during the first half of May, to avoid the risk of frost. But once the Ice Saints have passed, sow directly in situ.
Vegetables
In May, you can sow the seeds of sunny vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and chillies! Native to warm climates, their seeds need relatively high temperatures to grow (18 to 25°C). Find a sunny spot for them to prevent the seedlings from wilting.
- Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes are particularly suited to the balcony garden, thanks to their small size. To sow, cover the seeds with a light layer of potting soil and water. Seeds need sun and warmth to germinate. Once sufficiently developed (and once the Ice Saints have passed), transplant them into planters or deep pots. Space the plants at least 20 cm apart. Tomatoes need sun and cool, rich soil. Use stakes to support the plants as they grow.
You can also sow your cucumber, gherkin and zucchini seeds. Make sure you have structures for them to run on, as these are crops that like to spread out!
- Zucchini: sow in bunches, 3 seeds in each bucket. Cover with a few millimeters of potting soil. Water and place in a light, warm spot (at least 15°C). Let your plants grow in the light before transplanting them in mid-May. Use a container at least 50 cm square and deep. Zucchini need warmth, water and space. Allow about 2 months for your first harvest. You can also harvest the zucchini flower: it's delicious as a fritter!
And to make sure you don't run out of fresh lettuce, sow seeds of watercress, curly endive, escarole, lettuce, rocket... These are the varieties we recommend in May. Plant seeds 1 cm deep and 2 to 3 cm apart. Place in part-shade and water regularly. Plant individually in pots, or several plants in window boxes or tubs. The first leaves can be harvested after 5-6 weeks.
Aromatic plants
For aromatic herbs, sow seeds of parsley, coriander, rosemary, dill, chervil, lemon balm, mint and chamomile. Sow basil in pots, to protect it when temperatures drop. You can put them outside once the risk of frost has passed.
Edible flowers
To encourage biodiversity and pollination on your balcony, don't forget to plant flowers such as nasturtiums, cosmos, zinnias, marigolds, blueberries, borage and marigolds!
To make matters worse, these flowers are also edible, yum. You can add them to your salads or desserts.
India carnations are very useful in the vegetable garden, to scare away aphids. Nasturtiums attract aphids like a magnet! It diverts aphids' attention away from other plants.
What to harvest in May
In May, it's time to harvest asparagus, beets, artichokes, radishes and salads for your starters.
Harvest onions, early carrots, broad beans, peas, turnips, new potatoes and even artichokes to prepare tasty dishes.
Add parsley, chervil or coriander (for those who like it) to flavour your salads or dishes.
For a sweet touch, harvest strawberries or rhubarb for pies, jams and compotes.
Enjoy your meal!
