🍂 Gardening in May: Wrapping Up Autumn, Prepping for Winter

The days are getting shorter, the mornings crisper, and the garden is slowing down—but there’s still plenty to plant, harvest, and prepare in May. Think of this month as the final hurrah before winter arrives. Let’s make the most of it!

🌱 What to Plant

May is an excellent time to get your winter crops in the ground. Most of these should be started in trays and transplanted once they’ve developed a bit of size.

Plant now:

• Beetroot, bok choi, broad beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cavolo nero

• Celery, coriander, garlic, kale, mesclun, onion, parsley, peas, radish, rhubarb

• Rocket, rosemary, sage, silverbeet, spinach, thyme

🛡 Protect your seedlings!

• Use Tui Quash or beer traps to deter slugs and snails.

• Netting is a must to keep white butterfly caterpillars away from your brassicas.

🥕 What to Harvest

Make the most of your late-season produce before the cold sets in.

Vegetables to harvest:

• Beetroot, bok choi, broccoli, capsicums, carrots

• Courgettes, cucumber, kale, leeks, spring onions

Fruits & nuts:

• Feijoa, quince, apples, pears, passionfruit, rhubarb

• Watch for ripening persimmons—beat the birds to them!

• Gather the last of your almonds, chestnuts, hazelnuts, and walnuts

🍋 Fruit Tree Care

• Now is a great time to plant citrus trees! plant while the soil is still warm.

• Clean up fallen fruit beneath your trees to reduce pest and disease pressure. Compost it, or bring your excess to the Crop Swap, or leave some on the Pataka Kai outside the Community Centre for others to enjoy.

🧹 Chores: Autumn’s Final Hurrah

Winter is nearly here, but your garden still needs some love before hunkering down.

🍓 Strawberry Beds

• Prepare beds for winter planting in June/July.

• For existing plants, trim old leaves and remove runners. Root runners in pots now so they’re ready to transplant in winter.

🌷 Last Call for Bulbs

• It’s your final chance to plant spring bulbs before the soil gets too cold—don’t miss the window!

🐛 Pest Patrol

• Watch out for aphids, whitefly, and scale insects.

• Use warm soapy water, a strong blast from the hose, or grab an organic spray from your local garden centre.

🌿 Feed Your Seedlings

• Apply a gentle, all-purpose organic fertiliser regularly to help seedlings thrive through the cooler months.

🧰 Tool Time

• Sharpen and clean your tools now—especially secateurs, loppers, and pruning saws—so they’re ready for winter pruning tasks.

🍁 Leaf Management

• Rake up autumn leaves and layer them in your compost bin or directly onto garden beds.

• Leaves break down into nutrient-rich leaf mould, which is excellent for improving soil health over winter.

🌧 A Final Word for May

May is your moment to tidy up, prep for winter, and plant crops that will feed you through the cold months ahead. Take time to enjoy the last of the summer bounty, get your tools and beds in order, and sow the seeds of resilience in your backyard.