What to Plant in Your Garden in May Australia

With winter almost underway, it’s time to ease up on the big jobs and do a bit of planting and prep instead. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t still have a thriving garden during the cooler months. Here’s our list of everything to plant in your garden this May.

Find out which climate zone you’re in below, and plant accordingly:

climate zones image with map of australia and new zealand and colour key on the side

What to plant in May in Australia

Flowers to plant in May

Poppies in a field — Poppies *(Credit: Getty)*

Flowers to plant in all zones of Australia

Agertaum
Cineraria
Cornflower
Geranium
Impatiens
Pansy
Poppy
Primula
Salvia
Statice
Stock
Viola

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Flowers to plant in zones 1-3 in Australia

Aquilegia
Aster
Chrysanthemum
Cosmos
Dahlia
Erigeron
Gerbera
Helichrysum
Hollyhock
Marigold
Nasturtium
Nemesia
Nigella
Petunia
Portulaca
Zinnia

Flowers to plant in zones 4-6 in Australia

Alyssum
Begonia
Erigeron
Foxglove
Gazania
Lobelia
Nemesia
Penstemon
Polyanthus
Snapdragon
Wallflower

Vegetables to plant in May

Vegetables to plant in all zones of Australia

Asparagus
Broad beans
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Leek
Lettuce
Onion
Peas
Spinach
Turnip

Vegetables to plant in zones 1-3 in Australia

Artichoke (globe and Jerusalem)
Beans
Beetroot
Capsicum
Cucumber
Garlic
Parsley
Potato
Pumpkin
Radish
Shallots
Squash
Sweet corn
Tomato
Zucchini

Vegetables to plant in zones 4-6 in Australia

What should I do in my garden in May?

Clean up fruit trees and destroy any rotting fruit.
Prepare spots for planting bare root roses and deciduous trees over winter.
Plant broad beans into unused vegetable beds to be dug in when mature as a green manure crop.
Clean algae from paths and steps to prevent accidental slilps over winter.
Cut back perennials such a sedums, gauras and asters that are looking unruly following summer-autumn flowering.
Fertilise your camellias and daphne.
Empty your vegie beds by digging in decayed organic matter (cow or sheep manure is ideal) – or grow a green manure crop, such as broad beans, barley, peas or oats, for cutting and digging in later.
Sharpen secateurs for pruning next month.

Jenny Dillon Better Homes and Gardens Garden Editor

Jenny Dillon is the garden editor of Better Homes and Gardens. She studied horticulture and landscape design at the world-renowned Ryde Horticultural College to solidify her appreciation of gardens, stemming from having grown up in regional and rural New Zealand, where agriculture and horticulture is a way of life.