London in May: what to plant
Over the last 5 years, May in London has run 9.9–19.0°C with about 52 mm of rain across the month. Here is what weather like that will carry to harvest.
Everything above is a five-year average. In the game it is this — the weather London is actually having, today.
Grow one in London's weather right now →❄️ No sub-zero nights in May in the last 5 years — frost is not the limiting factor here.
🗓️ This month sits inside the frost-free window. Average last spring frost around Mar 9, first autumn frost around Nov 21 — roughly 257 frost-free days. Sow tender crops after the last frost date and make sure they finish before the first.
☀️ About 10.7 h of sunshine a day this month. Within the month it warms by about 2.7°C from the first ten days to the last.
Sow this month — when would you harvest?
Assuming you sow in mid-May, then adding up the warmth London usually gets, one day at a time — which is why some of these run past the end of the month.
| Crop | Days | Harvest around |
|---|---|---|
| 🏵️ Marigold | 59 | Jul 12 |
| 🌿 Garlic chives | 68 | Jul 21 |
| 🥬 Cauliflower | 70 | Jul 23 |
| 🥬 Napa cabbage | 63 | Jul 16 |
| 🍓 Strawberry | 57 | Jul 10 |
| 🧅 Leek | 83 | Aug 5 |
| 🌿 Dill | 47 | Jun 30 |
| 🥕 Carrot | 70 | Jul 23 |
| 🫘 Broad bean | 66 | Jul 19 |
| 🫛 Peas | 54 | Jul 7 |
| ⚪ Daikon radish | 56 | Jul 9 |
| ⚪ Turnip | 42 | Jun 25 |
🌡️ Chili Pepper, Yardlong bean, Bitter melon, Luffa, Winter melon, Aubergine, Okra never accumulate enough heat outdoors in London — not in any month. Locally these need a greenhouse or a warm windowsill.
Best crops to sow now
They are all ideal for this month — the only real difference is how long each one takes, so pick whatever you want to eat.
- 🏵️ Marigold about 81 days to harvest Recent mean 14.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🌿 Garlic chives about 91 days to harvest Recent mean 14.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🥬 Cauliflower about 92 days to harvest Recent mean 14.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🥬 Napa cabbage about 83 days to harvest Recent mean 14.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🍓 Strawberry about 72 days to harvest Recent mean 14.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🧅 Leek about 111 days to harvest Recent mean 14.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🌿 Dill about 59 days to harvest Recent mean 14.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🥕 Carrot about 92 days to harvest Recent mean 14.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🫘 Broad bean about 84 days to harvest Recent mean 14.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🫛 Peas about 68 days to harvest Recent mean 14.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- ⚪ Daikon radish about 70 days to harvest Recent mean 14.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- ⚪ Turnip about 51 days to harvest Recent mean 14.4°C — right in the sweet spot
Leave these for another month
- 🌶️ Okra — Recent mean 14.4°C is too cold (ideal 20–33°C)
- 🍆 Aubergine — Recent mean 14.4°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
- 🍈 Winter melon — Recent mean 14.4°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
Other months in London
📍 Somewhere else? Look up your own city →
Temperature and rainfall come from Open-Meteo's historical observations for London, averaged day by day over the last 5 years. Whether a crop finishes in time is worked out from its own starting temperature and heat requirement — those numbers are listed on each crop page if you want to check them.