May Gardening Guide: What to Plant and Do Across Australia

By Ewa Bekiesch, DipSustLiv (UTAS)
Holistic Gardens Coach | Real Food Advocate
YouTube & Instagram: @EwasVibes — Where every leaf holds a secret, and every root tells a story. Join the conversation!
Seeds, Plants & Gardening Gear: foodforestseeds.au

Autumn is in full swing, yet my garden feels like spring! The first “cool-weather” greens and veggies are ready to harvest, while others jostle for space alongside self-seeded volunteers. (I love this happy chaos—food everywhere! When you let plants go to seed, they surprise you by popping up in the most unexpected places. All that’s left to do is harvest or gently relocate them to give the food forest community room to breathe.)

Whether you’re entering the dry season in the tropics, enjoying mild days in the arid zone, or layering up against frost in the temperate south, this May guide will help you tend your garden with care and intention.

A May Tip for Every Gardener:

Before we dive into climate-specific advice, here’s something I’m doing in my garden right now: starting a compost tea. I’m gathering spent summer plants and any overgrown plants that need tidying up after their summer sprawl. These nutrient-rich ingredients steep into a powerful, natural fertiliser that feeds the soil and boosts plant health through the cooler months. Simply fill a bucket with your plant material, add water, and cover it. Let it sit for a couple of weeks (or longer), then dilute and use as a soil drench or foliar spray. It’s a beautiful way to close the summer loop and nourish your garden for free.

Now, let’s explore what to plant and do in your garden this May, wherever you are in Australia.

Tropical Gardens (Northern QLD, NT, WA)

What’s Happening:

The dry season is now well established, with clear skies, cool nights, and warm, pleasant days. This is one of the most comfortable and productive gardening periods of the year.

Key Jobs This Month:

• Plant a wide range of vegetables before the coolest months arrive.
• Water deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth.
• Mulch generously to conserve soil moisture and suppress weeds.
• Prune fruit trees that have finished fruiting, such as mango and lychee.

What to Plant Now:

Vegetables: Tomato, capsicum, eggplant, snake beans, cucumber, lettuce, spinach
Herbs: Basil, coriander, parsley, chives, mint, lemongrass
Fruits: Papaya, banana, passionfruit, dragon fruit

Arid & Semi-Arid Gardens (Inland SA, QLD, NT, WA, NSW)

What’s Happening:

Days are mild and pleasant, nights are cool to cold. This is an excellent time for growing a wide variety of vegetables before winter sets in.

Key Jobs This Month:

• Plant winter crops while the soil is still warm enough for establishment.
• Protect young seedlings from frost in colder areas.
• Continue mulching to retain soil moisture and moderate soil temperature.
• Harvest any remaining summer crops and prepare beds for winter.

What to Plant Now:

Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, carrots, beetroot, peas, broad beans
Herbs: Parsley, coriander, dill, chives, rosemary, thyme
Fruits: Citrus, pomegranate, fig (continue regular watering)

Subtropical Gardens (SE QLD, Northern NSW) – My Garden This Month!

What’s Happening in My Food Forest:

May is a month of steady, quiet productivity. The pressure of summer is a distant memory, and the garden feels manageable and joyful. I’m harvesting cucumbers daily, picking leafy greens for salads, and watching my winter brassicas develop beautifully. The cooler weather also means fewer pests—a welcome relief! I’m also taking time to propagate cuttings from my favourite herbs and perennials while the conditions are mild.

Key Jobs This Month:

• Continue planting winter vegetables—there’s still plenty of growing time.
• Feed citrus trees with organic fertiliser to support ripening fruit.
• Mulch around sensitive perennials to protect roots from cool nights.
• Protect young seedlings from any unexpected frost in cooler pockets.

What to Plant Now:

Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, lettuce, spinach, carrots, beetroot, peas, broad beans
Herbs: Parsley, coriander, dill, chives, thyme, sage, mint
Fruits: Strawberries (runners), dwarf citrus, blueberries, raspberries

Temperate Gardens (Southern NSW, VIC, TAS, SA, WA)

What’s Happening:

Winter is approaching. Days are cool, and frosts become more common, especially in inland areas. The focus shifts to frost protection and harvesting winter crops.

Key Jobs This Month:

• Plant last chance winter vegetables before the soil cools too much.
• Protect frost-sensitive plants with cloches, row covers, or straw mulch.
• Harvest autumn crops like pumpkins and squashes and cure them for storage.
• Plant bare-rooted fruit trees and canes towards the end of the month.
• Clean up fallen leaves and plant debris to reduce pest and disease habitat.

What to Plant Now:

Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, broad beans, peas, spinach, silverbeet
Herbs: Parsley, coriander, chives, rosemary, thyme
Flowers: Pansies, violas, calendula, sweet peas
Fruits (bare-root): Apples, pears, plums, peaches, nectarines, raspberries

A Personal Reflection…

May always feels like a gentle winding down—a chance to catch my breath after the busyness of spring and summer. The garden asks less of me now, but what it gives back is still generous. There’s something deeply satisfying about walking through the food forest on a cool morning, coffee in hand, watching the sun rise over ripening citrus and thriving greens.

I love this slower season. It’s a time for observation, for planning, for dreaming about next year’s garden. I hope your May brings you those same quiet joys.

Join the Growing Community!

For more autumn gardening tips and a real-time look at what’s happening in my food forest, join me on my YouTube channel at EwasVibes (it’s free!) Your likes, comments, and shares truly help the channel grow and inspire more content. New videos go up regularly—from planting guides to homesteading and harvest tours.

If you’re planning your garden, visit my online store at www.foodforestseeds.au for organically grown potted plants and heirloom seeds. All plants are grown right here in my food forest, nurtured with love just like they would be in your garden.

What are you planting this May? I’d love to hear what’s happening in your garden—share in the comments!

Wishing you a gentle, abundant month ahead.

Happy gardening, and thank you so much for supporting my small business 🙂
Ewa Bekiesch