May in Melbourne is autumn, the prime window for cool-season crops across much of Australia. Here’s exactly what to sow from seed, plant as seedlings, and harvest this month in a temperate/cool climate, tuned to Melbourne’s frosts and temperatures, not a generic national calendar.
Typical Temps
6-32°C
winter low to summer high
Frost
June-August (outer suburbs), July-August (inner suburbs)
Climate Zone
Temperate/Cool
Victoria
Frost watch: Inner Melbourne is largely frost-free, but outer, northern and Dandenong suburbs get regular frosts. In a frost pocket, hold tomatoes and basil until after Melbourne Cup weekend (early November). See frost dates for every city →
Melbourne's notorious 'four seasons in one day' weather means always have frost cloth ready from April through October, sudden cold snaps can damage tender seedlings even in spring.
The dry, hot northerly winds in summer (particularly January-February) can desiccate plants overnight, water in the morning and mulch heavily.
Melbourne's cold winters are perfect for broad beans and garlic, both need cool temperatures to produce well, making April-June planting essential.
Use raised beds to overcome Melbourne's often clay-heavy soils, they warm faster in spring and drain better in the wet winters.
From the makers
This calendar tells you what's possible in May, Plant Planner tells you exactly how many of each crop to grow for your family, how to arrange them in your beds, and sends reminders so you never miss a window.
In May, Melbourne gardeners can sow Garlic, Broad Beans, Peas, Spinach, Kale, Mache and more from seed, and plant out Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, Kale, Leek, Onion seedlings as seedlings. Melbourne sits in the Temperate/Cool climate zone, so these picks are timed to local conditions.
May falls in autumn, the prime window for cool-season crops across much of Australia. In Melbourne, expect winter lows around 6°C and summer highs near 32°C. Inner Melbourne is largely frost-free, but outer, northern and Dandenong suburbs get regular frosts. In a frost pocket, hold tomatoes and basil until after Melbourne Cup weekend (early November).
May is generally not the ideal window for tomatoes in Melbourne, they're a warm-season crop sensitive to frost. Use May for the season's recommended crops above, and check the Melbourne calendar for the best tomato-planting months.
In a Melbourne garden, May typically brings harvests of Broccoli, Lettuce, Asian Greens, Silverbeet, Radish, Beetroot. Actual timing depends on when each crop was planted.