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← Full calendar for New Zealand — temperate

New Zealand — temperate

What to plant in May

Sow now

  • Beetroot (direct sow) Direct sow, thin to 10cm apart. Frost-tolerant.
  • Lemon (direct sow) Plant as potted nursery stock, not grown from seed. Late autumn to early spring planting window; avoid midwinter planting in frosty areas. Harvest window reflects the dominant winter-to-spring main crop pattern (Meyer, Yen Ben, Lisbon) - some varieties (e.g. Genoa) crop earlier, see Cultivar notes.
  • Garlic (direct sow) Plant individual cloves 5cm deep, 15cm apart. ~7 months to harvest.
  • Carrot (direct sow) Direct sow only - don't transplant. Keep soil moist until germination.
  • Silverbeet (direct sow / trays) Hardy leafy green. Pick outer leaves for continuous harvest.
  • Mandarin (direct sow) Plant as potted nursery stock, not grown from seed. Same general citrus planting window as Lemon/Orange/Lime. Harvest window reflects early-to-mid-season Satsuma types, NZ's major export mandarin group and among the most cold-hardy common citrus - later cultivars (Encore) extend into autumn, see Cultivar notes.
  • Orange (direct sow) Plant as potted nursery stock, not grown from seed. Same general citrus planting window as Lemon/Mandarin/Lime. Harvest window reflects Navel oranges (NZ's major commercial type, mid-July to November) - some strains hang later into summer, see Cultivar notes.
  • Pak Choy (direct sow) Direct sow. Cut-and-come-again Asian green, tolerant of an unusually wide sowing season. Can bolt in extended hot spells - part-shade in summer.

Transplant

  • Lemon
  • Mandarin
  • Orange

Harvest

  • Jerusalem Artichoke
  • Beetroot
  • Feijoa
  • Carrot
  • Silverbeet
  • Peas
  • Mandarin
  • Radish
  • Pak Choy
  • Lettuce
  • Beans (Climbing)
  • Pumpkin

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