What to sow in Manchester in May
In May, Manchester averages 12 °C, with nights around 8 °C.
Frosty nights are usual from November to April: the last frost typically comes in April.
A typical winter's coldest night: −4 °C.
Warm months (15 °C or more on average): July to August.
Sow outdoors
- Onion (Allium cepa)
- Beet (Beta vulgaris)
- Endive (Cichorium endivia)
- Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
- Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)
- Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
- French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)
- Pea (Pisum sativum)
- Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)
- Rape (Brassica napus)
- Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius)
- Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa)
- Cape Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana)
- Brown mustard (Brassica juncea)
- Chinese chives (Allium tuberosum)
- Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
- Dill (Anethum graveolens)
- Arrach (Atriplex hortensis)
- Borage (Borago officinalis)
- Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis)
- Garden cress (Lepidium sativum)
- Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum)
- Mexican groundcherry (Physalis philadelphica)
- Foxtail millet (Setaria italica)
Sow indoors
In pots or trays somewhere warm, to plant out later.
- Celery (Apium graveolens)
- Radish (Raphanus sativus)
- Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
- Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum)
- Carrot (Daucus carota)
- Common Poppy (Papaver rhoeas)
- Aztec tobacco (Nicotiana rustica)
- Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)
- Rocket (Eruca sativa)
- Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis)
- Garden leek (Allium porrum)
- Sieva bean (Phaseolus lunatus)
- Rakkyo (Allium chinense)
- Cape aloe (Aloe ferox)
- Creta trefoil (Lotus creticus)
- Hairy beggarticks (Bidens pilosa)
- Yellow bells (Tecoma stans)
- Bear's breech (Acanthus mollis)
- Roostertree (Calotropis procera)
- Spider flower (Gynandropsis gynandra)
- Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger)
- Capulin (Prunus capuli)
- Southern cattail (Typha domingensis)
- Pepper bark tree (Warburgia ugandensis)
New next month, in June
- Pepper (Capsicum annuum)
- Courgette (Cucurbita pepo)
- Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
- Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
- Brook alder (Alnus maritima)
- Water Shamrock (Marsilea quadrifolia)
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Month by month
Worked out from the last ten years of Manchester's climate and each plant's needs: germination temperature, frost limit and time to harvest.