The Tale of Two Gardens: What to Plant in May in Connecticut
The trees and bulbs are blooming, seeds are sprouting and the days are getting longer. May in Connecticut is the most exciting month in the garden. You’re beginning to see the rewards of everything you planted in April, and the best is yet to come. This month the garden shifts gears entirely, and we’re here for it.
Early May — Finish What You Started
With the rain we’ve had, your radishes, lettuce and peas should be sprouted and showing real signs of strength. Take a moment to appreciate that — you grew those from seed! Now is also the time to get ahead of your weeds before they have a chance to take over your garden. A little weeding now saves a lot of frustration later.
Early May is also a great time to visit your local garden center or farm stand and pick up cool weather transplants. Cabbage is having a real moment right now. You’ll see it everywhere from farmers markets to your social media feed — it’s a fantastic addition to your spring garden. Broccoli and cauliflower are also great options at this stage. A personal favorite is bok choy, and I always direct sow kohlrabi, beets and carrots right around now.
Kids are particularly amazed by carrots and broccoli. There’s nothing quite like watching a child pull a carrot straight out of the soil for the first time — and discovering that the broccoli they eat is actually the flower of the plant is genuinely mind blowing for them. Bush beans are another good choice this time of year. They produce abundantly throughout the harvest season, making them perfect for kids picking and snacking.
One quick note on lettuce: if you want a consistent supply through the season, keep sowing new seeds every two weeks. Once summer heat arrives, you won’t find lettuce transplants again until the fall, so keep that succession planting going while you can. I like to plant lettuce under my tomato plants to keep them shaded in the summer.
The Shift — Patience Pays Off
Connecticut gardeners can look up their last frost date by entering their zip code on the Old Farmers Almanac. That said, I’ve pushed those dates too many times and lost crops I was excited about. Experimentation is part of gardening, but my strong advice is to wait until Memorial Day Weekend before putting warm weather crops in the ground.
Waiting actually works in your favor because the best plant sales happen in the lead up to Memorial Day and it will give you time to harden off your transplants. Hardening off simply means gradually introducing your plants to outdoor conditions before planting. Setting them outside for a few hours each day (in the morning and away from direct sun is best) so they can adjust to wind, sun and temperature changes before going into the garden for good.
When it comes to sourcing quality transplants, shopping local makes a real difference. Here are some favorites in Fairfield County:
Ambler Farm, Wilton
Homefront Farmers, Redding
The Hickories, Ridgefield
Gilbertie’s, Westport or Easton locations
Ganim’s Garden Center, Fairfield
Fairgate Farm, Stamford
Many towns also have Garden Clubs that host plant sales as fundraisers and are absolutely worth checking out. Local farmers markets and individual farms are also a great source for quality transplants. Shopping for plants is one of the best ways to support our community directly, so skip the big box stores when you can.
Mid to Late May - Hello Summer Garden
And just like that, almost overnight, the garden shifts entirely. Here’s what to focus on once Memorial Day arrives.
Tomatoes
When selecting transplants, size doesn’t matter as much as you’d think. What you’re really looking for is a thick, sturdy stem – the plant equivalent of a strong foundation. Leaves should be well developed and flat, not curled. Avoid plants that have already flowered, or worse, have fruit on them. You want all of that energy going to establishing roots, not producing early. If your transplant does have flowers, pinch them off before planting. Always check around the stem and under the leaves for any signs of insects or disease.
Planting tip - Notice all those tiny fuzzy bits on the lower stem? They are waiting to become roots. Dig a deep hole and add a handful of compost, a tablespoon of bone meal and a bit of balanced fertilizer before placing the plant in. Snip off the lower set of leaves, remove any flowers, and plant deeply. The more stem you bury, the stronger the root system.
I’ll be posting a video on Instagram over Memorial Day weekend showing exactly how I plant tomatoes — follow along for a step by step look!
Cucumbers & Zucchini
Fast growers and genuinely fun for kids. Zucchini in particular seems to grow overnight once it gets going. Blink and you’ll have more than you know what to do with.
Peppers
Sweet and hot varieties are both worth growing, but peppers are slow starters. Since peppers really thrive in heat, it’s perfectly fine to hold off on planting these until early June. In the meantime, keep them in a south facing window indoors and bring them outside each morning to gradually acclimate. Just avoid direct sun at first, and give them a drink of water if the soil feels dry.
Basil
Plant your basil along with your tomatoes. They are natural companions in the garden, and in the kitchen!
A Note On Spacing
Your plant tag will include recommended spacing on the plant tag, and for newer gardeners that’s the best place to start. As you gain confidence, you can begin experimenting by interplanting herbs, flowers and companion plants alongside your crops. One of my favorite tricks is to underplant lettuce in July and August underneath your tomato plants. The tomatoes shade the lettuce from the summer sun, and the lettuce helps suppress weeds. Everyone wins.
A Little Ownership Goes a Long Way
One of my favorite traditions when my kids were younger was letting each of them choose their own plant at the farm stand. They were fully responsible for it, so they would decorate the pot, make the plant marker and take care of it all season. My daughter almost always chose lettuce. To this day she won’t touch store bought lettuce during garden season. She’s an adult now, shops at farmers markets, grows her own herb garden and her favorite vegetable is kohlrabi. She also loves candy, so I’d call that life balance!
May is a wonderful opportunity to introduce your children to new smells, sights and flavors. If you’re having fun, chances are they will be too.
May is just the beginning of a delicious season in the kitchen garden. As the weeks go on I’ll be sharing more family garden activities, harvesting tips, and recipes to help you make the most of everything you’re growing. And remember - it’s never too late to start, or make adjustments along the way.
Simply Grown works with Fairfield County, CT families and surrounding areas to create kitchen gardens that fit your real life. No stress, no overwhelm, just fresh food and growing confident gardeners. Book a spring consultation and let’s make this your best growing season yet.