Care guides › Brisbane › May
May in the Brisbane garden
Late autumn in Brisbane. Subtropical: no frost, a dry spring, then a wet summer. Here is what needs doing this month, with the essentials first.
What to plant in May
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Kale, Broccoli and Cabbage
Plant seedlings in late summer to autumn
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Parsley and Silverbeet
Sow or plant seedlings
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Lettuce
Sow or plant every few weeks for a steady supply
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Broad Bean
Sow seed direct
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Pea
Sow seed beside a trellis
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Spinach
Sow in cool weather; it bolts in heat
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Onion
Plant seedlings in winter
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Garlic
Plant cloves pointy end up
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Allium
Plant bulbs in autumn
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Foxglove
Plant in autumn for spring spires
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Sweet Pea
Sow seed around St Patrick's Day (mid March)
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Coriander
Sow in cooler months; it bolts in heat
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Daffodil
Plant bulbs twice their own depth
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Strawberry
Plant runners in autumn
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Paper Daisy
Sow seed or plant seedlings in autumn or early spring
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Pink Everlasting
Sow seed direct in autumn, where it is to flower
What to harvest in May
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Lettuce
Pick outer leaves or whole heads
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Spinach
Pick outer leaves
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Kale
Pick lower leaves; cool weather sweetens them
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Leek
Lift as needed through winter
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Lemon Tree
Pick lemons as they colour; they hold on the tree
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Passionfruit
Collect fruit as it drops; wrinkled is ripe
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Olive Tree
Pick for curing as fruit turns from green to purple
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Feijoa
Gather fruit as it drops
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Lime Tree
Pick limes green and firm
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Mandarin
Pick as they colour
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Silverbeet
Pick outer leaves as needed
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Finger Lime
Pick when the fruit comes away with a gentle tug
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Lemon Myrtle
Pick leaves as you need them; they dry well
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Parsley If you have time
Pick outer stems first
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Coriander If you have time
Pick leaves young; let a few go to seed
Feeding
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Cool-season vegetables If you have time
Liquid feed every 2-3 weeks while growing
Watering
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Cooktown Orchid If you have time
Keep it fairly dry in winter
Tidying up
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Dahlia
Cut back once foliage dies; lift tubers in cold, wet ground
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Peony If you have time
Cut foliage to the ground once it yellows
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Mint If you have time
Cut back to the ground in late autumn; best kept in a pot
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Boston Ivy If you have time
Sweep up fallen leaves and clear the gutters
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Hellebore If you have time
Cut off old tatty leaves so the flowers show
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Day Lily If you have time
Remove dead leaves
Not listed: Cherry Tree, Blackcurrant Bush, Gooseberry Bush, Rhubarb, Blue Leschenaultia, Boronia and Common Heath, which don't suit Brisbane's climate.