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Seeds to Sow in Mid-May

  • Larry Hodgson

    • 20150515The growing season is picking up speed! Nights are generally still cool, although warming up… and frost is far from impossible in much of North America! The soil too is warming up, more so in drier parts of the garden than in moister areas, meaning conditions are great for sowing many seeds outdoors.

    Before we get to that, though, there is still one annual I like to sow indoors in mid-May: the nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus). Yes, you can sow it outdoors (I like to wait until the soil is well warmed up, usually at the end of May), but if you give it a head-start indoors – just 2 or 3 weeks of extra warmth! – it will give much better results, yet won’t have time to get leggy (as happens so easily when you start it indoors too early).

    When it comes to sowing outdoors, this is the time to sow seeds that actually prefer things “just a bit chilly” and that includes the vast majority of perennials (at least, those that don’t need a cold treatment: the latter should be sown in the fall). Of course, there are also annuals, herbs and vegetables that don’t mind cool nights. Here are some suggestions:

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