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Farmers almanac
One almanac per growing zone, published every month. Pick your zone and month below for the full picture: what to plant now, what should be coming ready to harvest, the moon planting calendar, sunrise and sunset for your zone, and the climate averages you can expect from Bureau of Meteorology records.
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May 2026 Farmers Almanac
Planting, moon and climate guide for the Mediterranean zone
Climate Overview
| Zone | Max | Min | Rainfall | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mediterranean | 17-20°C | 9-12°C | 55-80mm | Winter approaching. Rain regular. Frost common inland. |
Astronomical Events
Moon Phases
Sunrise / Sunset
Days continue shortening toward the winter solstice. Here’s how daylight changes across the month:
| City | 1st | 15th | Last | Daylight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perth (AWST) | 6:48am – 5:38pm (10h 50m) | 6:57am – 5:27pm (10h 30m) | 7:07am – 5:20pm (10h 12m) | -38 min |
Trend: Noticeable shortening – Perth loses over an hour. Winter is coming fast.
Planting Guide
Mediterranean Zone
Planting windows from the GardenBuddy zone planting master (109 crops tracked for this zone). Harvest months are the verified zone harvest window where we have one, otherwise calculated from typical days to maturity.
- Angelica (transplant)
- Artichokes (suckers (offsets))
- Beetroot (sow direct)
- Blueberry (potted plant)
- Borage (sow direct, transplant)
- Broad Beans (sow direct)
- Broccoli (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Cabbage (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Carrot (sow direct)
- Chinese cabbage (transplant)
- Chives (seed or divisions)
- Collards (transplant)
- Coriander (sow direct)
- Daikon (sow direct)
- Dill (sow direct)
- Endive (transplant)
- Fennel (sow direct)
- French tarragon (cuttings or divisions)
- Garlic (cloves)
- Grapefruit (grafted tree, potted)
- Kale (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Kohlrabi (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Leeks (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Lemon (grafted tree, potted)
- Lemon Balm (seed, cuttings or potted plants)
- Lettuce (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Lime (grafted tree, potted)
- Mandarin (grafted tree, potted)
- Mint (cuttings or divisions)
- Mizuna (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Mustard greens (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Onion (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Orange (grafted tree, potted)
- Oregano (seed, cuttings or potted plants)
- Pak Choy (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Parsley (sow direct)
- Parsnip (sow direct)
- Peas (sow direct)
- Radish (sow direct)
- Rhubarb (crowns)
- Rocket (sow direct)
- Rosemary (cuttings or potted plants)
- Sage (seed, cuttings or potted plants)
- Salsify (sow direct)
- Savory – winter savory (cuttings)
- Silverbeet (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Snow Peas (sow direct)
- Spinach (sow direct, transplant)
- Spring Onion (sow direct)
- Strawberries (runners)
- Thyme (seed, cuttings or potted plants)
- Turnip (sow direct)
- Apple
- Avocado
- Banana
- Beans – dwarf
- Beetroot
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Cape Gooseberry
- Capsicum
- Carrot
- Celeriac
- Chilli peppers
- Chinese cabbage
- Chives
- Collards
- Coriander
- Daikon
- Dill
- Eggplant
- Endive
- Fennel
- Ginger
- Horseradish
- Jerusalem Artichokes
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Lemon
- Lemon Balm
- Lemongrass
- Lettuce
- Lime
- Luffa
- Macadamia
- Mandarin
- Mint
- Mizuna
- Mustard greens
- NZ Spinach
- Oregano
- Pak Choy
- Papaya
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Passionfruit
- Peanut
- Pecan
- Persimmon
- Pomegranate
- Potato
- Pumpkin
- Radish
- Rocket
- Rosemary
- Rutabaga
- Sage
- Savory – winter savory
- Silverbeet
- Spinach
- Spring Onion
- Sweet Marjoram
- Sweet Potato
- Thyme
- Tomato
- Turnip
- Walnut
- Winged Bean
- Winter squash
- Yacon
- Zucchini
Moon Planting Calendar
| Phase | Dates | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Waxing (First Quarter to Full) | May 1-2 | Fruiting crops – tomatoes, beans, cucurbits. Strongest above-ground planting energy. |
| Waning (Full to Last Quarter) | May 2-10 | Root vegetables, garlic, onions, bulbs. Pruning. |
| Waning (Last Quarter to New) | May 10-17 | Soil preparation, composting, pest control. Rest period. |
| Waxing (New to First Quarter) | May 17-23 | Leafy greens and herbs. Sow above-ground crops that fruit outside the plant. |
| Waxing (First Quarter to Full) | May 23-31 | Fruiting crops – tomatoes, beans, cucurbits. Strongest above-ground planting energy. |
Livestock Guide
Post-joining management kicks in. Days are getting shorter and poultry laying drops off without a bit of extra light.
Cattle
- Joining complete
- Pregnancy testing booking
- Autumn sales
- Supplementation if pasture declining
Sheep & Goats
- Post-joining management
- Early pregnancy care
- Supplementation if needed
- Winter shelter preparation
Poultry
- Production declining with daylight
- Consider supplemental lighting (14+ hours)
- Coop insulation, deep litter
- Stock up winter feed
Bees
- Minimal disturbance
- Emergency feeding only if light
- Monitor for robbing
- Hive insulation if cold area
Self-Sufficiency Focus
Citrus Season Begins
The first citrus is colouring up. Lemons and early mandarins are ready in warmer zones. This is the start of months of vitamin C goodness. If you’ve got surplus, think about preserved lemons, marmalade, or just sharing with the neighbours.
Energy Planning
Heating needs are emerging in cooler zones. Solar output is declining but still reasonable. If you’ve got a wood heater, make sure your firewood supply is sorted and dry. Check insulation and draft-proof before the real cold hits in June.
Key Takeaways
- Blue Moon: Two full moons this month – May 2 and May 31
- Eta Aquariids: Meteor shower peaks May 6 – watch from 2am
- Citrus season: First fruit colouring – lemons and early mandarins
- Frost regular: Protect tender plants in frost-prone areas
- Garlic continues: Last plantings for most zones
- Heating prep: Get firewood sorted, check insulation