Veg Addict Subscription – May 2026

Hello Veg Addict

Welcome to your guide for your May ‘Veg Addict’ seed subscription!

Here’s what’s in your box:

• Storage Tomato Long Keeper
• Courgette Summer Crookneck
• Squash Turks Turban
• Runner Bean Guinness Record
• Sweetcorn Stowell’s Evergreen

Storage Tomato Long Keeper

Sowing info

Surface sow seeds in small pots of moist, peat-free compost and just cover. Storage tomatoes need a late start no earlier than April. They need heat to germinate, and benefit from lots of light, so supplement both if necessary. Germination takes place within 1-2 weeks.

Growing info

Plant out after last frost and water until established. From that point water as little as possible to harden the skins for storage. Will require support. Remove side shoots and lower 50% of foliage to maintain straight, healthy plants. Remove whole trusses when the fruit is turning red but not yet fully ripe and hang in rodent free location.

Blog – How to sow and grow storage tomatoes

Courgette Summer Crookneck

Sowing info

Courgettes are very fast growing and will quickly become large plants, so do not be tempted to start too early. Sow courgette seeds 1.5cm deep in small pots filled with peat free multipurpose compost. Sow the seeds on their side, if laid flat, water can sit on top of the seed and cause it to rot before germinating. Keep at a temperature of 20-25 C until after germination, which usually takes 7-10 days. Do not exclude light as this helps germination.

Growing info

Plant out after all risk of frost has passed into a sunny position. Keep well watered to avoid issues with powdery mildew. Keep harvesting fruit regularly before it gets too large to encourage more fruit to set. The more you pick the more you get.

Blog – How to sow and grow courgettes

Squash Turks Turban

Sowing info

Squash are very fast growing so do not be tempted to start too early. Sow seeds on their edge 1.5cm deep in small pots of peat free compost. Keep at a temperature of 20-25 C until after germination, which usually takes 7-10 days. 

Growing info

Plant out after all risk of frost has passed into a sunny position. Keep well watered to avoid issues with powdery mildew. Plants can trail significantly so allow sufficient room for them to sprawl. For longest storage times keep in a cool, dry, dark environment.

Blog – How to sow and grow squash

Runner Bean Guinness Record

Sowing info

Can be sown in position, if you have no problem with mice or pigeons. Sow at a depth of 5cm with 7cm spacing. Alternatively, sow Indoors in module trays.  Beans are fast growing, so don’t be tempted to sow too early. Harden off and plant out after all risk of frost has passed.

Growing info

Provide support for these prolific growers. Pick when pods are young and tender. If growing giant beans for exhibition, remove all but one pod from each cluster at an early stage, and feed regularly with organic.

Blog – How to sow and grow beans

Sweetcorn Stowell’s Evergreen

Sowing info

Best started under cover in April in module trays, it is fast growing so don’t start too early. Sweetcorn needs a bit of warmth in the soil for germination, so if you’re starting in April, keep them on a windowsill or sunny greenhouse until they take off. Plant out only when all risk of frost has passed.

Growing info

Plant in ‘blocks’ or rectangle patterns to give the best chance of good pollination. The sweet flavour will be compromised with cross pollination with other corns so keep as much distance as possible from other varieties and sow 2 weeks apart so they flower at different times.

Blog – How to sow and grow corn

Garden jobs for this May

• Harden off seedlings – Move young plants started indoors outside for a few hours each day to gradually acclimatise them before planting out.
• Mulch beds – Apply a layer of compost or bark mulch around established plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds as the weather warms up.
• Tie in climbers – Check climbing varieties and tie in new growth before it gets away from you or snaps in the wind.