What to plant in May in Malaysia
18 vegetables, fruits and herbs to sow or plant in May in Malaysia, for the climate around Central Peninsular Malaysia, Pahang-Selangor border.
Climate: Equatorial lowland climate with no frost, warm nights of 17 to 21 °C, days up to 34 °C, and rain in every month, peaking from September to December with the northeast monsoon.
Vegetables
Eggplant Solanum melongena
Tolerates the tropical heat and produces well through the warm season.
Harvest: 80–100 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Okra Abelmoschus esculentus
Loves the heat and humidity and yields pods quickly with little care.
Harvest: 50–65 daysEasyIn pots
Water spinach Ipomoea aquatica
A staple leafy green that grows fast in wet, hot conditions year-round.
Harvest: 30–45 daysEasyIn pots
Yardlong bean Vigna unguiculata
A heat-tolerant climbing bean that fixes nitrogen and copes well with tropical rain.
Harvest: 60–75 daysEasyIn pots
Sweet potato Ipomoea batatas
Grows from cuttings in heat and humidity and needs little attention.
Harvest: 90–120 daysEasy
Cassava Manihot esculenta
A drought-hardy tropical root crop that suits the equatorial climate and needs almost no care.
Harvest: 8–12 monthsEasy
Taro Colocasia esculenta
Thrives in the constant warmth and wet soil of this climate.
Harvest: 7–9 monthsEasyIn pots
Welsh onion Allium fistulosum
Hardy, cut-and-come-again onion that copes well with heat and rain.
Harvest: 60–80 daysEasyIn pots
Fruits
Papaya Carica papaya
Fruits within a year from seed in constant warmth and needs no frost protection.
Harvest: 9–12 monthsEasyIn potsCare guide →
Banana Musa acuminata
Native to the region, it needs heat, humidity and rain, all of which are present here.
Harvest: 9–12 monthsEasyCare guide →
Pineapple Ananas comosus
A tropical plant that grows well in sun and warmth and tolerates some drought.
Harvest: 18–24 monthsEasyIn pots
Mango Mangifera indica
Thrives in the heat and produces its main crop in the drier months.
Harvest: 3–5 yearsModerateCare guide →
Passion fruit Passiflora edulis
A vigorous climber that fruits well in warm, humid lowland weather with a trellis.
Harvest: 12–18 monthsModerateIn potsCare guide →
Guava Psidium guajava
Hardy, fast-growing tree that bears fruit under tropical heat and rain.
Harvest: 2–3 yearsEasyIn pots
Herbs
Sweet basil Ocimum basilicum
Grows fast in the heat and sun and can be picked continuously.
Harvest: 30–40 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Lemongrass Cymbopogon citratus
A tough clumping grass that loves tropical heat and rain.
Harvest: 3–4 monthsEasyIn potsCare guide →
Pandan Pandanus amaryllifolius
Fragrant leaves are a staple in local cooking and it grows easily in humid shade.
Harvest: 3–4 monthsEasyIn pots
Galangal Alpinia galanga
A native rhizome spice that thrives in warm, wet, partly shaded soil.
Harvest: 9–12 monthsEasyIn pots