What to Plant in May by USDA Zone: Your Complete Gardening Guide
For most of the U.S., May is an exciting time in the garden. From sea to shining sea, the soil is warming, the days are longer, and it’s time to get seeds and/or plants in the ground. But in a country this big, the list of what to plant in May isn’t one size fits all. What you can safely plant in Oregon is vastly different from what you can safely plant in Florida, which is why the USDA devised the Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
This guide breaks down what to plant this month in each zone so you can sow with confidence. If you’re unsure of your zone, you can find it on the USDA website.
Zone 3–4
Frost may still be lingering, so focus on cool-weather crops and hardening off seedlings.
Start Indoors: Brussels sprouts, okra, pumpkin, cucumber, winter squash, melons, eggplant, pepper, tomato.
Direct Sow: Beets, carrots, chard, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, collards, turnips, radish, spinach, onion sets, onion seeds for bunching onions.
Zone 5
May is the time for hardy crops and starting squash and melons indoors. But don’t be fooled by warm days, you aren’t out of frost danger yet.
Direct Sow: Beans, beets, carrots, corn, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, melons, okra, peas, potatoes, radishes, squash, Swiss chard, turnips.
Start Indoors: Pumpkin, cucumber, summer and winter squash, melons.
Transplant: Kale, arugula, lettuce
Zone 6
You are officially out of frost danger! It is go time in the Zone 6 garden.
Direct Sow: Beets, carrots, chard, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, collards, turnips, radish, spinach, onion sets, onion seeds for bunching onions.
Start Indoors: Okra, pumpkin, cucumber, summer and winter squash, melons.
Transplant: Hardened-off frost-tender plants like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants after the last frost.
Zone 7
You are in peak planting time in May! Don’t forget to give successive planting a try, too. Keep sowing greens, carrots, and radishes for continual harvest.
Direct Sow: Beans, corn, cucumbers, melons, okra, peas, radishes, squash, Swiss chard, turnips.
Transplant: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, basil, sweet potatoes.
Zone 8
Your garden is in full swing! If you’ve already picked early spring crops like lettuce, replant as needed.
Direct Sow: Beans, corn, cucumbers, melons, okra, peas, radishes, squash, Swiss chard, turnips.
Transplant: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, basil, sweet potatoes.
Zone 9
Your garden is in full go time. Now is the time to think about heat tolerance and water conservation. Consider watering close to the roots, in the early morning, to reduce water evaporation.
Direct Sow: Beans, corn, cucumbers, melons, okra, peas, squash.
Transplant: Eggplants, peppers, sweet potatoes.
Zone 10
In Zone 10, May is the time to manage heat. Mulch heavily to conserve water and cool your soil.
Direct Sow: Beans, corn, cucumbers, melons, okra, peas, squash.
Transplant: Eggplants, peppers, sweet potatoes.
No matter which zone you’re in, soil health equals plant health. Try adding worm castings to your soil or containers - it’s one of the easiest, all-natural ways to boost plant growth and soil life. Check out our premium worm castings here and see the difference they can make in harvest!