What to plan in May in your home garden. Here are my recommendations of the seeds and transplants to plant in May for summer crops in Zones 3 – 10. This is a great place to start your spring and summer garden.
If you’ve been following my series on What to Plant then you saw the March and April Guides. So you should have some beautiful veggies, fruits and herbs in your spring garden. Here in Phoenix, zone 10, I have summer and winter squash, watermelon, eggplant, peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes (probably too many tomatoes) all springing up in the garden.
I have an entire year’s worth of planting guides, see my Month to Month Planting Guide.
The Seeds You Need to Plant in May
Remember for planning your garden you should know the planting zone that your area is in. You can do that via your zip code here.
I’ve divided the seeds to plant in May by zones for 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 – so just scroll down to find your zone. I’ve also included links for seeds that do well in your particular zone, when I can.
I grow plants for many reasons: to please my eye or to please my soul, to challenge the elements or to challenge my patience, for novelty or for nostalgia, but mostly for the joy in seeing them grow. ~David Hobson
Where to Buy May Seeds for Your Garden
Check out my article on Where to Buy Organic Heirloom Seeds for your vegetable garden.
What to Plant in May Zones 3 & 4
My friends up north are finally starting to warm up and are ready for planting their garden! Bur remember to sow after the last frost.
Check out Seeds Now for Zone 3 and Zone 4 Organic, Non-Gmo Seeds,
- Beans (lima)
- Beans (snap)
- Beets
Growing Beets in Your Backyard - Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cantaloupe
Growing Cantaloupe Everything You Need to Know - Carrots
How to Preserve Carrots from Your Garden - Cauliflower
- Celery (after the 15th is better)
How to Make Celery Powder - Chard (early in the month)
- Cucumbers
- Kale
- Lettuce, head
- Lettuce, leaf (early in the month is best)
How to Grow Lettuce in Your Backyard - Parsnips
- Peas
- Potatoes, white
How to Grow Potatoes Anywhere
How To Prepare Garden Potatoes for Long Term Storage - Pumpkins (mid to late in the month)
- Radish
- Squash, both summer & winter
Growing Summer Squash Everything You Need to Know - Tomatoes
Growing Tomatoes At Home
Making Tomato Powder - Watermelon
Harvesting Watermelon
A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust. ~Gertrude Jekyll
What to Plant in May Zones 5 & 6
Check out Seeds Now for Zone 5 and Zone 6 Organic, Non-Gmo Seeds
- Beans (lima)
- Beans (snap)
- Cantaloupes
Growing Cantaloupe Everything You Need to Know - Corn, sweet
Everything You Need to Know About Growing Corn in Your Backyard - Cucumbers
- Eggplants
- Lettuce, head and leaf
How to Grow Lettuce in Your Backyard - Okra
How to Grow Okra in Your Backyard - Peppers
- Potatoes, sweet
Grow Sweet Potatoes How to Have Your Best Harvest Ever
How To Prepare Garden Potatoes for Long Term Storage - Pumpkins
- Squash, summer and winter
Growing Summer Squash Everything You Need to Know - Tomatoes
Growing Tomatoes At Home
Making Tomato Powder - Watermelons
Harvesting Watermelon
What to Plant in May Zones – 7 & 8
Check out Seeds Now for Zone 7 and Zone 8 Organic, Non-Gmo Seeds
- Beans (lima)
- Beans (snap) – very early in May
- Corn, sweet
Growing Corn in Your Backyard - Cucumbers
- Eggplants
- Okra
How to Grow Okra - Peppers
- Potatoes, sweet
Grow Sweet Potatoes How to Have Your Best Harvest Ever
How To Prepare Garden Potatoes for Long Term Storage - Pumpkins
- Squash, summer and winter
Growing Summer Squash Everything You Need to Know - Watermelons, but early in the month if you’re doing seeds
Harvesting Watermelon
Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace. ~May Sarton
What to Plant in May Zones – 9 & 10
Check out Seeds Now for Zone 9 and Zone 10 Organic, Non-Gmo Seeds
Because of the early heat of zones 9 and 10, there are not a lot of seeds that can be planted in May. You may want to consider starting with transplants.
- Beans, lima
- Cantaloupe
Growing Cantaloupe Everything You Need to Know - Cucumber – consider the Armenian variety that does very well in heat.
- Eggplant
- Jicama
- Okra
How to Grow Okra in Your Backyard - Peppers
- Potatoes, sweet
Grow Sweet Potatoes How to Have Your Best Harvest Ever
How To Prepare Garden Potatoes for Long Term Storage - Pumpkin
- Squash, winter and summer
Growing Summer Squash Everything You Need to Know - Tomatillo
- Watermelon
Harvesting Watermelon
Help for Your May Garden
- Companion Planting (succession sowing)
- Crop Rotation
- DIY Soil for Raised Beds & Containers
- Vegetables that Grow in Containers
- Soil Amendments
- Marigolds in the Vegetable Garden
- Easy to Grow Vegetables
- Vegetables that Do Great in Pots
- Advice for the New Gardener
The single greatest lesson the garden teaches is that our relationship to the planet need not be zero-sum, and that as long as the sun still shines and people still can plan and plant, think and do, we can, if we bother to try, find ways to provide for ourselves without diminishing the world. ~Michael Pollan
How do u know what zone you are in?
Here’s a link – https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/
I don’t know
I am from Goa , India. Which zone I belong in.
Check this link: https://www.mashrita.com/usda-hardiness-zones-context-india-major-cities/
This article has some Great information, is easy to Read, and makes a Great Resource, Thanks for posting/sharing!!…
READER “TIP”: Before Planting, You should always check with Your local (just google it) “Agricultural Extension Office in insert Your City and State” because they normally produce a list of what to plant when In your local area (Planting Zone) during Your current month AND many also have lists of which variety of a plant grows BEST in Your area. Also, check with Your local Agriculture Extension Office If there is one at Your local University. For Example: My local University not only has a list of which varieties of plants grow best in my area (they plant various varieties each year to test out which varieties grow best locally here and then recommend the Best of the Best Plants!), BUT, my Local University— LSU Ag Ctr —- also cross breeds, plants to develop/create brand new varieties of plants specifically bred to grow better in my area, that are, for example for us locally, more tolerant to our local levels of high heat, humidity, clay soil, long growing seasons, etc. Plus, Agriculture Extension Offices are a GREAT resource if You run into any issues, like pests and/or diseases, the it is a given that they will be familiar with those same problems and they can typically advise you as to how exactly to deal with those issues most effectively. So, that’s my shared “Tip” for Other Readers/Growers…Always check with Your Agricultural Extension Office before planting anything! Good Luck Everyone, Stay Healthy out there & Keep on Growing Green!
I really appreciate all the work you put into these lists.
Thank your!
Hi Tiffany,
Really hard commenting with the pop up ads disruption. A few I get to help your site make an income but this is crazy!
I’m working on getting the site to have less intrusive ads. <3