AgriAuditor

US planting calendar

What to plant in May

What can you plant in May? It depends on where you garden: May in Minnesota and May in Florida are different seasons. Enter your ZIP code for your exact place, or read the lists below for the five US climate regions.

Your planting list

Enter a US ZIP code or town, use your location, or click the map anywhere in the world.

Pick a place to see what to plant in May.

What vegetables to plant in May, by region

Zones 3-5: Upper Midwest and the North

In May, central Minnesota averages 57 °F (13.7 °C) with about 1 frost night. 20 crops can go in the ground now; the strongest fits are Broccoli, Brussels sprouts and Cabbage.

Start indoors
Tomatoes, Basil, Sweet potatoes (slips) (check locally)
Transplant outdoors
Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Kale, Leeks, Onions, Parsley
Sow outdoors
Beets, Carrots, Cilantro, Green onions, Lettuce, Peas, Potatoes (seed pieces), Radish, Spinach, Turnip, Dill
Opening in June
Cucumber, Green beans, Sweet corn, Zucchini / summer squash, Tomatoes, Okra, Pumpkin, Basil, Peppers, Watermelon, Eggplant, Cantaloupe (check locally), Sweet potatoes (slips) (check locally)

Zones 6-7: Midwest, Northeast and mid-Atlantic

In May, central Ohio averages 61 °F (16.3 °C) with no frost. 14 crops can go in the ground now; the strongest fits are Basil, Cantaloupe and Cucumber.

Start indoors
Nothing this month
Transplant outdoors
Basil, Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Sweet potatoes (slips)
Sow outdoors
Cantaloupe, Cucumber, Green beans, Pumpkin, Sweet corn, Zucchini / summer squash, Turnip, Okra, Watermelon
Opening in June
Nothing this month

Zone 8: the inland South

In May, middle Georgia averages 73 °F (22.8 °C) with no frost. 9 crops can go in the ground now; the strongest fits are Basil, Eggplant and Peppers.

Start indoors
Onions
Transplant outdoors
Basil, Eggplant, Peppers, Sweet potatoes (slips)
Sow outdoors
Cucumber, Okra, Sweet corn, Watermelon, Zucchini / summer squash
Opening in June
Nothing this month

Zones 9-10: Florida and the Gulf coast

In May, central Florida averages 77 °F (25.2 °C) with no frost. Nothing is due outside this month.

Start indoors
Nothing this month
Transplant outdoors
Nothing this month
Sow outdoors
Nothing this month
Opening in June
Nothing this month

Low desert Southwest

In May, Phoenix, Arizona averages 80 °F (26.6 °C) with no frost. Nothing is due outside this month.

Start indoors
Nothing this month
Transplant outdoors
Nothing this month
Sow outdoors
Nothing this month
Opening in June
Nothing this month

What to grow in May: start seeds indoors

Vegetables to plant in May from seed

  • Beets (Zones 3-5)
  • Cantaloupe (Zones 6-7)
  • Carrots (Zones 3-5)
  • Cilantro (Zones 3-5)
  • Cucumber (Zones 6-7, Zone 8)
  • Dill (Zones 3-5)
  • Green beans (Zones 6-7)
  • Green onions (Zones 3-5)
  • Lettuce (Zones 3-5)
  • Okra (Zones 6-7, Zone 8)
  • Peas (Zones 3-5)
  • Potatoes (seed pieces) (Zones 3-5)
  • Pumpkin (Zones 6-7)
  • Radish (Zones 3-5)
  • Spinach (Zones 3-5)
  • Sweet corn (Zones 6-7, Zone 8)
  • Turnip (Zones 3-5, Zones 6-7)
  • Watermelon (Zones 6-7, Zone 8)
  • Zucchini / summer squash (Zones 6-7, Zone 8)

May planting questions

What can I plant in May?

It depends on your climate. In central Minnesota (zones 3-5): Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Kale, Leeks, Onions, Parsley, Beets, Carrots, Cilantro, Green onions, Lettuce, Peas, Potatoes, Radish, Spinach, Turnip and Dill. In central Ohio (zones 6-7): Basil, Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Sweet potatoes, Cantaloupe, Cucumber, Green beans, Pumpkin, Sweet corn, Zucchini / summer squash, Turnip, Okra and Watermelon. In middle Georgia (zone 8): Basil, Eggplant, Peppers, Sweet potatoes, Cucumber, Okra, Sweet corn, Watermelon and Zucchini / summer squash. In central Florida nothing is planted this month. In Phoenix, Arizona nothing is planted this month. Enter your ZIP code in the tool on this page for your exact place.

What vegetables to plant in May in a cold climate?

In central Minnesota (zones 3-5): Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Kale, Leeks, Onions, Parsley, Beets, Carrots, Cilantro, Green onions, Lettuce, Peas, Potatoes, Radish, Spinach, Turnip and Dill. In central Ohio (zones 6-7): Basil, Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Sweet potatoes, Cantaloupe, Cucumber, Green beans, Pumpkin, Sweet corn, Zucchini / summer squash, Turnip, Okra and Watermelon.

What to grow in May in the South?

In middle Georgia (zone 8): Basil, Eggplant, Peppers, Sweet potatoes, Cucumber, Okra, Sweet corn, Watermelon and Zucchini / summer squash. In central Florida nothing is planted this month. In Phoenix, Arizona nothing is planted this month.

How are these lists made?

Each region is read at one reference place using 30 years of ERA5-Land climate. For every crop, our season model (the one the AgriAuditor field audit uses) finds the month its sowing window opens there. We checked it against eight state extension planting calendars: 93% of crops fell within a month of the published window.