What to Plant in May by USDA Zone: Complete Regional Guide

May 01, 2026

How to Use This Guide

May is the month the garden year pivots. Frost risk fades across most of the country, soil temperatures climb, and the window for warm-season crops opens zone by zone — sometimes all in the span of a few weeks.

This guide is organized by hardiness zone so you can skip straight to your region. Whether you are direct-sowing warm-season crops, transplanting seedlings you started indoors, or squeezing in a final round of cool-season greens before heat shuts them down, the zone sections below give you a concrete starting list.

Every zone section below uses the same structure: vegetables first, then herbs, then flowers, then a short priority list. Find your zone and read straight through, or use the quick-reference table at the bottom for a one-glance summary.

What to Plant in May — Zones 3 and 4 (Northern States and Canada Border)

Zones 3b through 4b span the northern tier: northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, northern New England, and the high-elevation Mountain West. Last frost dates run from mid-May to early June, so May is primarily a month of indoor seed starting and cold-frame work rather than open-ground direct sowing.

Vegetables

• Start indoors (transplant in June): tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, summer squash, cucumbers
• Direct sow under row cover (late May, after last frost): peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, kale, Swiss chard
• Transplant hardened seedlings (late May): broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower

Herbs

• Start basil indoors — it goes out only after soil consistently stays above 60 °F
• Chives, parsley, and dill can be direct-sown in late May

Flowers

• Direct sow nasturtiums, marigolds, and cosmos in late May once frost risk passes
• Set out pansies and snapdragons early — they tolerate a light frost

Zone 3–4 May Priorities

1. Harden off every seedling started in March and April before setting it outside, even for a single night.
2. Amend beds now — once planting season opens it moves fast.
3. Keep row cover within reach for surprise late frosts through Memorial Day.

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What to Plant in May — Zone 5 (Great Lakes, Southern New England, Midwest)

Zone 5 covers Chicago, Indianapolis, Columbus, Boston, and the Wasatch Front. Average last frost falls between April 15 and May 15. By mid-May most of zone 5 is clear for warm-season crops.

Vegetables

• Direct sow after last frost: cucumbers, summer squash, zucchini, corn, green beans, beets, carrots
• Transplant warm-season starts: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant
• Last call cool-season sow: arugula, radishes, spinach (expect bolting as temperatures rise)

Herbs

• Transplant basil after mid-May
• Direct sow dill, cilantro, and fennel
• Mint, chives, and oregano can go in the ground now

Flowers

• Direct sow sunflowers, zinnias, marigolds, and morning glory
• Transplant petunias and geraniums after frost risk clears

Zone 5 May Priorities

1. Watch soil temperature, not just the calendar — tomatoes stall in cold soil even if air temps are fine.
2. Stagger corn plantings two weeks apart to extend harvest.
3. Start a second round of basil every three weeks for a continuous supply.

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What to Plant in May — Zone 6 (Mid-Atlantic, Ozarks, Central Rockies)

Zone 6 includes Philadelphia, Baltimore, St. Louis, Kansas City, and the central Appalachians. Last frost is typically mid-April, so May is full warm-season territory.

Vegetables

• Transplant: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, sweet potatoes
• Direct sow: cucumbers, summer squash, zucchini, winter squash, corn, green beans, lima beans, edamame, okra (late May — soil must be 70 °F+)
• Cool-season finale: lettuce in a shaded spot, Swiss chard, beets

Herbs

• Basil, rosemary, thyme, sage, lemon balm, and lemongrass all go in May
• Tarragon and marjoram do well transplanted now

Flowers

• Plant dahlias tubers — they need a long season
• Direct sow zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, marigolds
• Set out salvia and verbena transplants

Zone 6 May Priorities

1. Pinch basil tips early to delay flowering and maximize leaf yield.
2. Mulch beds as temperatures climb — zone 6 summers arrive fast.
3. Stake or cage tomatoes at planting time, not after they tip over.

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What to Plant in May — Zone 7 (Mid-Atlantic Piedmont, Inland South, PNW Lowlands)

Zone 7 is one of the most geographically diverse hardiness bands in the country. It covers the Raleigh–Charlotte corridor, northern Georgia, the Oklahoma panhandle, and the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Frost risk is gone by April in most of zone 7; May is prime planting time.

See the full zone 7a and zone 7b pages for region-specific variety guidance and frost date ranges.

Vegetables

• Transplant: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, sweet potatoes, tomatillos
• Direct sow: cucumbers, summer squash, zucchini, winter squash, watermelon, cantaloupe, corn, okra, green beans, lima beans
• Heat-tolerant greens: Swiss chard, collard greens, mustard greens

Herbs

• Full herb garden goes in now: basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, cilantro (will bolt by July — succession sow), summer savory
• Lemongrass loves zone 7 heat — plant it in a large container or a sheltered bed

Flowers

• Zinnias, sunflowers, marigolds, cosmos, nasturtiums
• Dahlias tubers in now for fall blooms
• Salvia transplants establish quickly in zone 7 May

Zone 7 May Priorities

1. Water deeply and infrequently to push roots down before summer heat.
2. Plan for a fall garden: start Brussels sprouts and kale seeds indoors in late May to transplant in July.
3. Succession-sow beans every two weeks through June.

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What to Plant in May — Zone 8 (Pacific Northwest Coast, Deep South, Texas East)

Zone 8 runs from coastal Oregon and Washington through the Carolinas, Georgia piedmont, and East Texas. It is a climatically split zone — the PNW coast is cool and wet while the Deep South is warm and humid — but both subzones share the May window for warm-season crops.

For full zone detail visit the zone 8a and zone 8b pages. Also see the dedicated zone 8 May planting guide for variety picks and timing.

Vegetables

• Everything warm-season: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, corn, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes
• PNW zone 8 coastal: add peas, lettuce, and spinach — summers stay mild enough for cool-season crops longer than the inland South

Herbs

• Basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, lemon balm, lemongrass, stevia

Flowers

• Zinnias, marigolds, sunflowers, dahlias, salvia, verbena, impatiens for shaded areas

Zone 8 May Priorities

1. Deep South growers: set out okra and sweet potatoes now — they need a long season and dislike transplant shock later in summer heat.
2. PNW coastal growers: take advantage of the cool maritime May to establish heat-sensitive herbs before summer warmth arrives.
3. Mulch everything — zone 8 summers punish unmulched beds.

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What to Plant in May — Zone 9 (California Central Valley, Southwest, South Texas)

Zone 9 is warm enough that May is actually the tail end of spring planting. Zone 9a and zone 9b growers are already watching for heat stress on cool-season crops; the focus shifts to heat-tolerant varieties and fall-garden planning.

For warm-season crop notes specific to zone 9, see the zone 9 summer vegetables guide.

Vegetables

• Still planting warm-season: okra, sweet potatoes, peanuts, lima beans, edamame, second plantings of corn
• Heat-tolerant greens: collard greens, Swiss chard, Malabar spinach (a heat-tolerant vining green, not a standard spinach)
• Starting fall transplants indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, kale for September transplanting

Herbs

• Basil thrives — plant generously and succession sow
• Rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano are at peak growth
• Lemongrass and stevia love zone 9 heat

Flowers

• Zinnias, marigolds, sunflowers, portulaca (a drought-tolerant annual that thrives in zone 9 heat), salvia
• Perennial: echinacea, lavender

Zone 9 May Priorities

1. Shade cloth (30–40%) extends the productive life of tomatoes and peppers into early summer — install before temperatures crack 95 °F.
2. Switch to drip irrigation or deep morning watering; overhead watering in zone 9 summer invites fungal disease.
3. Begin fall-crop planning now: count back from your October target transplant date and start seeds indoors in late June or July.

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What to Plant in May — Zone 10 (South Florida, Lower Rio Grande, Hawaii)

Zones 10a and 10b operate on a nearly inverted planting calendar. May sits at the start of the wet season in South Florida and the monsoon buildup in the Southwest. Most cool-season crops are finished; the question is which tropical and heat-adapted crops to push through the wet season.

Vegetables

• Tropical warm-season: okra, sweet potatoes, peanuts, Malabar spinach (vining, heat-tolerant — direct sow in warm soil), edamame, lima beans
• Heat-set tomato varieties (bred for fruit set above 90 °F) in zone 10a and zone 10b with afternoon shade
• Cantaloupe and watermelon if planted early May before peak wet-season humidity

Herbs

• Basil (especially Thai and holy basil), lemongrass, rosemary, stevia
• Avoid cold-hardy herbs like chives and parsley — they struggle in zone 10 summers

Flowers

• Zinnias, marigolds, sunflowers, impatiens, verbena
• Tropical perennials establish well in May rains

Zone 10 May Priorities

1. Prepare raised beds or containers to manage wet-season drainage — flat clay soils waterlog quickly once rains arrive.
2. Focus on crops that set fruit under high heat and humidity; standard tomato varieties will drop flowers above 95 °F.
3. Plan your October–February cool-season garden now: order seeds in June for delivery before the fall planting window.

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Cross-Zone Tips for May Gardening Success

Soil Temperature Matters More Than Air Temperature

A frost-free date is not a planting date. Tomatoes and peppers stop growing when soil is below 60 °F; basil sulks below 65 °F; okra and sweet potatoes want 70 °F+. Invest in a $10 soil thermometer and trust it over the calendar.

Succession Sowing Extends Harvest

Fast-maturing crops — radishes, lettuce, beans, cilantro — benefit from plantings every two to three weeks. A single May sowing gives you one harvest; succession sowing gives you harvest through July or August.

Companion Planting Reduces Pest Pressure

Marigolds near tomatoes and peppers deter aphids and nematodes. Basil alongside tomatoes repels thrips. Nasturtiums act as trap crops for aphids, drawing them away from your vegetables. See the full companion planting guide for zone-specific pairings.

Harden Off Before You Transplant

Any seedling raised indoors — regardless of your zone — needs a week of hardening off before it goes in the ground. Set it outside in dappled shade for a few hours, then gradually increase sun exposure over seven to ten days. Read the full hardening-off guide for zone-specific timing recommendations.

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What to Plant in May: Quick-Reference Table

Zone	Last Frost (avg.)	Focus in May
3b–4b	Mid-May to early June	Indoor starts; cold-frame sowing; row cover
5a–5b	Late April–mid-May	Full warm-season planting after mid-month
6a–6b	Mid-April	All warm-season crops; cool-season finale
7a–7b	Late March–mid-April	Full garden; plan fall crops
8a–8b	Mid-March (south) / April (PNW)	Heat crop push; mulch everything
9a–9b	Feb–March	Tail of spring; start fall transplants indoors
10a–10b	Frost-free	Tropical/heat crops; wet-season prep

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Keep Digging

• What to Plant in April — Zone Guide
• Spring Planting Checklist by Zone
• Hardening Off Seedlings: Zone Timing
• Companion Planting Guide by Zone

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