What to Plant in May: Warm-Season Planting Guide by Zone
May is the transition month. Cool-season crops are starting to bolt in warmer zones, and warm-season crops — tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash — finally get to go in the ground almost everywhere. In colder zones, May is the month when the garden actually comes alive outdoors.
Here’s what to plant in May, organized by zone so timing matches your actual last-frost date.
Zones 3-4: Last Frost Finally Arrives
Last frost: May 1–15
May is the month the waiting ends. Your first two weeks are about finishing indoor starts and hardening off. The second half of May is when you can finally plant the warm-season stuff.
Direct sow early May (cool-tolerant):
- Peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, carrots, beets
- Potatoes (if not already in)
- Swiss chard, kale, turnips
Transplant mid-to-late May (after hardening off):
- Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts
- Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant — wait until soil hits 55°F at night
- Herbs: basil (late May only — frost-sensitive)
Direct sow late May:
- Beans (wait for soil to warm)
- Squash, cucumbers, pumpkins — only once soil is 60°F+
- Corn — needs warm soil to germinate
Pro tip: Floating row cover buys you 5-10°F of frost protection if a late cold snap threatens your transplants. Keep it on hand until Memorial Day.
Zones 5-6: Prime Planting Month
Last frost: April 15 – May 1
May in zones 5-6 is the month most gardeners mean when they say “planting season.” Everything goes in the ground.
Direct sow:
- Beans (bush and pole), corn, squash, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins
- Carrots, beets, radishes (second planting)
- Sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos, nasturtiums
Transplant outdoors:
- Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant (after May 10 for zone 5)
- Basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme
- Sweet potatoes (slips)
Start thinking about:
- Succession lettuce — plant every 10-14 days through June
- Fall brassicas — you’ll want transplants ready by late July
Pro tip: When transplanting tomatoes, bury them deep — up to the first set of true leaves. Every buried stem node becomes a root, and a stronger root system means better yields and drought tolerance.
Zone 7: Summer Crops and Early Heat Prep
Last frost: March 15 – April 1
By May, zone 7 gardeners are fully in summer crop mode. Cool-season plants are fading. The focus shifts to heat-loving crops and staying ahead of pests.
Direct sow:
- Okra, southern peas, lima beans
- Second planting of bush beans
- Sweet potato slips
- Melons, cucumbers, summer squash
Transplant:
- Any remaining tomatoes, peppers, eggplant
- Basil, Mexican oregano, lemongrass
Harvest and pull:
- Lettuce and spinach are bolting — pull them and replant with heat-tolerant Malabar or New Zealand spinach
- Peas are winding down — compost the vines and replant beans
Plan for:
- Fall broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage — start seeds indoors in late May for July transplanting
- Pumpkins for October — direct sow by end of May
Pro tip: Install drip irrigation or soaker hoses now, before plants are fully grown. Trying to snake hoses around mature tomato cages in July is miserable.
Zones 8-9: The Shift to Heat-Tolerant
Last frost: Feb 15 – March 1
May in zones 8-9 is when mild spring gives way to real heat. Cool-season crops are done. The question becomes what can actually survive summer.
Plant now (heat-tolerant):
- Okra, southern peas, lima beans, black-eyed peas
- Sweet potatoes — perfect timing for summer growth
- Eggplant, hot peppers (mild peppers may struggle)
- Melons, watermelons, cantaloupe
- Herbs: basil, Mexican oregano, lemongrass, rosemary
Give up on:
- Lettuce, spinach, peas, broccoli — they’ve bolted or will bolt this week
- Standard tomatoes will struggle with 90°F+ days; cherry and Roma types handle heat better
Start planning:
- Fall tomatoes — your fall crop starts indoors in June for August transplanting
- Fall brassicas for September-October transplanting
Pro tip: Shade cloth (30-50%) extends the lettuce window by 2-3 weeks. It’s also worth it over newly-transplanted peppers during heatwaves — transplant shock plus 95°F can kill young plants.
Zone 10: Summer Transition
Last frost: rarely freezes
In zone 10, May is effectively mid-summer. Rainy season may be starting in Florida. Focus shifts to what can handle both heat and humidity.
Plant now:
- Sweet potatoes, okra, southern peas, yard-long beans
- Tropical and hot peppers
- Calabaza, chayote, luffa
- Herbs: tropical basil, culantro, ginger, turmeric
Ornamental and tropical:
- Hibiscus, plumeria, bougainvillea — plant while establishing before peak heat
- Papaya and banana (from starts)
Pull:
- Most tomatoes, peppers, and greens unless you have dedicated shade
- Any cool-season leftovers
Pro tip: May is the last good month before hurricane season in zone 10. Make sure trellises, cages, and stakes are actually anchored — not just pushed into soft soil.
May Planting Checklist
Regardless of zone, some tasks are universal in May:
- Finish hardening off — any indoor-started transplant needs 7-10 days of gradual outdoor exposure before going in the ground
- Mulch aggressively — 3-4 inches of wood chips, straw, or leaves cuts water needs and suppresses weeds
- Install supports at planting — tomato cages, trellises, and bean poles go in when transplants go in, not two months later
- Set up irrigation — drip or soaker hoses save time, water, and foliar disease
- Start logging — a planting date per variety is the single most useful piece of data you’ll collect all year
Track Your May Planting
Knowing what to plant is half the battle. Knowing what you planted, when, and how it performed is what makes next year’s garden better.
Check your zone’s detailed planting schedule:
- Zone 5 Planting Calendar — Chicago, Columbus, Boston
- Zone 6 Planting Calendar — Philadelphia, Nashville, Portland
- Zone 7 Planting Calendar — Charlotte, Atlanta, Dallas
- Zone 8 Planting Calendar — Austin, New Orleans, Sacramento
Track every plant from seed to harvest with Garden.gg — free garden planner with planting calendars, harvest analytics, and AI plant identification.