What to Plant in May by Zone
May is the month when the entire country is gardening. Zone 4 is finally thawing. Zone 7 has tomatoes loaded with green fruit. Zone 9 is harvesting and bracing for summer. Wherever you are, there's something to plant.
Zones 3-4: The big planting month
This is your spring. Everything that zones 6 and 7 did in March and April, you're doing now.
| Task | Details |
|---|---|
| Transplant outdoors (after last frost) | Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant — mid to late May for zone 4, late May for zone 3 |
| Direct sow warm crops | Beans, corn, squash, cucumbers — after soil reaches 60°F |
| Continue cool crops | Succession plant lettuce, spinach, radishes (they'll bolt by June, so plant fast varieties) |
| Plant | Potatoes (if not already in), sweet corn, sunflowers |
Zone 4 tip: use Wall o' Water cloches or row cover for tomato transplants. Even after your average last frost date, a rogue freeze in late May isn't unusual. The $3 insurance is worth it. For more details, see our guide on Spring vegetable garden planting schedule.
Zone 5: Peak transplanting
| Task | Details |
|---|---|
| Transplant (early May) | Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant — once soil hits 60°F and nights stay above 50°F |
| Direct sow | Beans, corn, cucumbers, squash, melons, okra |
| Succession plant | Bush beans every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest. Lettuce in shaded spots. |
| Harvest | Spring peas, radishes, lettuce, spinach from March/April plantings |
May 10-15 is the traditional tomato planting window for most of zone 5. Check soil temperature — a cheap probe thermometer is the best $10 garden tool you'll ever buy. For more details, see our guide on Best vegetables to plant in spring.
Zone 6: Everything's in the ground
| Task | Details |
|---|---|
| Transplant (if not done in April) | Last call for tomatoes, peppers, eggplant |
| Direct sow | Second round of beans, corn, cucumbers. First round of okra, southern peas. |
| Succession plant | Beans every 2 weeks. Lettuce in shade of taller crops. |
| Maintain | Stake tomatoes. Thin carrots and beets. Weed while everything is small. |
May in zone 6 is about maintenance as much as planting. Weeds grow faster than your crops right now. Stay on top of them — 10 minutes of weeding per day beats an hour per week.
Zone 7: Garden management mode
| Task | Details |
|---|---|
| Plant | Okra, southern peas, sweet potato slips, watermelon, cantaloupe |
| Succession plant | Bush beans, summer squash every 3 weeks |
| Harvest | Spring broccoli, peas, lettuce (bolt is coming), strawberries |
| Maintain | Mulch everything. Begin spraying for tomato disease prevention if needed. Prune indeterminate tomato suckers. |
Zone 8: Heat is coming
| Task | Details |
|---|---|
| Last plantings | Okra (thrives in heat), southern peas, sweet potatoes, hot peppers |
| Harvest | Tomatoes beginning to ripen. Early beans and squash producing. |
| Prep for summer | Install shade cloth, deep mulch, set up drip irrigation |
| Pull spent crops | Cool-season crops are done. Clear beds for summer plantings or cover crop. |
Zone 9: Survival mode approaching
| Task | Details |
|---|---|
| Harvest | Tomatoes, beans, squash — pick frequently to keep plants producing |
| Plant | Only heat-lovers: okra, southern peas, sweet potatoes, hot peppers |
| Protect | Shade cloth on everything. Water deeply and consistently. Mulch is critical. |
| Plan ahead | Start thinking about fall garden — seed starting for fall tomatoes begins in June |
May planting tips for everyone
- Water at the base, not overhead. Wet foliage invites fungal disease. Drip irrigation or a hose at soil level is better.
- Mulch when soil is warm. Don't mulch cold soil — you'll keep it cold. Wait until soil temperatures are where you want them, then mulch to hold that warmth.
- Label everything. You think you'll remember what's in each row. You won't. Label it now.
- Take photos. Garden photos from May are invaluable when planning next year. Note what went where.
Get your complete month-by-month schedule at the planting calendar tool. And if you missed April tasks, the April planting guide covers what you might still catch up on.
Get your full May planting plan →
Open the Planting Calendar