February 28, 2026

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.

TaskDetails
Transplant outdoors (after last frost)Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant — mid to late May for zone 4, late May for zone 3
Direct sow warm cropsBeans, corn, squash, cucumbers — after soil reaches 60°F
Continue cool cropsSuccession plant lettuce, spinach, radishes (they'll bolt by June, so plant fast varieties)
PlantPotatoes (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

TaskDetails
Transplant (early May)Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant — once soil hits 60°F and nights stay above 50°F
Direct sowBeans, corn, cucumbers, squash, melons, okra
Succession plantBush beans every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest. Lettuce in shaded spots.
HarvestSpring 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

TaskDetails
Transplant (if not done in April)Last call for tomatoes, peppers, eggplant
Direct sowSecond round of beans, corn, cucumbers. First round of okra, southern peas.
Succession plantBeans every 2 weeks. Lettuce in shade of taller crops.
MaintainStake 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

TaskDetails
PlantOkra, southern peas, sweet potato slips, watermelon, cantaloupe
Succession plantBush beans, summer squash every 3 weeks
HarvestSpring broccoli, peas, lettuce (bolt is coming), strawberries
MaintainMulch everything. Begin spraying for tomato disease prevention if needed. Prune indeterminate tomato suckers.

Zone 8: Heat is coming

TaskDetails
Last plantingsOkra (thrives in heat), southern peas, sweet potatoes, hot peppers
HarvestTomatoes beginning to ripen. Early beans and squash producing.
Prep for summerInstall shade cloth, deep mulch, set up drip irrigation
Pull spent cropsCool-season crops are done. Clear beds for summer plantings or cover crop.

Zone 9: Survival mode approaching

TaskDetails
HarvestTomatoes, beans, squash — pick frequently to keep plants producing
PlantOnly heat-lovers: okra, southern peas, sweet potatoes, hot peppers
ProtectShade cloth on everything. Water deeply and consistently. Mulch is critical.
Plan aheadStart thinking about fall garden — seed starting for fall tomatoes begins in June

May planting tips for everyone

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