Here's What to Plant in the Garden in May

The planting possibilities in May are essentially a sneak peak at what's coming in June.

For many of us, May is a month of transition. If you live in a colder climate, you might be finishing up your first cool season of the year and moving into your warm season, which will see you through the summer. If you live in a warmer climate, you'll be finishing up your warm season and moving into your hot season (so soak up these last days that it's enjoyable to be outdoors!).

Transition months mean lots of tending and (here's the fun part) harvesting. Those cool and warm season leafy greens and veggies you planted in the last couple of months are ready to be pulled from the garden by the end of May so that you can make room for plants that thrive in the upcoming season, and that means it'll be time to enjoy the literal fruits of your labor.

Up in the Chicago area, my French breakfast radishes and carrots are popping up and saying, "Pick me!" and I'm looking forward to my final frost date in the middle of this month.

If you have a lot of happy, thriving plants in your garden, then this guide will show you what will be possible in June. If you have some room in your garden beds, then you can go ahead and do some planting in anticipation of your upcoming season.

Before we look at the yummy things you can plant in May, let's make sure you know which growing season you're heading into.

Step One: Chart Your Highs and Lows

It’s time to use the internet to become further acquainted with your climate.

Google the average high and low temperatures for your town, county, city, or zip code for the months of May and June. If you’re in the United States, U.S. Climate Data is a helpful website that’s easy to use. Otherwise, you can search RSS Weather.

Step Two: Define Your Season

Rather than your garden zone, the goal is to understand your particular growing seasons. Once you know your seasons, you’ll have a better idea of what’s possible when in your unique garden, and to understand your seasons, all you need to know is the general weather for each month of the year in your area.  

As I said, we're finishing up our cool season in the Chicago area. My friends down in Houston are concluding the first of their two warm seasons before their hot season officially arrives with a bang in June.

Here's a breakdown of our two upcoming growing seasons in the Northern Hemisphere:

• Warm Season - Average high temperature between 65°F and 85°F (18.3°C and 29.4°C); no chance of frost/snow
• Hot Season - Average high temperature of 85°F (29.4°C) or above; no chance of anything close to cold

Now that you know your upcoming growing season, all you have to do is figure out which plants like to grow in that season.

Buy Starter Plants in May If You Didn't Start Large Plants by Seed Indoors

During transition months, we begin to plant for the upcoming season in our garden.

Since I'm just a couple weeks away from my final frost date, I can begin to direct sow smaller plants into the garden under some frost protection. For larger warm season plants, I started them indoors at the end of March and will transplant them outdoors as soon as the weather is optimal. If you didn't start larger plants like tomatoes or kale indoors, don't worry. You can always purchase a starter plant from a local nursery or garden center.

If you live in a warmer climate and are anticipating the beginning of your hot season, you'll subtract 45 days from the first month where your average high temperature exceeds 85 degrees. (For Houstonians, the result is the middle of April.) That's when you'll start your hot season plants indoors. If that date has already passed, again, you can buy starter plants.

(Here's our guide to knowing when to start seeds indoors and which seeds to prioritize.)

Keep reading for some recommendations based on your growing season in May.

What plants can you plant in May in cooler areas?

Here's what you can buy and direct sow in the garden this month for your upcoming warm season:

BUY

Larger plants like kale and swiss chard will have more time to grow and thrive in your transitional garden if you buy them as transplants from your local nursery or garden center now. Purchase tomato and pepper plants if you didn't start your own by seed indoors. Buying herbs is also a good idea so that you can maximize their time in the garden and begin cutting herbs immediately.

PLANT

You can plant seeds for arugula, cucumbers, beans, squash, and zucchini outdoors, directly in your garden. You can also plant potatoes once all threat of frost has passed, but I recommend planting them outside of your raised beds.

Once your final frost date has passed, you can begin to harden off your warm season seedlings started indoors and then transplant them into the garden.

Be certain your final frost date has passed before you plant basil, tomatoes, or peppers in your garden.

What plants can you plant in May in warmer areas?

Here's what you can buy and direct sow in your garden this month for your upcoming hot season:

BUY

I recommend buying a healthy basil plant from a nursery so that you can begin harvesting leaves immediately and maximize your enjoyment of this sun-loving herb. You can also buy other herbs, such as thyme, oregano, rosemary, and sage, though sage might need a more shaded location.

PLANT

Arugula is a fantastic leafy green that will continue producing even in the hottest months. Go with Armenian cucumbers, hot peppers, luffa gourds, yard-long beans, and Malabar spinach (which isn't actually spinach) if you're looking for varieties that don't mind the heat. Okra and sweet potatoes are two plants that thrive in the hottest of conditions, and sweet potatoes are a wise choice if you have upcoming summer travel plans.

You can also plant eggplant, chives, peas, and melons.

What to Plant Outdoors in May

WARM SEASON

• arugula
• cucumbers
• beans
• squash
• zucchini
• basil
• tomatoes
• peppers
• potatoes

HOT SEASON

• arugula
• Armenian cucumber
• basil
• yard-long beans
• chives
• eggplant
• hot peppers
• Malabar spinach
• okra
• peas
• sweet potato sets
• luffa gourds
• melons

What are the best flowers to plant in May?

Zinnia seeds, calendula seeds, strawflower seeds, and marigold seeds can be planted outdoors once your final threat of frost has passed. Wait a few weeks after your last predicted frost to plant your nasturtium seeds. You can also plant chamomile and calendula.

If you're in a warmer climate, cosmos, petunias, and begonias planted now will continue to thrive through your hot season.

No matter what you plant, give your seeds a really good watering in and keep them moist in the first seven to ten days after sowing to prevent them from drying out.

If you're still getting your kitchen garden set up, learn more through Gardenary's many resources:

• Get started with my book, Kitchen Garden Revival.
• Enroll in Kitchen Garden Academy.
• Another great resource to help you know what to plant when in your area is the nearest garden consultant to you. Find a Garden Consultant near you in our Directory. Follow them on social media or sign up for their newsletter for an easy way to know what's possible to grow in your area each month.

Whatever you grow in your garden, don't grow alone! We're here to help you have confidence and find success in the garden every step of the way, rain or shine.

Here's to maximizing your growing time this May for a wonderful transition into the next season!