What to Plant in May

Your complete Zone 5B planting guide for May. Here's everything you should be starting, sowing, transplanting, and harvesting this month.

Direct Sow

6 plants

Beans (Green)

🕐

50–65 days

📏

4-6 inches

Direct sow after last frost

ðŸŠī Container Friendlyvegetable

Beans (Lima)

🕐

65–90 days

📏

4-6 inches

Direct sow after soil reaches 65°F

vegetable

Corn

🕐

60–100 days

📏

8-12 inches

Direct sow after soil reaches 60°F

vegetable

Cucumber

🕐

50–70 days

📏

36-60 inches

Direct sow after last frost

ðŸŠī Container Friendlyvegetable

Zucchini

🕐

45–65 days

📏

36 inches

Direct sow after last frost

ðŸŠī Container Friendlyvegetable

Dill

🕐

40–60 days

📏

12 inches

Direct sow after last frost

ðŸŠī Container Friendlyherb

Transplant

10 plants

Tomato

🕐

60–85 days

📏

24-36 inches

Transplant after last frost

ðŸŠī Container Friendlyvegetable

Pepper (Bell)

🕐

60–90 days

📏

18-24 inches

Transplant after last frost

ðŸŠī Container Friendlyvegetable

Pepper (Hot)

🕐

60–90 days

📏

18-24 inches

Transplant after last frost

ðŸŠī Container Friendlyvegetable

Eggplant

🕐

60–80 days

📏

24-36 inches

Transplant after soil is warm

ðŸŠī Container Friendlyvegetable

Cucumber

🕐

50–70 days

📏

36-60 inches

Transplant after last frost

ðŸŠī Container Friendlyvegetable

Basil

🕐

50–75 days

📏

12-18 inches

Transplant after last frost

ðŸŠī Container Friendlyherb

Watermelon

🕐

70–90 days

📏

60-96 inches

Transplant after soil is 70°F

fruit

Cantaloupe

🕐

70–90 days

📏

36-48 inches

Transplant after soil is 70°F

fruit

Sweet Potato

🕐

90–120 days

📏

12-18 inches

Plant slips after soil is warm

ðŸŠī Container Friendlyvegetable

Squash (Butternut)

🕐

85–110 days

📏

48-72 inches

Transplant after last frost

vegetable

Harvest

3 plants

Radish

🕐

22–35 days

📏

1-2 inches

First radish harvest

ðŸŠī Container Friendlyvegetable

Lettuce

🕐

30–60 days

📏

6-12 inches

Spring lettuce harvest

ðŸŠī Container Friendlyvegetable

Spinach

🕐

35–50 days

📏

4-6 inches

Spring spinach harvest

ðŸŠī Container Friendlyvegetable