What to Plant in May

Wait until nights stay above 50F before transplanting. Cold soil stalls them.

Peppers want warm soil. Going out two weeks after the last frost beats rushing them.

Slower to germinate than sweet peppers, so give them the full head start.

Even fussier about cold than peppers. Warm soil is the whole game.

Direct sowing usually catches up to transplants. They hate root disturbance.

One or two plants is plenty unless you really love zucchini bread.

Needs a long run. In short-season zones start it indoors.

One cold night will blacken it. Wait for settled warm weather.

Self-seeds happily once you have it, and the bees find it fast.

Easy from seed and quick to bloom.

Poor soil gives you more flowers and fewer leaves.

Keep it in a pot. In the ground it will take over.

Wants sharp drainage and tolerates being forgotten.

Hardy outdoors from about zone 7 up. Colder than that, grow it in a pot and bring it in.