My Planting Calendar

What to plant in May in Oklahoma

In Oklahoma (OK), May is the heart of the growing season - about 6 weeks after the last frost (April 1) and 24 weeks before the first (November 1). The state averages 214 frost-free days a year (last frost April 1, first frost November 1; USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a).

27 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including eggplant, ginger, sweet potato, turmeric - and 4 of those windows close during May.

Dates here come from Oklahoma frost dates (last frost Apr 1, first frost Nov 1). For one crop in detail, see when to plant eggplant, tomato or lettuce in Oklahoma.

Peak growing seasonSow or plant: 27Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 32

Oklahoma: planting activity through the year

18
53
70
78
27
9
15
31
21
1
2
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 1 – Nov 1
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 27 have one in May; the busiest month is April (78).

Last chance in May

Eggplant (transplant outdoors, by May 2) · Ginger (transplant outdoors, by May 2) · Sweet Potato (transplant outdoors, by May 2) · Turmeric (transplant outdoors, by May 2)

Sow or plant outdoors in May (4)

Direct sowing and transplanting windows that fall in May, most urgent first. Windows are one-to-two-week bands around the ideal date.

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
EggplantTransplant outdoorsApr 15 – May 2Last chance - ends May 2
GingerTransplant outdoorsApr 15 – May 2Last chance - ends May 2
Sweet PotatoTransplant outdoorsApr 15 – May 2Last chance - ends May 2
TurmericTransplant outdoorsApr 15 – May 2Last chance - ends May 2

Keep sowing (succession)

Repeat sowings of crops already in the ground, for a steady harvest instead of a glut.

Harvesting in May

First harvests expected this month from crops sown or planted on time earlier in the season.

Lettuce · Apr 17 – May 17Turnip · Apr 20 – May 10Rapini (Broccoli Raab) · Apr 20 – May 10Chervil · Apr 20 – May 10Pea · Apr 21 – May 6Bok Choy / Pak Choi · Apr 22 – May 7Beet · Apr 23 – May 13Kohlrabi · Apr 25 – May 10Kale · Apr 30 – May 15Cilantro / Coriander · May 2 – May 27Green Onion / Scallion · May 3 – May 23Collard Greens · May 5 – May 25Swiss Chard · May 7 – May 17Napa Cabbage · May 7 – Jun 1Watercress · May 7 – May 17Amaranth (Leaf) · May 8 – May 28Cabbage · May 10 – Jun 19Carrot · May 10 – May 30Dill · May 11 – May 31Borage · May 12 – Jun 1Basil · May 15 – Jun 14Broccoli · May 17 – Jun 11Cauliflower · May 17 – Jun 16Radicchio · May 17 – Jun 26Fava Bean (Broad Bean) · May 18 – Jun 2Zucchini / Summer Squash · May 23 – Jun 7Tarragon · May 24 – Jun 23Potato · May 27 – Jul 16Parsley · May 27 – Jun 16Bush Bean · May 28 – Jun 7New Zealand Spinach · May 28 – Jun 17Fennel (Bulb) · May 29 – Jun 23

Planting dates for popular crops in Oklahoma

Every crop has its own full-year dates for Oklahoma: indoor start, transplant or direct sowing, and harvest.

When to plant eggplant in Oklahoma →When to plant tomato in Oklahoma →When to plant lettuce in Oklahoma →When to plant garlic in Oklahoma →When to plant bell pepper in Oklahoma →When to plant carrot in Oklahoma →When to plant onion in Oklahoma →When to plant pea in Oklahoma →Oklahoma frost dates by zone →

Peak growing season: May garden jobs in Oklahoma

  1. Water deeply two or three times a week rather than a little every day - about an inch a week, more in heat. See watering a vegetable garden.
  2. 24 weeks until the average first frost (November 1). Plan the fall garden now - most fall crops are sown 8-12 weeks before first frost. See the fall and winter garden guide.
  3. Check the undersides of leaves twice a week - catching pests early is most of the battle (pest identification guide).
  4. Harvest often: lettuce, turnip, rapini (broccoli raab), chervil should be coming in. Picking regularly keeps beans, squash and cucumbers producing.

USDA zone chart for Oklahoma

Oklahoma spans USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average.

ZoneLast frostFirst frostSeason
Zone 6Apr 15Oct 15185 days
Zone 7Apr 5Oct 25200 days
Zone 8Mar 20Nov 5230 days

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in Oklahoma in May?

27 crops have a window in May: eggplant, ginger, sweet potato, turmeric and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.

Is it too late to plant tomatoes in Oklahoma in May?

For this year, yes - the tomato windows in Oklahoma have closed. The next step is to start seeds indoors from about February 4.

Is it too late to plant lettuce in Oklahoma in May?

Not too late - it's actually a little early. In Oklahoma the next lettuce window opens around August 27: sow for a fall crop.

When is the first frost in Oklahoma?

The statewide average first fall frost is around November 1 and the last spring frost around April 1. Your town can be a week or two either side - look yours up by ZIP code.

What can I harvest in Oklahoma in May?

From plantings made on time: lettuce, turnip, rapini (broccoli raab), chervil, pea, bok choy / pak choi, beet, kohlrabi, kale, cilantro / coriander.

← April in OklahomaJune in Oklahoma →Full-year Oklahoma planting calendar →Oklahoma frost dates →

What to plant in May in other states

KansasNebraskaNorth DakotaSouth DakotaAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasAll states →

Dates are computed from Oklahoma’s statewide average frost dates (from NOAA/NCEI climate normals) and each crop’s timing in our crop database. Your garden may be a week or two either side - for dates tuned to your ZIP code, use the planting calendar.