What to plant in May in zone 5
USDA zone 5 has winter lows of -20 to -10°F, a typical last spring frost around Apr 30 and first fall frost around Oct 5, roughly 160 frost-free days. May is the "main planting month" there.
69 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including fennel (bulb), globe artichoke, lemon balm, mint, tarragon, parsnip - and 29 of those windows close during May.
Dates come from the typical frost dates of USDA zone 5 (last frost Apr 30, first frost Oct 5). A zone covers many climates, so for dates tuned to your town use the planting calendar, or pick your state below.
Zone 5: planting activity through the year
Last chance in May
Fennel (Bulb) (transplant outdoors, by May 3) · Globe Artichoke (plant crowns / divisions, by May 3) · Lemon Balm (transplant outdoors, by May 3) · Mint (transplant outdoors, by May 3) · Tarragon (transplant outdoors, by May 3) · Fennel (Bulb) (direct sow (spring), by May 7) · Lemon Balm (direct sow (spring), by May 7) · Parsnip (direct sow (spring), by May 7) · Swiss Chard (direct sow (spring), by May 7) · Celeriac (transplant outdoors, by May 10) · Celery (transplant outdoors, by May 10) · Oregano (transplant outdoors, by May 10) · Sage (transplant outdoors, by May 10) · Thyme (transplant outdoors, by May 10) · Dill (direct sow (spring), by May 14) · Sunflower (direct sow (spring), by May 14) · Ground Cherry (transplant outdoors, by May 17) · New Zealand Spinach (transplant outdoors, by May 17) · Peanut (transplant outdoors, by May 17) · Pumpkin (transplant outdoors, by May 17) · Rosemary (transplant outdoors, by May 17) · Shiso (Perilla) (transplant outdoors, by May 17) · Summer Savory (transplant outdoors, by May 17) · Sunflower (transplant outdoors, by May 17) · Sweet Marjoram (transplant outdoors, by May 17) · Tomatillo (transplant outdoors, by May 17) · Tomato (transplant outdoors, by May 17) · Winter Squash (transplant outdoors, by May 17) · Zucchini / Summer Squash (transplant outdoors, by May 17)
Sow or plant outdoors in May (69)
Direct sowing and transplanting windows that fall in May, most urgent first. Windows are one-to-two-week bands around the ideal date.
| Crop | What to do | Window | This month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fennel (Bulb) | Transplant outdoors | Apr 16 – May 3 | Last chance - ends May 3 |
| Globe Artichoke | Plant crowns / divisions | Apr 16 – May 3 | Last chance - ends May 3 |
| Lemon Balm | Transplant outdoors | Apr 16 – May 3 | Last chance - ends May 3 |
| Mint | Transplant outdoors | Apr 16 – May 3 | Last chance - ends May 3 |
| Tarragon | Transplant outdoors | Apr 16 – May 3 | Last chance - ends May 3 |
| Fennel (Bulb) | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 18 – May 7 | Last chance - ends May 7 |
| Lemon Balm | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 18 – May 7 | Last chance - ends May 7 |
| Parsnip | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 18 – May 7 | Last chance - ends May 7 |
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 18 – May 7 | Last chance - ends May 7 |
| Celeriac | Transplant outdoors | Apr 23 – May 10 | Last chance - ends May 10 |
| Celery | Transplant outdoors | Apr 23 – May 10 | Last chance - ends May 10 |
| Oregano | Transplant outdoors | Apr 23 – May 10 | Last chance - ends May 10 |
| Sage | Transplant outdoors | Apr 23 – May 10 | Last chance - ends May 10 |
| Thyme | Transplant outdoors | Apr 23 – May 10 | Last chance - ends May 10 |
| Dill | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 25 – May 14 | Last chance - ends May 14 |
| Sunflower | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 25 – May 14 | Last chance - ends May 14 |
| Ground Cherry | Transplant outdoors | Apr 30 – May 17 | Last chance - ends May 17 |
| New Zealand Spinach | Transplant outdoors | Apr 30 – May 17 | Last chance - ends May 17 |
| Peanut | Transplant outdoors | Apr 30 – May 17 | Last chance - ends May 17 |
| Pumpkin | Transplant outdoors | Apr 30 – May 17 | Last chance - ends May 17 |
| Rosemary | Transplant outdoors | Apr 30 – May 17 | Last chance - ends May 17 |
| Shiso (Perilla) | Transplant outdoors | Apr 30 – May 17 | Last chance - ends May 17 |
| Summer Savory | Transplant outdoors | Apr 30 – May 17 | Last chance - ends May 17 |
| Sunflower | Transplant outdoors | Apr 30 – May 17 | Last chance - ends May 17 |
| Sweet Marjoram | Transplant outdoors | Apr 30 – May 17 | Last chance - ends May 17 |
| Tomatillo | Transplant outdoors | Apr 30 – May 17 | Last chance - ends May 17 |
| Tomato | Transplant outdoors | Apr 30 – May 17 | Last chance - ends May 17 |
| Winter Squash | Transplant outdoors | Apr 30 – May 17 | Last chance - ends May 17 |
| Zucchini / Summer Squash | Transplant outdoors | Apr 30 – May 17 | Last chance - ends May 17 |
| Amaranth (Leaf) | Direct sow (spring) | May 2 – May 21 | May 2 – May 21 |
| Bush Bean | Direct sow (spring) | May 2 – May 21 | May 2 – May 21 |
| Edamame (Soybean) | Direct sow (spring) | May 2 – May 21 | May 2 – May 21 |
| New Zealand Spinach | Direct sow (spring) | May 2 – May 21 | May 2 – May 21 |
| Pole Bean | Direct sow (spring) | May 2 – May 21 | May 2 – May 21 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow (spring) | May 2 – May 21 | May 2 – May 21 |
| Shiso (Perilla) | Direct sow (spring) | May 2 – May 21 | May 2 – May 21 |
| Summer Savory | Direct sow (spring) | May 2 – May 21 | May 2 – May 21 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow (spring) | May 2 – May 21 | May 2 – May 21 |
| Sweet Marjoram | Direct sow (spring) | May 2 – May 21 | May 2 – May 21 |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow (spring) | May 2 – May 21 | May 2 – May 21 |
| Zucchini / Summer Squash | Direct sow (spring) | May 2 – May 21 | May 2 – May 21 |
| Basil | Transplant outdoors | May 7 – May 24 | May 7 – May 24 |
| Bell Pepper | Transplant outdoors | May 7 – May 24 | May 7 – May 24 |
| Bitter Melon | Transplant outdoors | May 7 – May 24 | May 7 – May 24 |
| Cantaloupe / Muskmelon | Transplant outdoors | May 7 – May 24 | May 7 – May 24 |
| Chili Pepper | Transplant outdoors | May 7 – May 24 | May 7 – May 24 |
| Cucamelon | Transplant outdoors | May 7 – May 24 | May 7 – May 24 |
| Cucumber | Transplant outdoors | May 7 – May 24 | May 7 – May 24 |
| Luffa (Loofah Gourd) | Transplant outdoors | May 7 – May 24 | May 7 – May 24 |
| Malabar Spinach | Transplant outdoors | May 7 – May 24 | May 7 – May 24 |
| Okra | Transplant outdoors | May 7 – May 24 | May 7 – May 24 |
| Watermelon | Transplant outdoors | May 7 – May 24 | May 7 – May 24 |
| Basil | Direct sow (spring) | May 9 – May 28 | May 9 – May 28 |
| Bitter Melon | Direct sow (spring) | May 9 – May 28 | May 9 – May 28 |
| Cantaloupe / Muskmelon | Direct sow (spring) | May 9 – May 28 | May 9 – May 28 |
| Chayote | Direct sow (spring) | May 9 – May 28 | May 9 – May 28 |
| Cucamelon | Direct sow (spring) | May 9 – May 28 | May 9 – May 28 |
| Cucumber | Direct sow (spring) | May 9 – May 28 | May 9 – May 28 |
| Lima Bean | Direct sow (spring) | May 9 – May 28 | May 9 – May 28 |
| Luffa (Loofah Gourd) | Direct sow (spring) | May 9 – May 28 | May 9 – May 28 |
| Malabar Spinach | Direct sow (spring) | May 9 – May 28 | May 9 – May 28 |
| Okra | Direct sow (spring) | May 9 – May 28 | May 9 – May 28 |
| Peanut | Direct sow (spring) | May 9 – May 28 | May 9 – May 28 |
| Southern Pea (Cowpea) | Direct sow (spring) | May 9 – May 28 | May 9 – May 28 |
| Watermelon | Direct sow (spring) | May 9 – May 28 | May 9 – May 28 |
| Eggplant | Transplant outdoors | May 14 – May 31 | May 14 – May 31 |
| Ginger | Transplant outdoors | May 14 – May 31 | May 14 – May 31 |
| Sweet Potato | Transplant outdoors | May 14 – May 31 | May 14 – May 31 |
| Turmeric | Transplant outdoors | May 14 – May 31 | May 14 – May 31 |
Harvesting in May
First harvests expected this month from crops sown or planted on time earlier in the season.
Main planting month: May garden jobs in zone 5
- With the average last frost on April 30, 49 crops can go in outdoors this month, including fennel (bulb), globe artichoke, lemon balm, mint.
- Transplant on a cloudy afternoon and water in well - see transplanting seedlings without shock.
- Once the soil has warmed, lay mulch around established plants to hold moisture and smother weeds.
- Sow quick crops little and often - lettuce, radish and beans every two to three weeks give a steady harvest instead of a glut (succession planting).
Questions gardeners ask
What can I plant in zone 5 in May?
69 crops have a window in May: fennel (bulb), globe artichoke, lemon balm, mint, tarragon, parsnip, swiss chard, celeriac, celery, oregano and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.
When are the last and first frost in zone 5?
The typical last spring frost is around Apr 30 and the first fall frost around Oct 5. These are broad zone averages, so your own town can be a week or two either side: look yours up by ZIP code in the planting calendar.
What can I harvest in zone 5 in May?
From plantings made on time: radish, spinach, arugula, tatsoi, mizuna, mustard greens, mache (corn salad), lettuce, turnip, rapini (broccoli raab).
May in states with land in zone 5
Zone 5 in other months
What to plant in May in other zones
Dates are computed from the zone’s typical frost dates and each crop’s timing in our crop database. Your garden may be a week or two either side.