What to plant in May in zone 6
USDA zone 6 has winter lows of -10 to 0°F, a typical last spring frost around Apr 15 and first fall frost around Oct 15, roughly 185 frost-free days. May is the "main planting month" there.
58 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including ground cherry, new zealand spinach, peanut, pumpkin, rosemary, shiso (perilla) - and 53 of those windows close during May.
Dates come from the typical frost dates of USDA zone 6 (last frost Apr 15, first frost Oct 15). A zone covers many climates, so for dates tuned to your town use the planting calendar, or pick your state below.
Zone 6: planting activity through the year
Last chance in May
Ground Cherry (transplant outdoors, by May 2) · New Zealand Spinach (transplant outdoors, by May 2) · Peanut (transplant outdoors, by May 2) · Pumpkin (transplant outdoors, by May 2) · Rosemary (transplant outdoors, by May 2) · Shiso (Perilla) (transplant outdoors, by May 2) · Summer Savory (transplant outdoors, by May 2) · Sunflower (transplant outdoors, by May 2) · Sweet Marjoram (transplant outdoors, by May 2) · Tomatillo (transplant outdoors, by May 2) · Tomato (transplant outdoors, by May 2) · Winter Squash (transplant outdoors, by May 2) · Zucchini / Summer Squash (transplant outdoors, by May 2) · Amaranth (Leaf) (direct sow (spring), by May 6) · Bush Bean (direct sow (spring), by May 6) · Edamame (Soybean) (direct sow (spring), by May 6) · New Zealand Spinach (direct sow (spring), by May 6) · Pole Bean (direct sow (spring), by May 6) · Pumpkin (direct sow (spring), by May 6) · Shiso (Perilla) (direct sow (spring), by May 6) · Summer Savory (direct sow (spring), by May 6) · Sweet Corn (direct sow (spring), by May 6) · Sweet Marjoram (direct sow (spring), by May 6) · Winter Squash (direct sow (spring), by May 6) · Zucchini / Summer Squash (direct sow (spring), by May 6) · Basil (transplant outdoors, by May 9) · Bell Pepper (transplant outdoors, by May 9) · Bitter Melon (transplant outdoors, by May 9) · Cantaloupe / Muskmelon (transplant outdoors, by May 9) · Chili Pepper (transplant outdoors, by May 9) · Cucamelon (transplant outdoors, by May 9) · Cucumber (transplant outdoors, by May 9) · Luffa (Loofah Gourd) (transplant outdoors, by May 9) · Malabar Spinach (transplant outdoors, by May 9) · Okra (transplant outdoors, by May 9) · Watermelon (transplant outdoors, by May 9) · Basil (direct sow (spring), by May 13) · Bitter Melon (direct sow (spring), by May 13) · Cantaloupe / Muskmelon (direct sow (spring), by May 13) · Chayote (direct sow (spring), by May 13) · Cucamelon (direct sow (spring), by May 13) · Cucumber (direct sow (spring), by May 13) · Lima Bean (direct sow (spring), by May 13) · Luffa (Loofah Gourd) (direct sow (spring), by May 13) · Malabar Spinach (direct sow (spring), by May 13) · Okra (direct sow (spring), by May 13) · Peanut (direct sow (spring), by May 13) · Southern Pea (Cowpea) (direct sow (spring), by May 13) · Watermelon (direct sow (spring), by May 13) · Eggplant (transplant outdoors, by May 16) · Ginger (transplant outdoors, by May 16) · Sweet Potato (transplant outdoors, by May 16) · Turmeric (transplant outdoors, by May 16)
Sow or plant outdoors in May (53)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Cherry | Transplant outdoors | Apr 15 – May 2 | Last chance - ends May 2 |
| New Zealand Spinach | Transplant outdoors | Apr 15 – May 2 | Last chance - ends May 2 |
| Peanut | Transplant outdoors | Apr 15 – May 2 | Last chance - ends May 2 |
| Pumpkin | Transplant outdoors | Apr 15 – May 2 | Last chance - ends May 2 |
| Rosemary | Transplant outdoors | Apr 15 – May 2 | Last chance - ends May 2 |
| Shiso (Perilla) | Transplant outdoors | Apr 15 – May 2 | Last chance - ends May 2 |
| Summer Savory | Transplant outdoors | Apr 15 – May 2 | Last chance - ends May 2 |
| Sunflower | Transplant outdoors | Apr 15 – May 2 | Last chance - ends May 2 |
| Sweet Marjoram | Transplant outdoors | Apr 15 – May 2 | Last chance - ends May 2 |
| Tomatillo | Transplant outdoors | Apr 15 – May 2 | Last chance - ends May 2 |
| Tomato | Transplant outdoors | Apr 15 – May 2 | Last chance - ends May 2 |
| Winter Squash | Transplant outdoors | Apr 15 – May 2 | Last chance - ends May 2 |
| Zucchini / Summer Squash | Transplant outdoors | Apr 15 – May 2 | Last chance - ends May 2 |
| Amaranth (Leaf) | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 17 – May 6 | Last chance - ends May 6 |
| Bush Bean | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 17 – May 6 | Last chance - ends May 6 |
| Edamame (Soybean) | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 17 – May 6 | Last chance - ends May 6 |
| New Zealand Spinach | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 17 – May 6 | Last chance - ends May 6 |
| Pole Bean | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 17 – May 6 | Last chance - ends May 6 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 17 – May 6 | Last chance - ends May 6 |
| Shiso (Perilla) | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 17 – May 6 | Last chance - ends May 6 |
| Summer Savory | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 17 – May 6 | Last chance - ends May 6 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 17 – May 6 | Last chance - ends May 6 |
| Sweet Marjoram | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 17 – May 6 | Last chance - ends May 6 |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 17 – May 6 | Last chance - ends May 6 |
| Zucchini / Summer Squash | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 17 – May 6 | Last chance - ends May 6 |
| Basil | Transplant outdoors | Apr 22 – May 9 | Last chance - ends May 9 |
| Bell Pepper | Transplant outdoors | Apr 22 – May 9 | Last chance - ends May 9 |
| Bitter Melon | Transplant outdoors | Apr 22 – May 9 | Last chance - ends May 9 |
| Cantaloupe / Muskmelon | Transplant outdoors | Apr 22 – May 9 | Last chance - ends May 9 |
| Chili Pepper | Transplant outdoors | Apr 22 – May 9 | Last chance - ends May 9 |
| Cucamelon | Transplant outdoors | Apr 22 – May 9 | Last chance - ends May 9 |
| Cucumber | Transplant outdoors | Apr 22 – May 9 | Last chance - ends May 9 |
| Luffa (Loofah Gourd) | Transplant outdoors | Apr 22 – May 9 | Last chance - ends May 9 |
| Malabar Spinach | Transplant outdoors | Apr 22 – May 9 | Last chance - ends May 9 |
| Okra | Transplant outdoors | Apr 22 – May 9 | Last chance - ends May 9 |
| Watermelon | Transplant outdoors | Apr 22 – May 9 | Last chance - ends May 9 |
| Basil | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 24 – May 13 | Last chance - ends May 13 |
| Bitter Melon | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 24 – May 13 | Last chance - ends May 13 |
| Cantaloupe / Muskmelon | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 24 – May 13 | Last chance - ends May 13 |
| Chayote | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 24 – May 13 | Last chance - ends May 13 |
| Cucamelon | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 24 – May 13 | Last chance - ends May 13 |
| Cucumber | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 24 – May 13 | Last chance - ends May 13 |
| Lima Bean | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 24 – May 13 | Last chance - ends May 13 |
| Luffa (Loofah Gourd) | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 24 – May 13 | Last chance - ends May 13 |
| Malabar Spinach | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 24 – May 13 | Last chance - ends May 13 |
| Okra | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 24 – May 13 | Last chance - ends May 13 |
| Peanut | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 24 – May 13 | Last chance - ends May 13 |
| Southern Pea (Cowpea) | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 24 – May 13 | Last chance - ends May 13 |
| Watermelon | Direct sow (spring) | Apr 24 – May 13 | Last chance - ends May 13 |
| Eggplant | Transplant outdoors | Apr 29 – May 16 | Last chance - ends May 16 |
| Ginger | Transplant outdoors | Apr 29 – May 16 | Last chance - ends May 16 |
| Sweet Potato | Transplant outdoors | Apr 29 – May 16 | Last chance - ends May 16 |
| Turmeric | Transplant outdoors | Apr 29 – May 16 | Last chance - ends May 16 |
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 6
- With the average last frost on April 15, 36 crops can go in outdoors this month, including ground cherry, new zealand spinach, peanut, pumpkin.
- 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 6 in May?
58 crops have a window in May: ground cherry, new zealand spinach, peanut, pumpkin, rosemary, shiso (perilla), summer savory, sunflower, sweet marjoram, tomatillo and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.
When are the last and first frost in zone 6?
The typical last spring frost is around Apr 15 and the first fall frost around Oct 15. 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 6 in May?
From plantings made on time: tatsoi, mizuna, mustard greens, mache (corn salad), lettuce, turnip, rapini (broccoli raab), chervil, pea, bok choy / pak choi.
May in states with land in zone 6
Zone 6 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.