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What to Plant in May — USDA Zone 3a

Here's everything you can start, transplant, sow, and harvest in May in USDA Zone 3a. This zone has an average last spring frost around May 15 and first fall frost around September 15, with a growing season of approximately 123 days.

There are 161 planting activities for May in Zone 3a.

Zone 3a Short season
123 days
❄
Last Spring Frost May 15
➔ 123 growing days ➔
❄
First Fall Frost September 15

Where Is Zone 3a?

AL — Zone 7b AL AR — Zone 7b AR AZ — Zone 8a AZ CA — Zone 9a CA CO — Zone 5a CO CT — Zone 6b CT DE — Zone 7a DE FL — Zone 9a FL GA — Zone 7b GA IA — Zone 5a IA ID — Zone 5b ID IL — Zone 5b IL IN — Zone 6a IN KS — Zone 6a KS KY — Zone 6b KY LA — Zone 8b LA MA — Zone 6a MA MD — Zone 7a MD ME — Zone 4b ME MI — Zone 5b MI MN — Zone 4a MN MO — Zone 6a MO MS — Zone 8a MS MT — Zone 4b MT NC — Zone 7a NC ND — Zone 3b ND NE — Zone 5a NE NH — Zone 5a NH NJ — Zone 7a NJ NM — Zone 6b NM NV — Zone 6b NV NY — Zone 5b NY OH — Zone 6a OH OK — Zone 7a OK OR — Zone 7a OR PA — Zone 6a PA RI — Zone 6b RI SC — Zone 8a SC SD — Zone 4a SD TN — Zone 7a TN TX — Zone 8a TX UT — Zone 5b UT VA — Zone 7a VA VT — Zone 4b VT WA — Zone 7a WA WI — Zone 4b WI WV — Zone 6a WV WY — Zone 4a WY AK — Zone 2a AK HI — Zone 11a HI
Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Transplant Outdoors in May

Plant Type Date Range Days to Maturity
Angelica Herb 365–730 days
Arugula Vegetable 30–50 days
Asparagus Vegetable 730–1095 days
Bee Balm Herb 90–120 days
Belgian Endive Vegetable 110–150 days
Bok Choy Vegetable 40–60 days
Borage Herb 50–60 days
Broccoli Vegetable 60–90 days
Broccoli Rabe Vegetable 40–60 days
Brussels Sprouts Vegetable 90–130 days
Cabbage Vegetable 60–100 days
Caraway Herb 365–450 days
Catnip Herb 60–80 days
Cauliflower Vegetable 55–100 days
Celeriac Vegetable 100–120 days
Celery Vegetable 80–120 days
Celtuce Vegetable 60–90 days
Chamomile Herb 60–90 days
Chard Vegetable 50–60 days
Chervil Herb 40–60 days
Chickpeas Vegetable 80–110 days
Chicory Vegetable 60–85 days
Chinese Cabbage Vegetable 50–70 days
Chives Herb 60–90 days
Cilantro Herb 40–60 days
Collard Greens Vegetable 55–75 days
Comfrey Herb 60–90 days
Cress Vegetable 14–21 days
Dill Herb 40–60 days
Echinacea Herb 120–180 days
Endive Vegetable 45–65 days
Escarole Vegetable 50–70 days
Fava Beans Vegetable 75–100 days
Garlic Chives Herb 60–90 days
Horehound Herb 75–90 days
Horseradish Vegetable 120–180 days
Hyssop Herb 70–90 days
Kai Lan Vegetable 45–60 days
Kale Vegetable 50–70 days
Kohlrabi Vegetable 45–65 days
Komatsuna Vegetable 35–50 days
Leeks Vegetable 90–150 days
Lemon Balm Herb 60–70 days
Lentils Vegetable 80–110 days
Lettuce Vegetable 30–60 days
Lovage Herb 70–90 days
Mache Vegetable 40–60 days
Microgreens Vegetable 7–21 days
Mint Herb 60–90 days
Mizuna Vegetable 30–45 days
Mustard Greens Vegetable 30–50 days
Napa Cabbage Vegetable 55–75 days
Onion Vegetable 90–120 days
Pac Choi Vegetable 40–55 days
Parsley Herb 60–80 days
Peas Vegetable 55–70 days
Purslane Vegetable 40–60 days
Romanesco Vegetable 75–100 days
Savoy Cabbage Vegetable 70–110 days
Scallions Vegetable 50–70 days
Snow Peas Vegetable 50–65 days
Sorrel Herb 40–60 days
Spinach Vegetable 35–50 days
Sunchoke Vegetable 110–150 days
Tatsoi Vegetable 35–50 days
Valerian Herb 120–180 days
Watercress Vegetable 40–60 days
Yarrow Herb 90–120 days

Direct Sow in May

Plant Type Date Range Days to Maturity
Acorn Squash Vegetable 80–100 days
Amaranth Vegetable 90–120 days
Angelica Herb 365–730 days
Arugula Vegetable 30–50 days
Beets Vegetable 50–70 days
Belgian Endive Vegetable 110–150 days
Black Beans Vegetable 90–120 days
Bok Choy Vegetable 40–60 days
Borage Herb 50–60 days
Broccoli Vegetable 60–90 days
Broccoli Rabe Vegetable 40–60 days
Brussels Sprouts Vegetable 90–130 days
Butternut Squash Vegetable 85–110 days
Cabbage Vegetable 60–100 days
Caraway Herb 365–450 days
Carrots Vegetable 60–80 days
Cauliflower Vegetable 55–100 days
Celeriac Vegetable 100–120 days
Celery Vegetable 80–120 days
Celtuce Vegetable 60–90 days
Chamomile Herb 60–90 days
Chard Vegetable 50–60 days
Chervil Herb 40–60 days
Chickpeas Vegetable 80–110 days
Chicory Vegetable 60–85 days
Chinese Cabbage Vegetable 50–70 days
Cilantro Herb 40–60 days
Collard Greens Vegetable 55–75 days
Corn Vegetable 60–100 days
Cress Vegetable 14–21 days
Crookneck Squash Vegetable 45–60 days
Cucumber Vegetable 50–70 days
Daikon Vegetable 50–70 days
Delicata Squash Vegetable 80–100 days
Dill Herb 40–60 days
Edamame Vegetable 75–100 days
Endive Vegetable 45–65 days
Escarole Vegetable 50–70 days
Fava Beans Vegetable 75–100 days
Green Beans Vegetable 50–65 days
Hubbard Squash Vegetable 100–120 days
Kabocha Vegetable 85–100 days
Kai Lan Vegetable 45–60 days
Kale Vegetable 50–70 days
Kidney Beans Vegetable 85–110 days
Kohlrabi Vegetable 45–65 days
Komatsuna Vegetable 35–50 days
Leeks Vegetable 90–150 days
Lentils Vegetable 80–110 days
Lettuce Vegetable 30–60 days
Lima Beans Vegetable 60–90 days
Mache Vegetable 40–60 days
Microgreens Vegetable 7–21 days
Mizuna Vegetable 30–45 days
Mustard Greens Vegetable 30–50 days
Napa Cabbage Vegetable 55–75 days
Onion Vegetable 90–120 days
Pac Choi Vegetable 40–55 days
Parsley Herb 60–80 days
Parsnip Vegetable 100–130 days
Patty Pan Squash Vegetable 45–60 days
Peas Vegetable 55–70 days
Peppers Vegetable 60–90 days
Pole Beans Vegetable 55–70 days
Potatoes Vegetable 70–120 days
Pumpkin Vegetable 85–120 days
Purslane Vegetable 40–60 days
Radish Vegetable 22–35 days
Romanesco Vegetable 75–100 days
Rutabaga Vegetable 80–100 days
Salsify Vegetable 100–130 days
Savoy Cabbage Vegetable 70–110 days
Scallions Vegetable 50–70 days
Scarlet Runner Beans Vegetable 60–80 days
Shiso Vegetable 50–70 days
Snap Peas Vegetable 55–70 days
Snow Peas Vegetable 50–65 days
Sorrel Herb 40–60 days
Soybeans Vegetable 80–120 days
Spaghetti Squash Vegetable 85–100 days
Spinach Vegetable 35–50 days
Squash (Summer) Vegetable 45–65 days
Squash (Winter) Vegetable 80–120 days
Sunflower Vegetable 70–100 days
Sweet Corn Vegetable 60–90 days
Tatsoi Vegetable 35–50 days
Tomatoes Vegetable 60–85 days
Turnip Vegetable 40–60 days
Watercress Vegetable 40–60 days
Wax Beans Vegetable 50–65 days
Zucchini Vegetable 45–60 days

Harvest in May

Plant Type Date Range Days to Maturity
Cress Vegetable 14–21 days
Microgreens Vegetable 7–21 days

Other Months for Zone 3a

May Planting by State

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals, University Cooperative Extension planting guides. Planting dates are estimates based on average frost dates — local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

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