What to Plant in May — USDA Zone 5a

Here's everything you can start, transplant, sow, and harvest in May in USDA Zone 5a. This zone has an average last spring frost around April 25 and first fall frost around October 8, with a growing season of approximately 166 days.

There are 281 planting activities for May in Zone 5a.

Zone 5a Moderate season

166 days

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Last Spring Frost April 25

➔ 166 growing days ➔

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First Fall Frost October 8

Transplant Outdoors in May

Plant	Type	Days to Maturity
Acorn Squash	Vegetable	80–100 days
Alpine Strawberries	Fruit	90–180 days
Amaranth	Vegetable	90–120 days
Angelica	Herb	365–730 days
Anise	Herb	90–120 days
Aronia	Fruit	730–1095 days
Arugula	Vegetable	30–50 days
Asparagus	Vegetable	730–1095 days
Basil	Herb	50–75 days
Bee Balm	Herb	90–120 days
Belgian Endive	Vegetable	110–150 days
Bitter Melon	Vegetable	60–90 days
Blackberries	Fruit	365–730 days
Blueberries	Fruit	730–1095 days
Bok Choy	Vegetable	40–60 days
Borage	Herb	50–60 days
Boysenberries	Fruit	365–730 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
Calabash	Vegetable	80–120 days
Cantaloupe	Fruit	70–90 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
Che Fruit	Fruit	1095–1825 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
Christmas Lima Beans	Vegetable	80–100 days
Cilantro	Herb	40–60 days
Collard Greens	Vegetable	55–75 days
Comfrey	Herb	60–90 days
Cranberries	Fruit	730–1095 days
Cress	Vegetable	14–21 days
Crookneck Squash	Vegetable	45–60 days
Cucumber	Vegetable	50–70 days
Cumin	Herb	100–120 days
Currants	Fruit	730–1095 days
Delicata Squash	Vegetable	80–100 days
Dill	Herb	40–60 days
Echinacea	Herb	120–180 days
Eggplant	Vegetable	65–85 days
Elderberries	Fruit	730–1095 days
Endive	Vegetable	45–65 days
Epazote	Herb	45–60 days
Escarole	Vegetable	50–70 days
Fava Beans	Vegetable	75–100 days
Fennel	Vegetable	60–90 days
Fennel (herb)	Herb	60–90 days
Feverfew	Herb	90–120 days
Garlic Chives	Herb	60–90 days
Goji Berries	Fruit	730–1095 days
Gooseberries	Fruit	730–1095 days
Grapes	Fruit	730–1095 days
Ground Cherry	Fruit	65–80 days
Hardy Kiwi	Fruit	1095–1825 days
Haskaps	Fruit	730–1095 days
Honeydew	Fruit	80–110 days
Horehound	Herb	75–90 days
Horseradish	Vegetable	120–180 days
Hot Peppers	Vegetable	70–120 days
Hubbard Squash	Vegetable	100–120 days
Hyssop	Herb	70–90 days
Jostaberry	Fruit	730–1095 days
Kabocha	Vegetable	85–100 days
Kai Lan	Vegetable	45–60 days
Kale	Vegetable	50–70 days
Kohlrabi	Vegetable	45–65 days
Komatsuna	Vegetable	35–50 days
Lavender	Herb	90–200 days
Leeks	Vegetable	90–150 days
Lemon Balm	Herb	60–70 days
Lemon Thyme	Herb	70–90 days
Lentils	Vegetable	80–110 days
Lettuce	Vegetable	30–60 days
Lingonberries	Fruit	730–1095 days
Lovage	Herb	70–90 days
Mache	Vegetable	40–60 days
Medlar	Fruit	1095–1825 days
Melon	Vegetable	70–100 days
Microgreens	Vegetable	7–21 days
Mint	Herb	60–90 days
Mitsuba	Vegetable	50–70 days
Mizuna	Vegetable	30–45 days
Mulberries	Fruit	730–1825 days
Mustard Greens	Vegetable	30–50 days
Napa Cabbage	Vegetable	55–75 days
New Zealand Spinach	Vegetable	55–70 days
Okra	Vegetable	50–65 days
Onion	Vegetable	90–120 days
Oregano	Herb	60–90 days
Pac Choi	Vegetable	40–55 days
Parsley	Herb	60–80 days
Patty Pan Squash	Vegetable	45–60 days
Pawpaw	Fruit	1095–2555 days
Peas	Vegetable	55–70 days
Peppers	Vegetable	60–90 days
Persimmon	Fruit	1095–2555 days
Pole Beans	Vegetable	55–70 days
Potatoes	Vegetable	70–120 days
Pumpkin	Vegetable	85–120 days
Purslane	Vegetable	40–60 days
Quince	Fruit	1095–1825 days
Radicchio	Vegetable	60–80 days
Raspberries	Fruit	365–730 days
Rhubarb	Vegetable	365–730 days
Romanesco	Vegetable	75–100 days
Rue	Herb	70–90 days
Sage	Herb	75–90 days
Savory	Herb	50–70 days
Savoy Cabbage	Vegetable	70–110 days
Scallions	Vegetable	50–70 days
Scarlet Runner Beans	Vegetable	60–80 days
Serviceberries	Fruit	730–1095 days
Shallot	Vegetable	90–120 days
Shiso	Vegetable	50–70 days
Snap Peas	Vegetable	55–70 days
Snow Peas	Vegetable	50–65 days
Sorrel	Herb	40–60 days
Spaghetti Squash	Vegetable	85–100 days
Spinach	Vegetable	35–50 days
Squash (Summer)	Vegetable	45–65 days
Squash (Winter)	Vegetable	80–120 days
Strawberries	Fruit	90–365 days
Sunchoke	Vegetable	110–150 days
Sunflower	Vegetable	70–100 days
Sweet Potatoes	Vegetable	90–120 days
Tarragon	Herb	60–90 days
Tatsoi	Vegetable	35–50 days
Thai Basil	Herb	50–75 days
Thyme	Herb	70–90 days
Tomatillo	Vegetable	60–85 days
Tomatoes	Vegetable	60–85 days
Valerian	Herb	120–180 days
Watercress	Vegetable	40–60 days
Watermelon	Vegetable	70–100 days
Winter Melon	Vegetable	90–120 days
Yard Long Beans	Vegetable	55–80 days
Yarrow	Herb	90–120 days
Zucchini	Vegetable	45–60 days

Direct Sow in May

Plant	Type	Days to Maturity
Acorn Squash	Vegetable	80–100 days
Amaranth	Vegetable	90–120 days
Angelica	Herb	365–730 days
Anise	Herb	90–120 days
Arugula	Vegetable	30–50 days
Basil	Herb	50–75 days
Beets	Vegetable	50–70 days
Belgian Endive	Vegetable	110–150 days
Bitter Melon	Vegetable	60–90 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
Calabash	Vegetable	80–120 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
Christmas Lima Beans	Vegetable	80–100 days
Cilantro	Herb	40–60 days
Collard Greens	Vegetable	55–75 days
Corn	Vegetable	60–100 days
Cowpeas	Vegetable	60–90 days
Cress	Vegetable	14–21 days
Crookneck Squash	Vegetable	45–60 days
Crosne	Vegetable	150–200 days
Cucumber	Vegetable	50–70 days
Cumin	Herb	100–120 days
Daikon	Vegetable	50–70 days
Delicata Squash	Vegetable	80–100 days
Dill	Herb	40–60 days
Edamame	Vegetable	75–100 days
Eggplant	Vegetable	65–85 days
Endive	Vegetable	45–65 days
Epazote	Herb	45–60 days
Escarole	Vegetable	50–70 days
Fava Beans	Vegetable	75–100 days
Fennel	Vegetable	60–90 days
Fennel (herb)	Herb	60–90 days
Green Beans	Vegetable	50–65 days
Hot Peppers	Vegetable	70–120 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
Melon	Vegetable	70–100 days
Microgreens	Vegetable	7–21 days
Mitsuba	Vegetable	50–70 days
Mizuna	Vegetable	30–45 days
Mustard Greens	Vegetable	30–50 days
Napa Cabbage	Vegetable	55–75 days
New Zealand Spinach	Vegetable	55–70 days
Okra	Vegetable	50–65 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
Radicchio	Vegetable	60–80 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
Shallot	Vegetable	90–120 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
Sweet Potatoes	Vegetable	90–120 days
Tatsoi	Vegetable	35–50 days
Thai Basil	Herb	50–75 days
Tomatillo	Vegetable	60–85 days
Tomatoes	Vegetable	60–85 days
Turnip	Vegetable	40–60 days
Watercress	Vegetable	40–60 days
Watermelon	Vegetable	70–100 days
Wax Beans	Vegetable	50–65 days
Winter Melon	Vegetable	90–120 days
Yard Long Beans	Vegetable	55–80 days
Zucchini	Vegetable	45–60 days

Harvest in May

Plant	Type	Days to Maturity
Arugula	Vegetable	30–50 days
Chervil	Herb	40–60 days
Cilantro	Herb	40–60 days
Cress	Vegetable	14–21 days
Dill	Herb	40–60 days
Komatsuna	Vegetable	35–50 days
Lettuce	Vegetable	30–60 days
Microgreens	Vegetable	7–21 days
Mizuna	Vegetable	30–45 days
Mustard Greens	Vegetable	30–50 days
Radish	Vegetable	22–35 days
Sorrel	Herb	40–60 days
Spinach	Vegetable	35–50 days
Tatsoi	Vegetable	35–50 days
Turnip	Vegetable	40–60 days

Plant varieties + growing data

Household-consumption benchmarks

Frost dates

Precipitation + climate normals

Soil survey + temperature data

Drought monitoring

Pest + disease pressure

Local extension offices

Daylight hours + sun data

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