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What to Plant in May — USDA Zone 6a

Here's everything you can start, transplant, sow, and harvest in May in USDA Zone 6a. This zone has an average last spring frost around April 10 and first fall frost around October 20, with a growing season of approximately 193 days.

There are 175 planting activities for May in Zone 6a.

Zone 6a Moderate season
193 days
❄
Last Spring Frost April 10
➔ 193 growing days ➔
❄
First Fall Frost October 20

Where Is Zone 6a?

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
Acorn Squash Vegetable 80–100 days
Alpine Strawberries Fruit 90–180 days
Amaranth Vegetable 90–120 days
Aronia Fruit 730–1095 days
Asparagus Vegetable 730–1095 days
Basil Herb 50–75 days
Bee Balm Herb 90–120 days
Bitter Melon Vegetable 60–90 days
Blackberries Fruit 365–730 days
Blueberries Fruit 730–1095 days
Boysenberries Fruit 365–730 days
Butternut Squash Vegetable 85–110 days
Calabash Vegetable 80–120 days
Cantaloupe Fruit 70–90 days
Catnip Herb 60–80 days
Che Fruit Fruit 1095–1825 days
Chives Herb 60–90 days
Christmas Lima Beans Vegetable 80–100 days
Comfrey Herb 60–90 days
Cranberries Fruit 730–1095 days
Crookneck Squash Vegetable 45–60 days
Cucumber Vegetable 50–70 days
Currants Fruit 730–1095 days
Delicata Squash Vegetable 80–100 days
Echinacea Herb 120–180 days
Eggplant Vegetable 65–85 days
Elderberries Fruit 730–1095 days
Epazote Herb 45–60 days
Fennel Vegetable 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
Lavender Herb 90–200 days
Lemon Balm Herb 60–70 days
Lemon Thyme Herb 70–90 days
Lingonberries Fruit 730–1095 days
Loofah Vegetable 100–150 days
Lovage Herb 70–90 days
Luffa Vegetable 90–150 days
Marjoram Herb 60–90 days
Medlar Fruit 1095–1825 days
Melon Vegetable 70–100 days
Mint Herb 60–90 days
Mulberries Fruit 730–1825 days
New Zealand Spinach Vegetable 55–70 days
Okra Vegetable 50–65 days
Oregano Herb 60–90 days
Patty Pan Squash Vegetable 45–60 days
Pawpaw Fruit 1095–2555 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
Quince Fruit 1095–1825 days
Raspberries Fruit 365–730 days
Rhubarb Vegetable 365–730 days
Rue Herb 70–90 days
Sage Herb 75–90 days
Savory Herb 50–70 days
Scarlet Runner Beans Vegetable 60–80 days
Serviceberries Fruit 730–1095 days
Shiso Vegetable 50–70 days
Snap Peas Vegetable 55–70 days
Spaghetti Squash Vegetable 85–100 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
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
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 Date Range Days to Maturity
Acorn Squash Vegetable 80–100 days
Amaranth Vegetable 90–120 days
Basil Herb 50–75 days
Bitter Melon Vegetable 60–90 days
Black Beans Vegetable 90–120 days
Butternut Squash Vegetable 85–110 days
Calabash Vegetable 80–120 days
Christmas Lima Beans Vegetable 80–100 days
Corn Vegetable 60–100 days
Cowpeas Vegetable 60–90 days
Crookneck Squash Vegetable 45–60 days
Cucumber Vegetable 50–70 days
Delicata Squash Vegetable 80–100 days
Edamame Vegetable 75–100 days
Eggplant Vegetable 65–85 days
Epazote Herb 45–60 days
Fennel Vegetable 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
Kidney Beans Vegetable 85–110 days
Lima Beans Vegetable 60–90 days
Loofah Vegetable 100–150 days
Luffa Vegetable 90–150 days
Melon Vegetable 70–100 days
New Zealand Spinach Vegetable 55–70 days
Okra Vegetable 50–65 days
Patty Pan Squash Vegetable 45–60 days
Peppers Vegetable 60–90 days
Pole Beans Vegetable 55–70 days
Potatoes Vegetable 70–120 days
Pumpkin Vegetable 85–120 days
Scarlet Runner Beans Vegetable 60–80 days
Shiso Vegetable 50–70 days
Snap Peas Vegetable 55–70 days
Soybeans Vegetable 80–120 days
Spaghetti Squash Vegetable 85–100 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
Thai Basil Herb 50–75 days
Tomatillo Vegetable 60–85 days
Tomatoes Vegetable 60–85 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 Date Range Days to Maturity
Arugula Vegetable 30–50 days
Beets Vegetable 50–70 days
Bok Choy Vegetable 40–60 days
Borage Herb 50–60 days
Broccoli Rabe Vegetable 40–60 days
Carrots Vegetable 60–80 days
Chervil Herb 40–60 days
Cilantro Herb 40–60 days
Cress Vegetable 14–21 days
Daikon Vegetable 50–70 days
Dill Herb 40–60 days
Endive Vegetable 45–65 days
Kai Lan Vegetable 45–60 days
Kohlrabi Vegetable 45–65 days
Komatsuna Vegetable 35–50 days
Lettuce Vegetable 30–60 days
Mache Vegetable 40–60 days
Microgreens Vegetable 7–21 days
Mitsuba Vegetable 50–70 days
Mizuna Vegetable 30–45 days
Mustard Greens Vegetable 30–50 days
Pac Choi Vegetable 40–55 days
Purslane Vegetable 40–60 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
Watercress Vegetable 40–60 days

Other Months for Zone 6a

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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