May Isn't Too Late To Start Your Garden: Here's What You Should Plant

Spring technically started months ago, but in many areas of the country, it's not until May that warm weather really kicks into high gear. Many avid gardeners will already be well into spring garden prepping by this time; in regions that are warm enough, crops are already in the ground. But even if you don't have a single seed on hand, May isn't too late to get started.

Soil temperatures in May are warm enough to create ideal germination conditions for many seeds. Which seeds you can plant at this time depends on the which USDA growing zone you are in. The zones are based on average local temperatures and range from 1 to 13 with 13 being the hottest, but the mainland US only ranges from zone 3 to 10.

Generally, in these zones, May is a great time to plant beans, beets, melons, and summer squash from seed. You can also often sow kale and chard in May, as these plants are hardy enough to withstand summer heat and last through to winter. In cooler zones, May is also the right time to start certain seeds indoors that will be transplanted outdoors later in the spring or in the summer. Not every plant is suitable for May planting, of course. But in short, no matter where you live, there's still a way to start your garden in May.

USDA zones 3 and 4, which have cooler weather, have a wealth of options for crops to sow in May. Plants that you can direct sow in the ground include beans, beets, squash, lettuce, cucumbers, spinach, carrots, and more. Spring is just getting started here, so it's crucial to time your garden after the last winter frost, which is typically sometime in May. Some seeds can go in the ground before the last frost, while others need to wait. Some seeds need to be started indoors at this time, such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, and peppers.

USDA zones 5 and 6 are similarly bountiful in May, the month to sow most warm-season crops. The last frost has likely passed, so you can sow crops directly outdoors, including beans, beets, corn, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. You can also plant quick-growing lettuce that will be ready before the summer heat, as well as squash, melons, and cucumbers. In zones 7 and 8, beans and melons can still be planted early in May. Direct sow potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, squash, and corn. Look for heat-tolerant summer crisp lettuce varieties.

In zones 9 and 10, the approaching summer heat is a bigger consideration than frost. Selection may be a bit more limited for seeds to sow in May, but you can still plant beans, squash, melons, okra, eggplants, and heat-tolerant cucumbers. Also, the growing season will start again in full swing when temperatures cool, so "too late" hardly applies in these zones! If you like, you can start with transplants in May to enjoy a quicker spring harvest.