Best vegetable to plant in may
What Vegetables to Plant in May — 9 Best Choices!
What Vegetables to Plant in May?
Growing your own vegetables can be fun, frustrating, or a combination of the two.
How productive your vegetable patch is will depend on how thoroughly you planned your growing strategy.
In nearly all areas, May is a month of warmer soil temperatures (with temperatures over 70 degrees Fahrenheit).
That’s the perfect temperature for seed germination.
That means there’s no need to start seed indoors, transplant seedlings, or harden off plants before transplanting them in garden soil.
Some long-season crops such as onions can take over 120 days to fully mature, and those can benefit from getting a head start from indoor seed starting.
May isn’t too late for direct sowing though.
So, what vegetables should you grow in May? Find out in the text below.
What Vegetables to Plant in May?
Vegetables that are ideal for direct sowing in May include tomatoes, corn, beans, onions, cucumbers, peppers, radishes, turnip, peas, and sweet potatoes. Cool-season crops can still be grown if adequate mulching is applied to control soil temperatures.
What Vegetables to Plant in May?
The vast majority of vegetables need consistent soil temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
When temperatures rise over 95 degrees Fahrenheit, bolting can happen, which renders your vegetables inedible.
Vegetables Best Suited to Direct Sowing in May
1. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are warm-weather crops that won’t tolerate frost.
These should only be directly planted in the ground soil a few weeks after the last expected frost date.
They need temperatures over 50 degrees Fahrenheit consistently, with the exception being for heirloom tomatoes such as the German Queen tomato that requires higher temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tomato seeds take up to 11 days to germinate, and at least 74 days before they’re ready for harvesting.
Larger beefsteak tomato varieties will benefit from being started indoors then transplanted.
For direct sowing tomato plants in May, plant baby or cherry tomatoes that are faster-growing varieties.
According to Cornell University tomatoes take 6-12 days to emerge after planting at around 75 F to 90 F.
Tomatoes can be planted in May
2. Corn
Similar to tomato seeds, corn seeds won’t germinate in soil temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
In fact, aim for no lower than 60 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure successful germination.
As corn is wind-pollinated, they grow better in blocks, rather than rows.
You’ll get better results with a block of 4 x 4 corn plants planted 6 inches apart than you would with a single row spaced 36 inches apart.
Corn is susceptible to transplant shock so these are better suited to direct sowing.
As corn is a long-season crop, mid to late May is the last chance to plant these from seed to have them ready for harvesting before the last frost date.
Corn can be planted directly into soil in May
3. & 4. Lima and Soya Beans
Beans can be grown from early Spring. However, lima beans and soya beans are the only ones suited to summer growing.
Like all other beans, lima and soya beans are fast growers. But, these types of beans need soil temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Apart from the two, all other beans do just as well with less heat.
Soya Beans and Lima beans are a perfect plant to plant in May
5. Onions
Onions are long-season crops and are considered to be one of the hardest crops to grow.
They can be grown from seeds, sets, or bulbs, but growing from seed will always grow bigger onions.
For direct sowing, onion seeds need to be planted early in May.
The type of seed you use will depend on where you’re located.
- For gardens with 10 to 12 hours of full sun, choose short-day onions.
- For gardens that get 14 hours of full sun, choose long-day onions.
- Day-neutral onions are suited to gardens with varying levels of sunlight. They’ll grow regardless of how much sunlight they get.
The more sun they receive, the bigger a bulb they’ll produce. Shorter daylight hours will mean smaller onions.
For all varieties, 90-days is the optimal growing time with soil temperatures consistently above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
For most areas, early May is ideal to plant onion seeds directly in garden soil to have them ready for harvest by September.
Plant onions in early May
6. Cucumber
The more moist and warm the soil is, the faster the seedlings will sprout.
Oftentimes, they grow as fast as a few days after seed planting.
The ideal temperature for seed germination for cucumbers is over 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cucumbers are ideal companion plants to grow with corn and tomatoes.
Cucumbers are perfect to plant in soil in May once the temperature is above 60 degrees Fahrenheit
7. Radishes
Radishes are among the fastest-growing root vegetables that are ready to harvest in just a few weeks.
Thing is, they detest scorching temperatures.
To avoid your radishes bolting, plant from seed in early May so they’re ready to harvest before the peak temperatures of summer.
Plant Radishes in early May before the summer heat and harvest them within weeks
8. Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are really long and warm-season growers.
They’re best planted at least 4 weeks after the last frost date has passed.
Some varieties need as much as 4 months of temperatures over 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The hotter the climate, the better they grow.
Planting sweet potatoes in late May will give them sufficient time to germinate, ready to make the most of the hotter summer temperatures.
Plant sweet potatoes 4 weeks after the last frost
9. Turnips
Turnips are cool-season crops that can take from 5 weeks to 2 months to mature.
They need to be harvested before the peak of summer.
In most areas, May is the last opportunity to plant turnips for them to be harvested before the height of summer temperatures.
June and July are too hot for planting turnips so if you plan on growing these, get them into your garden before the end of May.
For these veggies, the earlier you plant them, the better yield they produce.
May is the last option to plant turnips in many regions just before the summer heat
Should You Plant or Transplant Vegetables in May?
Depending on the crop you’re growing, or if you want to maximize crop production, seeds can be started indoors.
After which, you can transplant the seedlings or plants in garden soil.
In May, soil temperatures are rising and, in most areas, soil temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit can be maintained.
That’s what’s needed for most seeds to germinate.
Certain vegetables are more susceptible to transplant shock such as:
- Cucumbers
- Cantaloupe
- Beans
- Corn
- Turnip
- Peas
Direct sowing these vegetables outdoors in your garden soil or raised vegetable garden is preferable to prevent bolting.
Frequently Asked Questions About What Vegetables to Plant in May
Can cool-season vegetables be grown in the summer?
Yes, but care needs to be taken to prevent heat stress. When temperatures soar above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, cool-season vegetables don’t grow as much. The soil temperature is the most important because once that reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit, cool-season vegetables stop growing. Applying mulch can help keep soil temperatures cooler for longer, as can misting systems. Alternatively, you could grow a mixture of tall-growing vegetables such as tomatoes on trellises to provide shade over the soil to help keep soil temperatures cooler.
At ground level, dwarf varieties (baby vegetables) can benefit from the shade.
Will a mulch layer be needed for the summer?
Adding a layer of mulch over the soil you’re using for growing vegetables will have an impact. What sort of an impact will depend on the type of material you use on the soil. The main advantage of mulch for vegetables is to control the soil temperatures. Raise it too much, cool-season crops can bolt, meaning instead of producing editable produce, they start to seed and flower for next season’s growth. For most cool-season vegetables, May is the last chance to plant them.
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What To Plant in May
What to Plant in May
Finally warm temperatures are here to stay and you don’t have to worry about that frost! You may think it’s too late to grow all your favorite vegetables from seeds, but warm May temperatures have made the soil perfect for sowing seeds. Warm soil will allow for fast germination and growing plants! Good choices are summertime kitchen garden staples like squash, beans, cucumbers and melons.
Listed below are flower, vegetable and herb varieties that are great to start planting in May based on the Hardiness Zone that you live in.
Beans (Zones 3-10):
You can plant both bush and pole beans now that the soil and air are warmed up as beans should not be started indoors. Try a continual 7-10 day sowing of different varieties. This will give you an abundance of bean crops and not one large harvest with wasted crop.
Learn More: How to Grow Beans
Suggested varieties: Scarlet Runner, Kentucky Wonder, Colorful Garden Blend
Beets (Zones 3-10):
You still have time to sow beets now for a fast, yummy summer treat! To provide a continuous harvest, plant seeds in various locations with a three-week time difference.
Learn More: How to Grow Beets
Suggested Varieties: Early Wonder, Cylindra, White Albino
Cabbage (Zones 3-10):
May is the time to transplant cabbage for a summer harvest.
Cabbage plants do better when planted near herbs like dill and rosemary.
Learn More: How to Grow Cabbage
Suggested varieties: Red Acre, Golden Acre, Copenhagen Market
Carrots (Zones 3-10):
For a delicious fall crop, start carrots inside now so that they can be transplanted in mid-July. Try different colored varieties for making colorful stews and soups.
Learn More: How to Grow Carrots
Suggested varieties: Rainbow Mix, Dragon, Black Nebula
Corn (Zones 3-7):
Now that the weather is warmer and soil is above 55 degrees Fahrenheit, it is the perfect time to plant sweet corn for a delicious late summer to early fall harvest.
Learn More: How to Grow Corn
Suggested varieties: Buttergold, Incredible, Butter and Sugar
Cucumbers (Zones 3-10):
Cucumbers can be directly sowed or transplanted after three weeks. Cucumbers can take up a lot of space so be careful to pick a variety for the space you have in your garden.
Learn More: How to Grow Cucumbers
Suggest varieties: Spacemaster 80, Boston Pickling, Sumter
Eggplants (Zones 3-10):
When the soil temperature reaches 60 degrees Fahrenheit, it is time to transplant your eggplants outside.
Learn More: How to Grow Eggplant
Suggested varieties: Black Beauty, Bride
Herbs (Zones 3-10):
Anytime year-round is the perfect time to plant heat loving herbs like basil, oregano, rosemary and sage indoors or outdoors!
Learn More: How to Grow Herbs
Suggested varieties: Italian Basil, Greek Oregano, Common Rosemary, Broadleaf Sage
Melons (Zones 3-10):
Melons are a great warm-weather crop and are a staple for hot, long summer picnics and family fun!
Learn More: How to Grow Melons
Suggested varieties: Delicious 51, Banana Cantaloupe, Crenshaw
Peppers (Zones 3-10):
Fresh, crisp peppers are a garden favorite. Peppers take up little space and can produce high yields when planted close together.
May is not too late to plant as many different varieties as possible! They come small, big, hot, mild, and an array of different colors.
Learn More: How to Grow Peppers
Suggested varieties: Carolina Reaper, Rainbow Blend Bell, California Wonder, Hot and Happy Mix
Summer Squash (Zones 3-10):
Sow summer squash now in May so that you will fresh and tasty squash and zucchini for July!
Learn More: How to Grow Squash
Suggested Varieties: Early Prolific Straightneck, Scallop Blend, Garden Spineless
Tomatoes (Zones 3-10):
May is the time to transplant your tomatoes if you haven’t already. Make sure to transplant to an area that gets full sun.
Learn More: How to Grow Tomatoes
Suggested varieties: SunSugar, Rio Grande, Sweet Seedless, Red Pear
If you would like to see a detailed map and planting schedule for your state please select below:
What can be planted in the garden in May| Planting in the open ground
May begins, and along with this sunny month, the time of the gardener.
He now has a lot of work in the backyard. Potatoes are planted first, and then other vegetables. What can be planted in the garden in May?
Article content:
- White cabbage
- Onion sets
- Carrot
- Beetroot
- Radish
- Turnip
- Garlic
White cabbage
This vegetable is sown with the warm weather in May. The main thing is that the temperature of the earth reaches +8 ° С. Cabbage is best sown in a site well lit by the sun. Sandy and loamy soil is suitable for early varieties, and clay or loam soil is suitable for mid-season and late varieties.
Seeds are placed in holes (1.5-2 cm) 6-7 pieces. Next, the pits are filled up, abundantly watered with warm water and mulched. When the sprouts have two strong leaves, they should be thinned out, leaving two plants in one hole. After the appearance of the third leaf, the strongest seedling should be left.
Cabbage culture is very fond of heat and moisture.
It needs generous and frequent watering. To achieve a bountiful harvest, it is necessary to maintain soil moisture within 70%. However, it is important not to overdo it so that vascular bacteriosis does not appear on the leaves. In May, you can plant seedlings from the windowsills.
Onion sets
What to plant outdoors in May? Of course, onion sets! It is sown at an air temperature of at least +10 °C. The most comfortable conditions for bulbs are +15 °С. If it is still cold in your area, the sevok can be planted under the film.
It is better to choose a place for landing on a hill to avoid stagnant water. The site should be abundantly illuminated by the sun. It is worth making sure that the bow is not shaded by trees or other plants. Loamy or sandy loamy soil with neutral acidity (pH 6-7) is suitable for sowing. 7-14 days before planting, the ground can be dug up with humus, ash or compost to a depth of 20 cm.
Before sowing, the bulbs are soaked in warm water for 12-15 hours.
This will protect them from pests and diseases in the future. Onions are planted in a loose and moist bed. Bulbs are stuck 3-4 cm into pre-prepared furrows with an interval of 8-10 cm from each other. Watering is carried out 1-2 times a week. During fruit ripening, it is reduced to 1 time in 14 days.
Carrots
Mid-season varieties of carrots are sown at the beginning of May. Vegetables for long-term storage should be sown in the last days. The plant is not afraid of return frosts and can withstand temperatures down to -3 °C. Sowing can be started at +6 °C. For faster emergence of sprouts, seeds are sown at +10 °C.
The most favorable site for carrots becomes after such predecessors: tomato, pepper, pumpkin, potato, onion, garlic, eggplant, cauliflower or white cabbage, cucumber. The root crop can be planted next to radishes, parsley, lettuce, onions or peas. Carrots love loose soil, so you can mix it with sand before planting.
Furrows 2 cm deep are prepared for sowing.
The distance between rows is 15 cm. Seeds should fall at a distance of 1.5-2 cm from each other. Falling asleep holes, the soil should not be tamped. Before germination, the rows should be watered abundantly.
Beets
This root crop is sown in late spring. Loose, humus-enriched soil is suitable for beets. Acidity should not exceed pH 6-7. The bed can be previously dug up with humus or compost on a shovel bayonet (20-25 cm). Suitable temperature for disembarkation is +10 °С.
The area should be well lit. Beets can be sown near a tree on the south side so that the sun hits the plants for one half of the day. Suitable predecessors are white cabbage, cucumber, tomato, legumes, potatoes, garlic.
Seeds are pre-soaked in warm water to improve germination. They are germinated on a paper napkin, a rag or in a tyrsa. Before starting work, the earth is moistened. Seeds are sown at intervals of 5-10 cm in a furrow of 1.5-3 cm. After filling the holes, the surface should be compacted.
Shoots will appear in about 7 days.
Radishes
Radishes can be planted throughout the month. For this early vegetable, a sunny and wind-sheltered bed is suitable. It is sown in light fertile soil with neutral acidity (sandy, slightly acidic). A week before sowing, the bed is dug up with ash, peat or mineral fertilizers. Ideal predecessors for radishes are onions or lettuce.
The largest seeds should be selected. They can be planted both dry and after soaking. They are placed in moist soil at intervals of 3-5 cm to a depth of 1-2 cm. The row spacing is 10 cm. The seeds are sprinkled with peat on top, then the bed is compacted.
After sowing, the area planted with radishes can be covered with a black film for 10-12 days. In the morning the film is removed until the evening. At a daily temperature of +18 ° C, sprouts will appear in a week. Harvest will be ready in 21-28 days.
Turnip
Among the crops that are planted in the garden in May, there was also a turnip.
This unpretentious vegetable grows in light loamy soils with a pH of 6-7. Before planting, the area can be fertilized with humus and ash. For sowing, an air temperature of 1-3 °C is sufficient. Sprouts withstand frosts down to -3 °C, and large seedlings - up to -6 °C.
The bed should be in direct or indirect sunlight. Good predecessors for turnips are cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs and legumes.
The seeds are placed in the holes at a depth of 1-2 cm. The distance between the rows is 20-25 cm. They are sprinkled with soil on top and lightly tamped. Next, the rows are watered and mulched. Sprouts will appear in 5-6 days. After 2 weeks, turnips need to be thinned out. Now there should be a gap of 10-12 cm between the plants. In order for the root crop not to become bitter, it needs sufficient watering.
Garlic
This crop is planted at the beginning of the month. For garlic, an air temperature of 8-12 ° C is suitable. It is best to sow in loamy soil enriched with organic fertilizers.
A day before planting, it is worth digging the ground onto a shovel bayonet, removing the roots of weeds. Favorable predecessors for garlic are legumes, pumpkin, cabbage, cereals, zucchini.
Prepared rows are watered with a solution of salt and water in a ratio of 3 tbsp. spoons in a bucket. The teeth are stuck into the ground to a depth of 1-2 cm at a distance of 8-10 cm from each other. You need to water, loosen and weed the garlic until September - it is in this month that you can harvest.
What to plant in May in open ground and in a greenhouse: a list of crops for planting in the country
Under the temperature conditions of the middle zone, when there may still be severe frosts in April, seedlings are grown first in greenhouses and hotbeds. Therefore, the last month of spring is a hot time for gardeners, since it is at this time that the weather outside is quite warm and it becomes time to plant most of the plants. We tell you what to plant in May in order to get a delicious harvest in the summer.
Listed in the video 9 vegetables and flowers to plant in May
All about planting in May
Vegetables
Flowers
Seedling care
In May, cold-resistant crops can be planted in the garden. Usually they are placed in the ground in the form of seeds so that during frosts they are in the ground and do not freeze.
1. Cabbage
Early cabbage, which is planted for delicious summer salads, can be sown from 1 May. To do this, prepare holes about 2 cm deep and place 6-7 seeds in each. After that, pour water at room temperature, and mulch the soil on top - cover it with sawdust, bark of coniferous trees or something else. After the sprouts with leaves appear, the seedlings need to be thinned out: leave one of the strongest shoots.
Do not forget to water the cabbage, it loves water. The soil must be moistened by at least 70%. But it is not necessary to fill the seedlings, otherwise they may get sick.
2.
Peas Peas, which are very popular with children, can be planted throughout the month. Before planting, soak the seeds in saline, discard those that float. Put the rest in warm water, the temperature of which should not exceed 35 ° C.
Dig up the bed, remove debris and water lightly. Plant 15 swollen seeds in holes 5 cm deep at a distance of 30 cm from each other. Then fill them with soil, tamp and cover with a film, otherwise the seeds may be pecked by birds. In sunny weather, sprouts will appear in 7 days, in cloudy weather - in 14 days.
New seeds can be planted in the garden every week. Then in the summer you will receive a new crop regularly.
3. Beets
Beets can also be sown in May, provided that the soil has warmed up to 10°C. For planting, choose a well-lit place with loose and fertile soil. Place the seeds in holes 1.5-3 cm deep at a distance of 5-10 cm from each other. After that, the soil should be compacted.
The first shoots may appear within a week.
4. Spring garlic
This crop is planted in May in open ground when the temperature outside is above 8 °C. It is best to select for her a site with loamy soil, in which organic fertilizers were previously placed. Immediately before planting, the bed should be watered with brine (3 tablespoons per bucket of water). Place the garlic cloves in the 1-2 cm recesses bottom down. Wells must be 10 cm apart.
5. Turnip
This is an unpretentious crop that can be sown in May. Such turnips are suitable for eating in the summer, but not for long-term storage. Make depressions of 1-2 cm and place the seeds in them, cover with earth, water and mulch with humus. Sprouts will sprout in 5-6 days. After two weeks, they should be thinned out so that 10-12 cm remain between shoots.
6. Radishes
Radishes are best planted in a well-lit, draft-free area.
Both dry and pre-soaked seeds can be placed in the ground. It is better that the distance between the holes is at least 3 cm. After that, it is worth pouring peat and compacting the soil. If the air temperature for a long time during the day is not less than 18 ° C, then the radish will rise in 7 days.
7. Onions
Onions can be planted in late April-early May, when the air warms up to 8 °C. Before this, soak the bulbs in warm water for 12-15 hours. Loosen the soil and water in advance, then place the bulbs in 3-4 cm deep holes 8-10 cm apart.
In addition to vegetables, in the last month of spring, it is worth decorating the dacha and planting flowers. As soon as severe frosts pass, you can start planting. However, if it is still cold at night, it is better to move this matter closer to the end of spring. We tell you what flowers are planted in May.
1. Daffodils and tulips
These flowers are considered to be hardy bulbous plants and are the first to grow in the garden.
To germinate these varieties, you need to carefully consider the very first stage - planting. To do this, prepare the bulbs in advance: keep them in the refrigerator for several months. This is necessary for the plant to bloom this year.
Before planting, select damaged and soft bulbs and disinfect them in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate. You can place them in the ground when it warms up to 8-10 ° C. This temperature should be within three weeks until the bulbs take root. Plant them at a distance of 10-20 cm. Sand should be poured into the hole before this to improve the drainage qualities of the soil.
2. Marigolds
These bright annual plants are notable for their unpretentiousness. Gardeners love them because they fit any composition in the flower bed and bloom for a long time. They grow in any soil, even in very clay. Another plus of this plant is that it repels nematodes.
Marigolds can be safely sown in May: just place the seeds in the soil and water.
By July, a bright flower bed will be waiting for you.
3. Gladiolus
Before planting, the plant bulbs must be descaled and disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate, leaving for half an hour. They should be planted in a well-lit area in recesses that are equal to three bulb diameters. After that, the seedlings need to be watered.
4. Dahlia
Varieties of annual dahlias can be planted outdoors in late spring and early summer: this applies to both tubers and seedlings, if you prepared it in advance. For landing, you need to choose a lighted place. It is necessary to remove dry roots from the tubers, then treat the places of cuts with brilliant green. The recesses for them should be three times the diameter. Be sure to water the area thoroughly after planting.
5. Viola
Viola (or pansies) can be sown in the ground at the beginning of May, but it must be covered with foil until warm air temperature is established.
Seedlings can be planted at a distance of 10-15 cm in a sunny place. They need to be aired regularly and watered as soon as the soil dries.
6. Cornflower
Unpretentious beautiful field plant, the color range of which is not limited to blue. There are varieties with pink, white and blue inflorescences. They will decorate the flower bed of any garden. To plant them in your area, sow them in warm soil and water. After that, you can forget about care, as cornflowers reproduce on their own. At the same time, it’s not scary if you water them infrequently: the plants perfectly tolerate even very dry summers.
Heat-loving plants should be placed in open ground early: they are usually planted in April-May for seedlings. These include cauliflower, melon, watermelon, early varieties of squash, and cucumbers. At this time, it is important to accustom the seedlings to cooler conditions than in the greenhouse. Therefore, to harden, take them out to fresh air.
