What to Plant in May
Charleston, SC · Zone 8b
Last frost: Mar 5
Frost-free days: 265
Full summer mode — everything warm-season is in the ground and growing. Keep succession planting beans, squash, and cucumbers. Start heat-tolerant crops for midsummer harvests.
May at a Glance
Indoor
Transplant
Direct Sow
1
5
10
15
20
25
Basil
Chives
Dill
Lavender
Mint
Oregano
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Artichoke
Beans (Bush)
Beet
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Celery
Corn
Eggplant
Garlic
Kale
Leek
Melon
Okra
Onion
Peas
Potato
Pumpkin
Squash
Strawberry
Sunflower
Sweet Potato
Swiss Chard
Turnip
Watermelon
Zucchini
Start Indoors 24
Start these seeds indoors under grow lights or on a sunny windowsill.
Plant now
Chives
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
60–90 days
Lavender
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
90–120 days
Mint
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
60–90 days
Oregano
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
60–90 days
Rosemary
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
80–120 days
Sage
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
75–90 days
Thyme
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
70–90 days
Artichoke
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
85–100 days
Kale
Jan 1 – May 8
1 per sq ft
50–65 days
Leek
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
90–150 days
Onion
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
100–120 days
Strawberry
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
60–90 days
Sunflower
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Swiss Chard
Jan 1 – May 23
4 per sq ft
50–60 days
Tomato
Jan 1 – May 23
1 per sq ft
65–80 days
Growing guide
Pumpkin
Jan 24 – May 23
¼ per sq ft
85–120 days
Squash
Jan 24 – Jul 16
1 per sq ft
45–65 days
Zucchini
Jan 24 – Jul 23
1 per sq ft
45–60 days
Cucumber
Feb 22 – Jul 8
2 per sq ft
50–70 days
Growing guide
Okra
Mar 1 – Jun 23
1 per sq ft
50–65 days
Melon
Mar 9 – Jun 8
½ per sq ft
70–90 days
Watermelon
Mar 9 – Jun 8
¼ per sq ft
70–90 days
Basil
Mar 24 – Jul 8
4 per sq ft
25–35 days
Later this month
Brussels Sprouts
May 17 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
80–110 days
Transplant 31
Move these seedlings from indoors to your garden beds.
Chives
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
60–90 days
Lavender
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
90–120 days
Mint
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
60–90 days
Oregano
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
60–90 days
Parsley
Jan 1 – Jun 23
4 per sq ft
70–90 days
Rosemary
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
80–120 days
Sage
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
75–90 days
Thyme
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
70–90 days
Artichoke
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
85–100 days
Broccoli
Jan 1 – May 23
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Brussels Sprouts
Jan 1 – May 23
1 per sq ft
80–110 days
Cabbage
Jan 1 – May 23
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Cauliflower
Jan 1 – May 23
1 per sq ft
55–100 days
Celery
Jan 1 – May 23
4 per sq ft
80–120 days
Kale
Jan 1 – Jun 23
1 per sq ft
50–65 days
Leek
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
90–150 days
Onion
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
100–120 days
Strawberry
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
60–90 days
Sunflower
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Swiss Chard
Jan 1 – Jun 23
4 per sq ft
50–60 days
Pumpkin
Feb 15 – Jun 15
¼ per sq ft
85–120 days
Squash
Feb 15 – Aug 8
1 per sq ft
45–65 days
Tomato
Feb 15 – Jul 16
1 per sq ft
65–80 days
Growing guide
Zucchini
Feb 15 – Aug 16
1 per sq ft
45–60 days
Cucumber
Mar 17 – Jul 31
2 per sq ft
50–70 days
Growing guide
Eggplant
Mar 17 – Jul 8
1 per sq ft
70–90 days
Pepper
Mar 17 – Jul 8
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Growing guide
Melon
Apr 9 – Jul 8
½ per sq ft
70–90 days
Okra
Apr 9 – Jul 31
1 per sq ft
50–65 days
Watermelon
Apr 9 – Jul 8
¼ per sq ft
70–90 days
Basil
May 9 – Aug 23
4 per sq ft
25–35 days
Direct Sow 10
Plant these seeds directly into the soil outdoors.
Beet
Jan 1 – Jun 23
9 per sq ft
50–70 days
Carrot
Jan 1 – Jul 16
16 per sq ft
70–80 days
Garlic
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
180–240 days
Peas
Jan 1 – May 8
8 per sq ft
55–70 days
Potato
Jan 1 – Jul 16
1 per sq ft
70–150 days
Turnip
Jan 1 – Jun 23
9 per sq ft
30–60 days
Dill
Feb 22 – Jul 16
4 per sq ft
40–60 days
Beans (Bush)
Feb 22 – Aug 8
9 per sq ft
50–60 days
Corn
Feb 22 – Jul 8
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Sweet Potato
Feb 22 – Jun 8
1 per sq ft
90–120 days
May Gardening Tips
- Start Tomato, Cucumber, Squash indoors now to give them a head start before transplanting outside.
- Tomato, Pepper, Cucumber can be transplanted outside this month. Harden off seedlings over 5–7 days before planting out.
- Direct sow Corn, Beans (Bush), Carrot straight into the garden — no transplanting needed.
- Mulch around transplants with 2–3 inches of straw or shredded leaves to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
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