What to Plant in May
Los Angeles, CA · Zone 10b
Last frost: Jan 15
Frost-free days: 350
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
Chives
Cilantro
Dill
Lavender
Mint
Oregano
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Artichoke
Beans (Bush)
Beet
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Celery
Corn
Eggplant
Garlic
Kale
Leek
Lettuce
Melon
Okra
Onion
Peas
Potato
Pumpkin
Radish
Spinach
Squash
Strawberry
Sunflower
Sweet Potato
Swiss Chard
Turnip
Watermelon
Zucchini
Start Indoors 29
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
Parsley
Jan 1 – Dec 31
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 31
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Cabbage
Jan 1 – May 31
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Cauliflower
Jan 1 – May 31
1 per sq ft
55–100 days
Kale
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
50–65 days
Leek
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
90–150 days
Lettuce
Jan 1 – May 23
4 per sq ft
45–60 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 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
50–60 days
Tomato
Jan 17 – May 31
1 per sq ft
65–80 days
Growing guide
Pumpkin
Feb 15 – May 23
¼ per sq ft
85–120 days
Squash
Feb 15 – Jul 23
1 per sq ft
45–65 days
Zucchini
Feb 15 – Jul 23
1 per sq ft
45–60 days
Cucumber
Apr 1 – Jul 8
2 per sq ft
50–70 days
Growing guide
Okra
Apr 24 – Jun 15
1 per sq ft
50–65 days
Brussels Sprouts
May 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
80–110 days
Melon
May 1–23
½ per sq ft
70–90 days
Watermelon
May 1–23
¼ per sq ft
70–90 days
Later this month
Celery
May 24 – Jun 8
4 per sq ft
80–120 days
Transplant 29
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 – Dec 31
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 – Jul 23
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Brussels Sprouts
Jan 1 – Jul 23
1 per sq ft
80–110 days
Cabbage
Jan 1 – Jul 23
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Cauliflower
Jan 1 – Jul 23
1 per sq ft
55–100 days
Celery
Jan 1 – Jul 23
4 per sq ft
80–120 days
Kale
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
50–65 days
Leek
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
90–150 days
Lettuce
Jan 1 – Jun 23
4 per sq ft
45–60 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 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
50–60 days
Pumpkin
Mar 9 – Jun 15
¼ per sq ft
85–120 days
Squash
Mar 9 – Aug 16
1 per sq ft
45–65 days
Tomato
Mar 9 – Jul 23
1 per sq ft
65–80 days
Growing guide
Zucchini
Mar 9 – Aug 16
1 per sq ft
45–60 days
Cucumber
Apr 24 – Jul 31
2 per sq ft
50–70 days
Growing guide
Eggplant
Apr 24 – Jun 30
1 per sq ft
70–90 days
Pepper
Apr 24 – Jul 8
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Growing guide
Spinach
May 1–31
9 per sq ft
35–50 days
Direct Sow 12
Plant these seeds directly into the soil outdoors.
Cilantro
Jan 1 – Jun 15
9 per sq ft
30–45 days
Beet
Jan 1 – Jul 16
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 31
8 per sq ft
55–70 days
Potato
Jan 1 – Jul 16
1 per sq ft
70–150 days
Radish
Jan 1 – Jun 23
16 per sq ft
22–30 days
Turnip
Jan 1 – Jul 16
9 per sq ft
30–60 days
Sweet Potato
Feb 8 – Jun 15
1 per sq ft
90–120 days
Dill
Mar 9 – Jul 16
4 per sq ft
40–60 days
Beans (Bush)
Mar 9 – Aug 16
9 per sq ft
50–60 days
Corn
Mar 9 – Jul 16
1 per sq ft
60–100 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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