What to Plant in May

Oklahoma City, OK · Zone 7a

Last frost: Mar 28 Frost-free days: 222

Frost is behind you and the soil is warm — this is prime planting season. Most warm-season crops can go directly into the ground now. Transplant the seedlings you started indoors.

May at a Glance

Indoor Transplant Direct Sow
1 5 10 15 20 25
Basil
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
Squash
Strawberry
Sunflower
Sweet Potato
Swiss Chard
Turnip
Watermelon
Zucchini

Start Indoors 18

Start these seeds indoors under grow lights or on a sunny windowsill.

Chives
Chives
Jan 1 – May 8
9 per sq ft 60–90 days
Mint
Mint
Jan 1 – May 16
4 per sq ft 60–90 days
Artichoke
Artichoke
Jan 1 – May 23
1 per sq ft 85–100 days
Kale
Kale
Jan 1 – May 8
1 per sq ft 50–65 days
Leek
Leek
Jan 1 – May 16
4 per sq ft 90–150 days
Onion
Onion
Jan 1 – May 23
9 per sq ft 100–120 days
Strawberry
Strawberry
Jan 1 – May 31
4 per sq ft 60–90 days
Oregano
Oregano
Jan 9 – May 16
1 per sq ft 60–90 days
Sage
Sage
Jan 9 – May 8
1 per sq ft 75–90 days
Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard
Jan 17 – May 23
4 per sq ft 50–60 days
Sunflower
Sunflower
Feb 15 – May 23
1 per sq ft 70–100 days
Squash
Squash
Mar 9 – Jun 30
1 per sq ft 45–65 days
Zucchini
Zucchini
Mar 9 – Jun 30
1 per sq ft 45–60 days
Okra
Okra
Mar 24 – May 31
1 per sq ft 50–65 days
Basil
Basil
Apr 1 – Jul 8
4 per sq ft 25–35 days
Cucumber
Cucumber
Apr 1 – Jun 23
2 per sq ft 50–70 days Growing guide
Melon
Melon
Apr 1 – May 8
½ per sq ft 70–90 days
Watermelon
Watermelon
Apr 1 – May 8
¼ per sq ft 70–90 days

Transplant 32

Move these seedlings from indoors to your garden beds.

Plant now

Chives
Chives
Feb 15 – Jul 16
9 per sq ft 60–90 days
Mint
Mint
Feb 15 – Jul 16
4 per sq ft 60–90 days
Parsley
Parsley
Feb 15 – Jun 23
4 per sq ft 70–90 days
Broccoli
Broccoli
Feb 15 – Jun 8
1 per sq ft 60–100 days
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts
Feb 15 – Jun 8
1 per sq ft 80–110 days
Cabbage
Cabbage
Feb 15 – Jun 8
1 per sq ft 70–100 days
Cauliflower
Cauliflower
Feb 15 – Jun 8
1 per sq ft 55–100 days
Kale
Kale
Feb 15 – Jun 23
1 per sq ft 50–65 days
Leek
Leek
Feb 15 – Aug 8
4 per sq ft 90–150 days
Lettuce
Lettuce
Feb 15 – May 23
4 per sq ft 45–60 days
Onion
Onion
Feb 15 – Aug 16
9 per sq ft 100–120 days
Strawberry
Strawberry
Feb 15 – Jul 16
4 per sq ft 60–90 days
Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard
Feb 15 – Jun 23
4 per sq ft 50–60 days
Lavender
Lavender
Mar 1 – May 31
1 per sq ft 90–120 days
Oregano
Oregano
Mar 1 – Jul 8
1 per sq ft 60–90 days
Rosemary
Rosemary
Mar 1 – Jun 8
1 per sq ft 80–120 days
Sage
Sage
Mar 1 – Jun 30
1 per sq ft 75–90 days
Thyme
Thyme
Mar 1 – Jun 30
4 per sq ft 70–90 days
Artichoke
Artichoke
Mar 1 – Jul 31
1 per sq ft 85–100 days
Celery
Celery
Mar 1 – Jun 8
4 per sq ft 80–120 days
Sunflower
Sunflower
Mar 9 – Jun 15
1 per sq ft 70–100 days
Pumpkin
Pumpkin
Apr 1 – May 8
¼ per sq ft 85–120 days
Squash
Squash
Apr 1 – Jul 23
1 per sq ft 45–65 days
Tomato
Tomato
Apr 1 – Jun 23
1 per sq ft 65–80 days Growing guide
Zucchini
Zucchini
Apr 1 – Jul 23
1 per sq ft 45–60 days
Cucumber
Cucumber
Apr 24 – Jul 16
2 per sq ft 50–70 days Growing guide
Eggplant
Eggplant
Apr 24 – Jun 15
1 per sq ft 70–90 days
Pepper
Pepper
Apr 24 – Jun 23
1 per sq ft 60–100 days Growing guide
Melon
Melon
May 1 – Jun 8
½ per sq ft 70–90 days
Okra
Okra
May 1 – Jul 8
1 per sq ft 50–65 days
Watermelon
Watermelon
May 1 – Jun 8
¼ per sq ft 70–90 days

Later this month

Basil
Basil
May 17 – Aug 23
4 per sq ft 25–35 days

Direct Sow 12

Plant these seeds directly into the soil outdoors.

Garlic
Garlic
Jan 1 – Sep 23
9 per sq ft 180–240 days
Cilantro
Cilantro
Feb 8 – May 23
9 per sq ft 30–45 days
Beet
Beet
Feb 8 – Jun 23
9 per sq ft 50–70 days
Peas
Peas
Feb 8 – Jun 8
8 per sq ft 55–70 days
Radish
Radish
Feb 8 – May 23
16 per sq ft 22–30 days
Turnip
Turnip
Feb 8 – Jun 23
9 per sq ft 30–60 days
Carrot
Carrot
Feb 15 – Jul 16
16 per sq ft 70–80 days
Potato
Potato
Feb 22 – Jul 16
1 per sq ft 70–150 days
Sweet Potato
Sweet Potato
Mar 24 – May 8
1 per sq ft 90–120 days
Dill
Dill
Apr 1 – Jul 16
4 per sq ft 40–60 days
Beans (Bush)
Beans (Bush)
Apr 1 – Jul 16
9 per sq ft 50–60 days
Corn
Corn
Apr 1 – Jun 23
1 per sq ft 60–100 days

May Gardening Tips

  • Start Cucumber, Squash, Zucchini 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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