What to Plant in May
San Jose, CA · Zone 9b
Last frost: Feb 10
Frost-free days: 303
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
Okra
Onion
Peas
Potato
Pumpkin
Radish
Spinach
Squash
Strawberry
Sunflower
Sweet Potato
Swiss Chard
Turnip
Zucchini
Start Indoors 27
Start these seeds indoors under grow lights or on a sunny windowsill.
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 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Brussels Sprouts
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
80–110 days
Cabbage
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Cauliflower
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
55–100 days
Celery
Jan 1 – Dec 31
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 15
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
Swiss Chard
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
50–60 days
Sunflower
Feb 1 – Jun 15
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Tomato
Feb 22 – May 23
1 per sq ft
65–80 days
Growing guide
Pumpkin
Mar 24 – May 8
¼ per sq ft
85–120 days
Squash
Mar 24 – Jul 16
1 per sq ft
45–65 days
Zucchini
Mar 24 – Jul 16
1 per sq ft
45–60 days
Cucumber
May 1 – Jun 30
2 per sq ft
50–70 days
Growing guide
Okra
May 9–31
1 per sq ft
50–65 days
Transplant 29
Move these seedlings from indoors to your garden beds.
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 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Brussels Sprouts
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
80–110 days
Cabbage
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Cauliflower
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
55–100 days
Celery
Jan 1 – Dec 31
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 – Jul 16
4 per sq ft
45–60 days
Onion
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
100–120 days
Spinach
Jan 1 – May 31
9 per sq ft
35–50 days
Strawberry
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
60–90 days
Swiss Chard
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
50–60 days
Sunflower
Feb 22 – Jul 8
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Pumpkin
Apr 16 – May 31
¼ per sq ft
85–120 days
Squash
Apr 16 – Aug 8
1 per sq ft
45–65 days
Tomato
Apr 16 – Jul 16
1 per sq ft
65–80 days
Growing guide
Zucchini
Apr 16 – Aug 8
1 per sq ft
45–60 days
Later this month
Cucumber
May 24 – Jul 23
2 per sq ft
50–70 days
Growing guide
Eggplant
May 24 – Jun 23
1 per sq ft
70–90 days
Pepper
May 24 – Jun 30
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Growing guide
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 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
50–70 days
Carrot
Jan 1 – Dec 31
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 – Aug 16
1 per sq ft
70–150 days
Radish
Jan 1 – Jul 16
16 per sq ft
22–30 days
Turnip
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
30–60 days
Sweet Potato
Mar 24 – May 23
1 per sq ft
90–120 days
Dill
Apr 1 – Aug 31
4 per sq ft
40–60 days
Beans (Bush)
Apr 1 – Jul 31
9 per sq ft
50–60 days
Corn
Apr 1 – Jul 8
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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