Wondering what you can still plant in May to get a great harvest? I’m sure the weather is really starting to warm up for those of you who are living in zones 9 & 10, so it’s the perfect time to start planting! Here’s my list of what to plant in May for a great summer harvest!
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What is my Garden Zone?
This post will be specific to garden zones 9 & 10. If you aren’t in one of these zones you can check out our posts on zones 3 & 4, zones 5 & 6, or zones 7 & 8
If you aren’t sure what your garden zone is you can follow this link to find out!
What to Plant in May
Now if you are in zones 9 or 10 the weather should be warm and gardening season should be in full swing! You can still get the following crops started outdoors in May for a great summer harvest:
Nightshade Plants
Tomatoes
You can still get tomatoes started in your garden in May in zones 9 & 10. Tomatoes seem to be everyone’s favorite garden crop and I understand why! Garden grown tomatoes are delicious! I highly recommend that you invest in some good quality tomato cages. They are definitely worth the extra money and will help support your plants for years!
Potatoes
We grow our potatoes using the hilling method and we have had a lot of success with it! Potatoes usually take a long time to germinate, so make sure you get them in the ground as soon as you can.
You could also consider spacing out when you plant your potatoes. Consider starting some potatoes at the beginning of the month and some closer to the end of the month, so that your harvest is spaced out through the late summer and fall!
Eggplant
Eggplant is another great crop on this what to plant in May list. Now is the time to get eggplant started in your garden!
Peppers
We love growing our own peppers in our garden! Peppers can be ruined by temperatures over 90 degrees which may be a concern for some of you as the year progresses.
If you’re worried about the heat ruining your peppers you can consider using some shade cloth to protect your plants! You can learn more here: Growing Your Peppers Under Shade Cloth
Winter Squash & Summer Squash
You can start both summer and winter squash in May. Squash doesn’t transplant well, so I recommend just starting it by seed. Consider trying a new variety of squash this year! Here are some options you could consider:
- Zucchini
- Crookneck Squash
- Pattypan (also known as Scallop)
Winter Squash
- Pumpkins
- Butternut squash
- Spaghetti squash
- Banana squash
Melons
There are so many different types of melons that you can get started in May, including watermelon, cantaloupe, and Crenshaw melons. Consider trying a variety that you haven’t before this year!
Celery
You can actually still get celery started in May in zones 9 & 10! You should get celery planted in your garden soon!
Beans
Garden-grown beans taste amazing! You can plant bush or pole beans in May, just make sure you plant them in a sunny spot! Beans need at least 8 hours of sun, but do better if they get even more than that!
Sweet Potatoes
Initially, we weren’t huge sweet potato fans, but we’ve grown to love them over the years. May is a good time to get sweet potatoes started in zones 9 & 10.
Corn
One of my favorite crops on this list of what to plant in May is corn. We love fresh corn! You can start corn in May for a full harvest in a few months! We use the hill method to save space in our garden for other crops and we love it! You can learn more about this method here: Growing Corn Using the Hill Method
Hopefully, you were able to get some good ideas for what you can plant in May! Remember that this post is specifically for zones 9 & 10! Enjoy the warm weather and happy gardening!
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