What to plant in May in zone 1b
164 crops to start indoors, direct sow, or transplant in May in USDA hardiness zone 1b. Typical last spring frost around May 29, 2026, first fall frost around Aug 28, 2026 — exact dates vary by location within the zone.
Zone 1b covers a lot of ground. Enter your ZIP for May dates from your nearest weather station and a month-by-month calendar:
Start indoors
Sow these under lights or on a windowsill now for transplants later.
- Amaranth
- Amaranthus
- Armenian Cucumber
- Basil
- Black Cumin / Nigella
- Burdock
- Chamomile
- Chinese Toon
- Cucamelon
- Cucumber
- Epazote
- Feverfew
- Gourd (Angled Luffa)
- Gourd (Bitter)
- Gourd (Bottle)
- Gourd (Luffa)
- Gourd (Ornamental)
- Gourd (Turban)
- Gourd (Wax)
- Grain Amaranth
- Holy Basil
- Huauzontle
- Korean Summer Squash
- Lemon Basil
- Lime Basil
- Melon
- Melon (Pickling)
- Misome
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Orach
- Pumpkin
- Pumpkin (Maxima)
- Pumpkin (Moschata)
- Shiso
- Strawberry Spinach
- Summer Savory
- Summer Squash
- Sweet Annie
- Thai Basil
- Watermelon
- West Indian Gherkin
- Wild Arugula
- Winged Bean
- Winter Squash (Acorn)
- Winter Squash (Banana)
- Winter Squash (Buttercup)
- Winter Squash (Butternut)
- Winter Squash (Cushaw)
- Winter Squash (Delicata)
- Winter Squash (Hubbard)
- Winter Squash (Spaghetti)
Direct sow outside
Sow these straight into the garden bed this month.
- Arugula
- Asian Greens
- Beet
- Black Salsify
- Borage
- Bronze Fennel
- Caraway
- Carrot
- Catmint
- Chervil
- Cilantro
- Corn Salad
- Cress
- Daikon Radish
- Dill
- Fava Bean
- Fennel
- Leaf Radish
- Miner's Lettuce
- Mugwort
- Mustard
- New Zealand Spinach
- Parsnip
- Pea
- Peppermint
- Radish
- Red-Veined Sorrel
- Rosemary
- Rutabaga
- Salsify
- Shell Pea
- Snap Pea
- Snow Pea
- Sorrel
- Spearmint
- Spinach
- Strawberry
- Swiss Chard
- Turnip
- Watercress
Transplant outdoors
Move these hardened-off seedlings into the garden.
- Angelica
- Artichoke
- Arugula
- Bee Balm
- Bishop's Flower
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Broccoli Raab
- Brussels Sprouts
- Bunching Onion
- Burdock
- Cabbage
- Calendula
- Cardoon
- Catnip
- Cauliflower
- Celeriac
- Celery
- Celtuce / Stem Lettuce
- Chicory
- Chinese Broccoli
- Chinese Cabbage
- Chinese Celery
- Chive
- Chrysanthemum Greens
- Clasping Coneflower
- Collard
- Dandelion
- Echinacea
- Endive
- Ethiopian Kale
- Evening Primrose
- Garlic Chives
- Hamburg Parsley
- Horehound
- Huauzontle
- Hyssop
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Komatsuna Mustard
- Leek
- Lemon Balm
- Lemon Mint
- Lettuce
- Lovage
- Mibuna
- Misome
- Mizuna
- Onion
- Orach
- Parsley
- Purple Yu Choy Sum
- Radicchio
- Roman Chamomile
- Romanesco Broccoli
- Rue
- Russian Kale
- Sage
- Salad Burnet
- Shallot
- Sheep Sorrel
- Siberian Kale
- Soapwort
- Strawberry Spinach
- Sweet Woodruff
- Tansy
- Tarragon
- Tat Soi
- Thyme
- Wormwood
- Yu Choy Sum
Plant out
Set out these crops (sets, tubers, or starts) now.
Keep going
Timings use NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals for a representative location (ZIP 99745) in zone 1b, computed with the same engine as GardenDraft’s in-app schedule. Guidance, not guarantees — your exact dates depend on your address.