What to plant in May in zone 2b
257 crops to start indoors, direct sow, transplant, or harvest in May in USDA hardiness zone 2b. Typical last spring frost around May 22, 2026, first fall frost around Aug 24, 2026 — exact dates vary by location within the zone.
Want exact May dates for your address in zone 2b, a drag-and-drop bed layout, and sowing reminders? Enter your ZIP:
Or get a printable zone 2b calendar and reminders by email:
Start indoors
Sow these under lights or on a windowsill now for transplants later.
- Armenian Cucumber
- Cantaloupe Microgreens
- Cucamelon
- Cucumber
- Garbanzo Bean Sprouts
- Gourd (Angled Luffa)
- Gourd (Bitter)
- Gourd (Bottle)
- Gourd (Luffa)
- Gourd (Ornamental)
- Gourd (Turban)
- Gourd (Wax)
- Korean Summer Squash
- Love-in-a-Mist
- Melon
- Melon (Pickling)
- Mung Bean Sprouts
- Narrowleaf Zinnia
- Nasturtium
- Nasturtium Microgreens
- Okra
- Phacelia
- Pumpkin
- Pumpkin (Maxima)
- Pumpkin (Moschata)
- Summer Squash
- Watermelon
- West Indian Gherkin
- Wild Arugula
- Winter Squash (Acorn)
- Winter Squash (Banana)
- Winter Squash (Buttercup)
- Winter Squash (Butternut)
- Winter Squash (Cushaw)
- Winter Squash (Delicata)
- Winter Squash (Hubbard)
- Winter Squash (Spaghetti)
- Zinnia
Direct sow outside
Sow these straight into the garden bed this month.
- Alfalfa
- Asian Greens
- Beet Microgreens
- Black Salsify
- Borage
- Borage Microgreens
- Bronze Fennel
- Caraway
- Chervil
- Chervil Microgreens
- Chrysanthemum Greens Microgreens
- Cilantro
- Cilantro Microgreens
- Cress
- Dill
- Dill Microgreens
- Fennel
- Fennel Microgreens
- Garden Sorrel Microgreens
- Mustard
- Mustard Microgreens
- Mustard Sprouts
- Oats
- Pea
- Pea Microgreens
- Pea Sprouts
- Rapeseed
- Red-Veined Sorrel
- Salsify
- Shell Pea
- Snap Pea
- Snow Pea
- Sorrel
- Sorrel Microgreens
- Sunn Hemp
- Swiss Chard
- Swiss Chard Microgreens
- Watercress
- Yellow Sweet Clover
Transplant outdoors
Move these hardened-off seedlings into the garden.
- Achillea
- African Daisy
- Agastache
- Alyssum
- Angelica
- Arabis
- Armeria
- Arroyo Lupine
- Artichoke
- Asclepias
- Aster
- Baby Blue Eyes
- Baby's Breath
- Basket of Gold
- Bee Balm
- Beet
- Bishop's Flower
- Blanket Flower
- Blue Flax
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Broccoli Raab
- Brussels Sprouts
- Bunching Onion
- Burdock
- Cabbage
- Cabbage Microgreens
- Calendula
- California Bluebell
- Campanula
- Candytuft
- Canterbury Bells
- Cardoon
- Carrot
- Catchfly
- Catnip
- Cauliflower
- Celeriac
- Celery
- Celosia
- Celosia (Crested)
- Celosia (Plume)
- Celtuce / Stem Lettuce
- Chicory
- China Aster
- Chinese Broccoli
- Chinese Cabbage
- Chinese Celery
- Chinese Forget-Me-Not
- Chive
- Chrysanthemum Greens
- Clasping Coneflower
- Coast Rock Cress
- Columbine
- Corn Poppy
- Cottage Pink
- Dandelion
- Delphinium
- Echinacea
- Endive
- English Daisy
- Ethiopian Kale
- European Columbine
- Evening Primrose
- Flowering Cabbage
- Flowering Kale
- Foxglove
- Garlic Chives
- Geum
- Globe Gilia
- Hamburg Parsley
- Hartweg Lupine
- Heuchera
- Hollyhock
- Horehound
- Huauzontle
- Hybrid Columbine
- Hyssop
- Iberis
- Iceland Poppy
- Johnny Jump-Up
- Kale Microgreens
- Kohlrabi
- Komatsuna Microgreens
- Komatsuna Mustard
- Lanceleaf Coreopsis
- Large-Flowered Evening Primrose
- Larkspur
- Lavatera
- Leek
- Leek Microgreens
- Lemon Balm
- Lemon Mint
- Lettuce
- Lettuce Crisphead Microgreens
- Lettuce Leaf Microgreens
- Lettuce Microgreens
- Lettuce Romaine Microgreens
- Liatris
- Linaria
- Linum
- Lovage
- Lunaria
- Lupine
- Malva
- Mexican Hat
- Mibuna
- Mibuna Microgreens
- Milkweed (Common)
- Milkweed (Tropical)
- Misome
- Mitsuba
- Mizuna
- Mizuna Microgreens
- Myosotis
- New England Aster
- Onion
- Onion Microgreens
- Orach
- Orach Microgreens
- Oriental Poppy
- Ox-Eye Daisy
- Pak Choi Microgreens
- Palace Purple Heuchera
- Pansy
- Parsley
- Parsley Microgreens
- Perennial Sweet Pea
- Phlox
- Plains Coreopsis
- Primula
- Purple Yu Choy Sum
- Radicchio
- Rocket Candytuft
- Roman Chamomile
- Romanesco Broccoli
- Rue
- Russian Kale
- Russian Kale Microgreens
- Rutabaga
- Sage
- Salad Burnet
- Scarlet Flax
- Shallot
- Shasta Daisy
- Sheep Sorrel
- Sheep Sorrel Microgreens
- Showy Evening Primrose
- Smooth Aster
- Snapdragon
- Soapwort
- Stock Flower
- Strawberry Spinach
- Sundial Lupine
- Sweet Pea
- Sweet Woodruff
- Tansy
- Tarragon
- Tatsoi Microgreens
- Tendergreen Mustard Microgreens
- Texas Bluebonnet
- Thyme
- Turnip
- Turnip Microgreens
- Veined Catmint
- Veronica
- Viola
- Wheat Celosia
- 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 99721) in zone 2b, computed with the same engine as GardenDraft’s in-app schedule. Guidance, not guarantees — your exact dates depend on your address.