What to plant in May in zone 3b
292 crops to start indoors, direct sow, transplant, or harvest in May in USDA hardiness zone 3b. Typical last spring frost around May 17, 2026, first fall frost around Sep 26, 2026 — exact dates vary by location within the zone.
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Start indoors
Sow these under lights or on a windowsill now for transplants later.
- Armenian Cucumber
- Cucamelon
- Cucumber
- 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)
- Narrowleaf Zinnia
- Nasturtium
- 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
- Cabbage Microgreens
- Caraway
- Catmint
- Chervil
- Chervil Microgreens
- Chrysanthemum Greens Microgreens
- Cilantro
- Cilantro Microgreens
- Corn
- Cress
- Dill
- Dill Microgreens
- Fennel
- Fennel Microgreens
- Garden Sorrel Microgreens
- Kale Microgreens
- Komatsuna Microgreens
- Leek Microgreens
- Lettuce Crisphead Microgreens
- Lettuce Leaf Microgreens
- Lettuce Microgreens
- Lettuce Romaine Microgreens
- Mibuna Microgreens
- Mizuna Microgreens
- Mugwort
- Mustard
- Mustard Microgreens
- Mustard Sprouts
- Nasturtium Microgreens
- Oats
- Onion Microgreens
- Orach Microgreens
- Oregano (Greek)
- Oregano Microgreens
- Pak Choi Microgreens
- Parsley Microgreens
- Pea
- Pea Microgreens
- Pea Shoots
- Pea Sprouts
- Peppermint
- Rapeseed
- Red-Veined Sorrel
- Rosemary
- Russian Kale Microgreens
- Salsify
- Sheep Sorrel Microgreens
- Shell Pea
- Snap Pea
- Snow Pea
- Sorrel
- Sorrel Microgreens
- Spearmint
- Strawberry
- Sunflower
- Sunn Hemp
- Swiss Chard
- Swiss Chard Microgreens
- Tatsoi Microgreens
- Tendergreen Mustard Microgreens
- Turnip Microgreens
- Watercress
- Wheat
- 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
- Bachelor's Button
- Basket of Gold
- Bee Balm
- Beet
- Billy Buttons
- Bishop's Flower
- Black-Eyed Susan
- Blanket Flower
- Blue Fescue
- Blue Flax
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Broccoli Raab
- Brussels Sprouts
- Bunching Onion
- Burdock
- Cabbage
- Calendula
- California Bluebell
- California Poppy
- Campanula
- Candytuft
- Canterbury Bells
- Cardoon
- Carrot
- Catchfly
- Catnip
- Cauliflower
- Celeriac
- Celery
- Celosia
- Celosia (Crested)
- Celosia (Plume)
- Celtuce / Stem Lettuce
- Chamomile
- Chicory
- China Aster
- Chinese Broccoli
- Chinese Cabbage
- Chinese Celery
- Chinese Forget-Me-Not
- Chive
- Chrysanthemum Greens
- Clasping Coneflower
- Coast Rock Cress
- Columbine
- Coreopsis
- Corn Poppy
- Cottage Pink
- Creeping Thyme
- Dandelion
- Delosperma
- Delphinium
- Dianthus
- Dusty Miller
- Echinacea
- Endive
- English Daisy
- Ethiopian Kale
- European Columbine
- Evening Primrose
- Feverfew
- Flowering Cabbage
- Flowering Kale
- Flowering Tobacco
- Foxglove
- Gaillardia
- Garlic Chives
- Gazania
- Geum
- Globe Gilia
- Gypsophila
- Hamburg Parsley
- Hartweg Lupine
- Heliopsis
- Heuchera
- Hollyhock
- Horehound
- Huauzontle
- Hybrid Columbine
- Hybrid Coneflower
- Hyssop
- Iberis
- Iceland Poppy
- Interspecific Dianthus
- Japanese Mugwort
- Johnny Jump-Up
- Kohlrabi
- Komatsuna Mustard
- Lanceleaf Coreopsis
- Large-Flowered Evening Primrose
- Larkspur
- Lavatera
- Leek
- Lemon Balm
- Lemon Mint
- Lettuce
- Liatris
- Linaria
- Linum
- Lovage
- Love-in-a-Mist
- Lunaria
- Lupine
- Malva
- Mexican Hat
- Mexican Sunflower
- Mibuna
- Milkweed (Common)
- Milkweed (Tropical)
- Misome
- Mitsuba
- Mizuna
- Myosotis
- Nasturtium
- New England Aster
- Nicotiana
- Onion
- Orach
- Oregano
- Oriental Poppy
- Ox-Eye Daisy
- Painted Sage
- Palace Purple Heuchera
- Pansy
- Parsley
- Pennyroyal Mint
- Perennial Sweet Pea
- Phacelia
- Phlox
- Plains Coreopsis
- Poppy
- Primula
- Purple Yu Choy Sum
- Radicchio
- Rocket Candytuft
- Roman Chamomile
- Romanesco Broccoli
- Rue
- Russian Kale
- Russian Sage
- Rutabaga
- Sage
- Salad Burnet
- Savory
- Scabiosa
- Scarlet Flax
- Shallot
- Shasta Daisy
- Sheep Sorrel
- Showy Evening Primrose
- Smooth Aster
- Snapdragon
- Soapwort
- Stock Flower
- Strawberry Spinach
- Strawflower
- Sundial Lupine
- Sweet Annie
- Sweet Pea
- Sweet Woodruff
- Tansy
- Tarragon
- Texas Bluebonnet
- Thyme
- Turnip
- Veined Catmint
- Veronica
- Viola
- Wheat Celosia
- Wild Arugula
- Wormwood
- Yarrow
- 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 (Hannah, ND) in zone 3b, computed with the same engine as GardenDraft’s in-app schedule. Guidance, not guarantees — your exact dates depend on your address.