What to plant in May in zone 7a
212 crops to start indoors, direct sow, transplant, or harvest in May in USDA hardiness zone 7a. Typical last spring frost around Apr 16, 2026, first fall frost around Oct 26, 2026 — exact dates vary by location within the zone.
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Direct sow outside
Sow these straight into the garden bed this month.
Transplant outdoors
Move these hardened-off seedlings into the garden.
- Ageratum
- Aji Pepper
- Alpine Strawberry
- Alternanthera
- Amaranth
- Amaranth Microgreens
- Amaranthus
- Angel Wing Begonia
- Angelonia
- Armenian Cucumber
- Asparagus Fern
- Bachelor's Button
- Bacopa
- Balsam
- Basil
- Basil Microgreens
- Beach Sunflower
- Begonia
- Billy Buttons
- Black Cumin / Nigella
- Black-Eyed Susan
- Blue Fescue
- Bolivian Begonia
- Brachycome
- California Poppy
- Canna
- Cantaloupe Microgreens
- Cape Gooseberry
- Carnation
- Chamomile
- Chiltepin Pepper
- Chinese Toon
- Chrysanthemum
- Cleome
- Coleus
- Common Morning Glory
- Coreopsis
- Cosmos
- Creeping Thyme
- Cucamelon
- Cucumber
- Dahlberg Daisy
- Dahlia
- Delosperma
- Dianthus
- Dichondra
- Dove Pincushion
- Dracaena
- Dusty Miller
- Eggplant
- Epazote
- Ethiopian Eggplant
- Feverfew
- Flowering Tobacco
- Four O Clock
- French Marigold
- Gaillardia
- Garbanzo Bean Sprouts
- Gazania
- Geranium
- Goldmoss Stonecrop
- Gomphrena
- Gourd (Angled Luffa)
- Gourd (Bitter)
- Gourd (Bottle)
- Gourd (Luffa)
- Gourd (Ornamental)
- Gourd (Turban)
- Gourd (Wax)
- Grain Amaranth
- Ground Cherry
- Gypsophila
- Heliopsis
- Heliotrope
- Hibiscus
- Holy Basil
- Hybrid Coneflower
- Hybrid Lobelia
- Hypoestes
- Impatiens
- Interspecific Dianthus
- Ivy Geranium
- Japanese Mugwort
- Kniphofia
- Korean Mint
- Korean Summer Squash
- Lace Fern
- Lavender
- Lemon Basil
- Lime Basil
- Lobelia
- Love-in-a-Mist
- Love-Lies-Bleeding
- Malabar Spinach
- Marigold
- Marjoram
- Maximilian Sunflower
- Melon
- Melon (Pickling)
- Mexican Sunflower
- Mexican Tarragon
- Mexican Zinnia
- Mimosa
- Mimulus
- Moonflower
- Morning Glory
- Mung Bean Sprouts
- Narrowleaf Zinnia
- Nasturtium
- Nasturtium Microgreens
- Nicotiana
- Nierembergia
- Okra
- Oregano
- Oregano (Greek)
- Oregano Microgreens
- Ornamental Millet
- Osteospermum
- Painted Sage
- Paracress
- Pennyroyal Mint
- Penstemon
- Pepper (Habanero)
- Pepper (Hot)
- Pepper (Sweet & Hot)
- Pepper (Tabasco)
- Peruvian Verbena
- Petunia
- Phacelia
- Plectranthus
- Poppy
- Portulaca
- Pumpkin
- Pumpkin (Maxima)
- Pumpkin (Moschata)
- Ricinus
- Rocky Mountain Penstemon
- Roselle
- Rudbeckia
- Russian Sage
- Salpiglossis
- Salvia
- Saponaria
- Savory
- Scabiosa
- Scarlet Sage
- Sedum
- Shiso
- Shiso Herb Microgreens
- Shiso Microgreens
- Signet Marigold
- Silver Ponysfoot
- Sprenger Fern
- Statice
- Stevia
- Stipa
- Strawflower
- Sulphur Cosmos
- Summer Savory
- Summer Squash
- Sweet Annie
- Texas Sage
- Thai Basil
- Thunbergia
- Tomatillo
- Tomato
- Torenia
- Verbena
- Vietnamese Culantro
- Vinca
- Water Pepper
- Watermelon
- Wax Begonia
- West Indian Gherkin
- Western Coneflower
- 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)
- Woodland Sage
- Woodland Tobacco
- Yarrow
- Zinnia
Plant out
Set out these crops (sets, tubers, or starts) now.
Keep going
Timings use NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals for a representative location (Charleston, WV) in zone 7a, computed with the same engine as GardenDraft’s in-app schedule. Guidance, not guarantees — your exact dates depend on your address.