What to plant in May in zone 7b

13 crops to start indoors, direct sow, or transplant in May in USDA hardiness zone 7b. Typical last spring frost around Apr 5, 2026, first fall frost around Nov 1, 2026 — exact dates vary by location within the zone.

Zone 7b covers a lot of ground. Enter your ZIP for May dates from your nearest weather station and a month-by-month calendar:

Transplant outdoors

Move these hardened-off seedlings into the garden.

Chiltepin Pepper
Eggplant
Ethiopian Eggplant
Melon
Melon (Pickling)
Okra
Pepper (Habanero)
Pepper (Hot)
Pepper (Sweet & Hot)
Pepper (Tabasco)

Plant out

Set out these crops (sets, tubers, or starts) now.

Ginger
Sweet Potato
Turmeric

Keep going

Full zone 7b planting calendar →
What to plant in May (all zones) →
Succession planting for a continuous harvest →

Timings use NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals for a representative location (Greenback, TN) in zone 7b, computed with the same engine as GardenDraft’s in-app schedule. Guidance, not guarantees — your exact dates depend on your address.