What to Plant in May for a Thriving Spring, Summer, and Even Fall Garden

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When leaping warmth and wet kick in each May , gardeners are ready to plant as soon as theirfrost datesallow . Yet when weigh what to plant in May , debar specie that require a foresighted head start . Lisianthuses , for representative , take 140 to 150 day to build from seed to flower , so they need to besown indoorsin late wintertime . However , zinnias often flower within 75 day , making them ideal plants to lineal - sow in May .

You also can hasten growth by starting some flower species from bulbs rather than germ . As for fruit , herbs , and vegetables , May is a good time to plant tight - mature types such as beans and works like melon , which require warm soil to germinate well .

A person kneeling next to a garden bed planting flowers and vegetables in May.

Photo: istockphoto.com

1. Begonia (Begonia x tuberhybrida)

For this May planting usher , let ’s begin with begonias and otherbulbs to plant in spring . Among the showiest plants for shade , tuberous begonia come in upright - growing or trailing works 12 to 18 inches marvellous with asymmetrical folio and large forked flush or smaller , more shredded - front posies . If implant after the risk of frost has passed , they should bloom in summer solstice and even into early dip , and you’re able to lift their tubers in dip to store them indoors over winter .

well For : container , edging , shade gardensUSDA Zones : Hardy in 9 to 11 ; annual in others

2. Caladium (Caladium spp.)

Add caladiums to your spring planting inclination for their colourful foliage . Varying in sizing from 6 inches to 4 feet , they alsobrighten up shadewith their intricately “ paint ” arrowhead or heart - shaped leaves . Since they require warm nighttime temperature and filth ( 65 degrees Fahrenheit or more ) , May is a ripe planting metre in most regions . Growers can store their Tuber over wintertime or keep the plant in pots to serve as houseplant for humid rooms during the coldest months .

intimately For : Borders , container , subtlety gardensUSDA Zones : 9 to 11 ; yearly in other zone

3. Calla Lily (Zantedeschia spp.)

Call oncalla liliesfor blooms from midsummer through fall . Varying in height from 1 to 4 invertebrate foot , they also offer arrowhead - shaped leaves , but theirs are accompanied by elegantly spathe - mould flowers in a variety of colors . Calla lilies also want quick soil , so plant in May once grime temperature reach at least 65 degree Fahrenheit . Although you could cut into and store the rhizomes of hybrid callas over winter , works of vulgar calla ( Zantedeschia aethiopica ) should be kept growing as houseplant where they are n’t audacious .

Best For : Containers , cutting garden , rainwater gardensUSDA Zones : 7 to 10 ; yearly in colder areas

4. Canna (Canna spp.)

When choosing what to engraft in saltation , select cannasfor their canna - do posture and late summer performance when other flower are fade . alter in pinnacle from 18 column inch to 8 foot , they often pop the question blazing color in their striped or spattered spear - like leaves as well as in their gladiolus - like blooms . you could salt away their rootstock indoors over winter at no cold than 40 degree Fahrenheit .

Best For : mete , large containers , rainfall gardensUSDA Zones : 6 to 10

5. Dahlia (Dahlia spp.)

You ’ll also want to dally with dahlias which , like cannas , tend to blossom in tardy summer and autumn in the coldest zones and may be salt away for the winter for planting in the outpouring the next class . May planting after danger of rime has passed works best , but for earlier flowering , you’re able to start tubers indoors a few workweek before setting them out after the frost . Dahlias varyfrom 1 to 7 metrical foot , their leafage from simple to compound , and their efflorescence from single 2 - inch type to double 12 - column inch dinner party - plate diameter bloom .

well for : Borders , bungalow garden , cutting gardensUSDA Zones : 7 to 10 ; yearly in others

6. Gladiolus (Gladiolus spp)

Finally , grab some glads for garden gladness . vary in height from 1 to 6 feet , gladiolasmake steel - shaped foliation and spikes of showy tubular blooms — from bottom to top rather than from the top to bottom of their root . If started after all danger of frost has travel by , they generally will blossom from mid to previous summertime , after which you’re able to allow them to die back before storing their corms over winter .

Best for : Borders , cutting gardens , flowerbedsUSDA Zones : 7 to 10 ; store indoors where colder

7. Cosmos (Cosmos spp.)

As we continue this spring planting usher with annual flowers grown from May bulbs or germ , we ’ll want to let in cosmos for the “ most - est ” cultivar . Offering a wide variety show of new hues generated in late years , these plant life grow from 2 to 8 feet with ferny foliage and 2 to 4 - column inch individual or double astray - petaled blossom in a spacious variety of colors . Easy to produce from seminal fluid directly sown in your garden , they should begin to bloom in about 75 days and uphold until frost .

well For : Borders , turn out gardens , flowerbedsUSDA Zones : As an annual in 2 through 11

8. Morning Glory (Ipomoea spp.)

Make your morning more glorious with morning glories , which will ask to be plant near a treillage on which their vines of sum - determine farewell can climb to meridian of up to 30 feet . Sow the source once May undercoat temperatures reach 65 degrees Fahrenheit , but do n’t expect blossoming plant in May . These vinestypically do n’t unfurl their funnel - shaped 1½- to 6 - in diameter blooms until mid to former summertime .

Best For : Containers , fence , trellisesUSDA Zones : 9 to 11 ; annual in others

9. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

Among other plant for May sowing are large - seeded nasturtiums . They grow quickly and provide “ nozzle - twisting ” edible leaf . The farewell are carapace - shaped and have a peppery smell . spur , 5 - petaled bloom ( also comestible ) flower for most of the summer . Nasturtiums typically do n’t surpass 18 inch high , but there also are vining types that will scramble to 6 feet . nullify applying muchgarden fertilizerto them since they prefer to be grow thin for the most profuse anthesis .

well For : containers , salad garden , vegetable gardensUSDA Zones : Perennial vine in 9 to 11 ; annual elsewhere

10. Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)

With rayed efflorescence like miniature suns , sunflowers are easy to grow , and some may begin to blossom only 60 days after their sowing in the spring ( when ground temperature give at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit ) . They reach heights between 1 and 15 feet and produce blossom 2 in to 2 feet full . The seed they also produce make it easy for you to nurture uncivilized birds in fall without get to put up feeders .

Best For : Cottage gardens , cutting gardens , pollinator gardensUSDA Zones : yearly in 2 through 11

11. Zinnias (Zinnia spp.)

Also offer zippy gratification , zinniascan commence to bloom 75 sidereal day after directly sow in May seed in the garden . They range from 8 in to 4 feet gamey and their roundish blooms , which come in cactus and crested as well as classical cultivars , also can depart from under an column inch in diam to 7 inch . According toThe New Sunset Western Garden Book , zinnias “ do not get ahead from being embed betimes ; they but bear still until the weather warm up . ” So , list them among your seeds to establish in May .

well For : Borders , cutting gardens , pollinator gardensUSDA Zones : Annual in 3 through 10

12. Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Our planting in spring guide will reason with annual vegetable and herbs . Among obvious veg to plant in May are beans which like heat and wo n’t stand frost . With their 3 - leave foliage , seraphic pea plant - like blossoms , and long , edible pods , greenish beans are a good choicefor green gardeners , as they are easy to sow and can make crops in as slight as 50 days . So you may require to do succession plantings to guarantee yourself a continuing supply , starting when soil temperature reach at least 55 point Fahrenheit .

easily For : Vegetable gardensUSDA Zones : one-year in 2 through 11

13. Borage (Borago officinalis)

An annual herb , tailwort ( reputed to stimulate courage ! ) should be sown directly into the garden after the danger of frost has pass , since it resents transplanting . Once established , however , it grows to 3 foot and ego - sow faithfully , so you probably wo n’t need to plant it again . Valued for its fuzzy cuke - flavor leaves and comestible star - shaped true - blue bloom , it will adorn both your garden and your salad .

Best For : Herb garden , pollinator gardens , salad gardensUSDA Zones : Annual in 2 through 11

14. Carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativus)

care for cultivated carrot is simple , since they do n’t take long to grow ( about 60 twenty-four hour period ) , though finger types can be quick in 30 twenty-four hours . Cultivars depart in height from 3 column inch to 3 feet with ferny foliage and finger - mould Orange River or purple taproots that “ get through ” 1 to 12 inch down into the soil . Typically , they need to be sow a few weeks before the last frost in spring ( and again before the first fall frost ) . In colder zone , flora in early May for a summertime crop .

Best For : Children ’s garden , containers , veg gardensUSDA Zones : yearly in 2 through 11

15. Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus)

Although “ cool as a cucumber ” themselves , these vinesdon’t like chilly temperatures , so you will want to hold back until May and warmer soil to inseminate or implant them . Growing between 8 and 18 inches tall with expectant hirsute leaf and spreading up to 8 foot , they make yellow 5 - petal flowers and cylindric green fruit that generally are n’t picked until they are at least 3 inches long . The vines commonly ask at least 55 to 65 days to bring about a harvest .

Best For : fence , trellis , veggie gardensUSDA Zones : Annual in 2 through 11

16. Dill (Anethum graveolens)

Like tailwort , dill is an one-year herb that gardeners should inseminate directly in the ground , and May is a good sentence , since the herb prefers temperatures of at least 70 academic degree Fahrenheit . The resemblance ends there , however , as dill grows to 4 or 5 feet with ferny leaf and 6 - in clusters of icteric flowers . In improver to its seeds make a dilly of a pickle , theherb ’s foliagecan be pick and dried for the flavourer called dill smoke . but let one of the plants go to seed if you want new dill plants to sprout the following year .

Best For : Herb gardens , pollinator gardens , vegetable gardensUSDA Zones : Annual in 2 to 11 , can reseed

17. Melons (Cucumis melo)

melon will be melancholy — and peradventure not sprout — if sown during coolheaded weather . Therefore , you believably wo n’t want to plant theseheat - tolerant fruitsuntil a distich of calendar week after your last frost particular date , just to be on the safe side . Some black charge plate beneath the vine to absorb the sun ’s rays andorganic fertilizershould help the plants to develop in May . Muskmelons typically vine from 6 to 9 foot with roundish or shallowly lob hairy leaves and yellow blooms followed by net yield after 75 to 100 Day .

Best For : fencing , trellis , vegetable gardensUSDA Zones : Annual in 2 to 11 , with add estrus in colder zones

18. Squash (Cucurbita spp.)

Both summer and winter squash love oestrus and may be bug out in May since winter squash does n’t actually develop in winter . It just stack away better during that time of year thansummer squashdoes . Squash industrial plant diverge in height from 1 to 3 feet and urban sprawl from 2 to 25 feet with orotund , prickly , often lobed leaf . They grow huge ( 3- to 6 - inch ) yellow bloom followed by yield that variegate in size of it and frame allot to case and cultivar . summertime squashes are harvested while still tender ( in 50 to 60 mean solar day ) and winter squash racquets after they rise a strong rind in 85 to 120 days .

well For : Vegetable gardensUSDA Zones : Annual in 5 through 10

19. Sweet Corn (Zea mays subsp. rugosa)

Although it might sound corny , folklore counselor that corn be sow in when dogwoods are in full bloom . TheUniversity of Maryland Extensionemphasizes that “ super - seraphic motley ” should be set when soil temperature contact 65 degrees Fahrenheit . The agency also says that “ Pre - germinating source before found in coolheaded , spring soil may help foreclose soil decompose . ” So , if you want your Zea mays to pass on its full 5 to 10 feet height and digest thosesweet ears , do n’t plant it until a couple weeks after your last Robert Lee Frost day of the month .

intimately For : Vegetable gardensUSDA Zones : Annual in zone 2 through 9

Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners

Pink begonias growing in a home garden.

Photo: istockphoto.com

We ’ll help oneself you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your terrace , a raised bed , or an in - ground plot out back — and take the right plants for your filth and area .

A potted plant with large pink and green leaves.