Zone 5B — May
What to Plant in May in Zone 5B
May in Zone 5B:
2 crops to start indoors,
96 to plant or direct sow outside, and
19 entering harvest window.
Last frost averages April 17. Reference city: Kansas City, MO.
2 Start Indoors
96 Plant Outside
19 Harvest
Start Indoors in May
| Plant | Type | Start Indoors | Transplant Outside | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chayote squash | chayote | May 1 | May 1 | Aug 29 – Sep 28 |
| Nopales pads | nopales | May 1 | May 1 | Jun 30 – Aug 29 |
Plant Outside in May
| Plant | Type | Action | Target Date | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amish Paste Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 14 – Jul 25 |
| Anaheim Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 17 – Jul 25 |
| Anise hyssop leaves and flowers | anise hyssop | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 15 – Jul 30 |
| Bachelor's button edible flowers | bachelors button | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 30 – Jul 20 |
| Banana Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 8 | Jul 7 – Jul 17 |
| Beefsteak Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 20 – Jul 25 |
| Better Boy Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 10 – Jul 15 |
| Bhut Jolokia Ghost Pepper | pepper | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 30 – Aug 29 |
| Big Jim Hatch Chile | pepper | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 10 – Jul 15 |
| Bitter melons | bitter melon | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 15 – Jul 30 |
| Black Cherry Tomato | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 4 – Jul 15 |
| Black Krim Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 15 – Jul 20 |
| Black Oil Sunflower Microgreens | microgreen | Transplant | May 1 | May 8 – May 13 |
| Brandywine Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 20 – Jul 30 |
| Broccolini | vegetable | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 20 – Jul 10 |
| Brussels Sprouts | vegetable | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 25 – Aug 19 |
| Butternut Squash | vegetable | Transplant | May 1 | Aug 9 – Aug 29 |
| California Wonder Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 8 | Jul 19 – Jul 22 |
| Cantaloupe | vegetable | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 20 – Jul 30 |
| Caribbean Red Scotch Bonnet Pepper | pepper | Transplant | May 1 | Aug 4 – Aug 29 |
| Carolina Reaper peppers | hot pepper | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 30 – Aug 29 |
| Cayenne Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 25 – Aug 4 |
| Celebrity Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 10 – Jul 12 |
| Celeste Fig | fruit | Plant Out | May 1 | May 1 – Apr 30 |
| Chayote squash | chayote | Transplant | May 1 | Aug 29 – Sep 28 |
| Cherokee Purple Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 18 – Jul 25 |
| Cherry Bomb peppers | hot pepper | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 15 – Jul 20 |
| Chicago Hardy Fig | fruit | Plant Out | May 1 | May 1 – Apr 30 |
| Corno di Toro Pepper | pepper | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 15 – Jul 20 |
| Crosne tubers | crosne | Transplant | May 1 | Oct 28 – Dec 7 |
| Cubanelle Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 8 | Jul 9 – Jul 17 |
| Culinary Turmeric | turmeric | Transplant | May 8 | Jan 3 – Mar 4 |
| Cupid Grape Tomato | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 5 – Jul 10 |
| Datil peppers | hot pepper | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 30 – Aug 19 |
| Delica kabocha squash | kabocha | Transplant | May 1 | Aug 4 – Aug 19 |
| Early Girl Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 22 – Jul 2 |
| Elephant garlic bulbs | elephant garlic | Transplant | May 1 | Oct 28 – Dec 27 |
| Fresno Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 15 – Jul 20 |
| Genovese Basil | herb | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 30 – Jul 10 |
| Ginger | ginger | Transplant | May 8 | Jan 3 – Mar 4 |
| Green Cabbage | vegetable | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 30 – Aug 9 |
| Green Zebra Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 15 – Jul 18 |
| Habanero Pepper | pepper | Transplant | May 8 | Aug 6 – Sep 5 |
| Hairy vetch cover crop stands | hairy vetch | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 30 – Jul 30 |
| Honeydew Melon | vegetable | Transplant | May 1 | Aug 9 – Aug 24 |
| Hungarian Hot Wax Pepper | pepper | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 5 – Jul 15 |
| Improved Meyer Lemon | fruit | Plant Out | May 1 | Apr 30 |
| Jacob's Cattle beans | dry bean | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 20 – Jul 30 |
| Jalapeño Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 5 – Jul 15 |
| Jerusalem artichoke tubers | sunchoke | Transplant | May 1 | Aug 19 – Sep 28 |
| Jimmy Nardello Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 8 | Jul 27 – Aug 6 |
| Juliet Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 29 – Jul 1 |
| King Arthur Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 8 | Jul 9 – Jul 15 |
| Luffa gourds | luffa | Transplant | May 1 | Aug 9 – Aug 29 |
| Lunchbox Mini Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 8 | Jul 2 – Jul 7 |
| Marketmore 76 Cucumber | vegetable | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 28 – Jul 8 |
| Midnight Snack Tomato | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 5 – Jul 10 |
| Mortgage Lifter Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 20 – Jul 25 |
| Mountain Magic Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 12 – Jul 15 |
| Mucho Nacho Jalapeño Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 8 – Jul 10 |
| Nagami Kumquat | fruit | Plant Out | May 1 | Apr 30 |
| Nopales pads | nopales | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 30 – Aug 29 |
| Padron Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 8 | Jul 7 – Jul 12 |
| Patio Princess Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 5 – Jul 10 |
| Phacelia cover crop and bee forage | phacelia | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 15 – Jun 30 |
| Pinkeye Purple Hull Pea | cowpea | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 25 – Jul 8 |
| Poblano Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 5 – Jul 15 |
| Potato onion clusters | potato onion | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 30 – Aug 29 |
| Purple Basil | herb | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 10 – Jul 25 |
| Rambo Radish Microgreens | microgreen | Transplant | May 1 | May 7 – May 11 |
| Red Cabbage | vegetable | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 10 – Aug 19 |
| Red-Stem Malabar Spinach | malabar spinach | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 25 – Jul 10 |
| Roma VF Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 15 – Jul 20 |
| Romanesco | vegetable | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 15 – Aug 9 |
| Rosemary | herb | Plant Out | May 1 | Jul 20 – Aug 9 |
| Rutgers Tomato | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 10 – Jul 20 |
| San Marzano Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 18 – Jul 28 |
| Serrano Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 10 – Jul 20 |
| Shishito Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 8 | Jul 7 – Jul 12 |
| Signet marigold edible flowers | signet marigold | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 30 – Jul 5 |
| Snow Crown Cauliflower | vegetable | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 20 – Jun 30 |
| Speckled Pea Shoot Microgreens | microgreen | Transplant | May 1 | May 9 – May 15 |
| Sugar Baby Watermelon | vegetable | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 15 – Jul 20 |
| Sun Gold Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 27 – Jul 5 |
| Supersweet 100 Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 30 – Jul 5 |
| Sweet 100 Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 30 – Jul 5 |
| Sweet Million Tomato | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 30 – Jul 5 |
| Thai Basil | herb | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 30 – Jul 5 |
| Thai Hot Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 15 – Jul 25 |
| Tiny Tim Tomato | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jun 15 – Jun 25 |
| Trinidad Moruga Scorpion peppers | hot pepper | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 20 – Aug 29 |
| Tumbling Tom Red Tomato | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 5 – Jul 10 |
| Waltham 29 Broccoli | vegetable | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 15 – Jul 30 |
| White clover living mulch | white clover | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 10 – Jul 30 |
| Winter rye cover crop stands | winter rye | Transplant | May 1 | Oct 28 – Dec 7 |
| Yellow Pear Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | May 1 | Jul 10 – Jul 18 |
Harvest in May
| Plant | Type | Planted / Sown | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astro Arugula | vegetable | Apr 17 | May 8 – May 27 |
| Buckwheat | cover crop | Apr 17 | May 17 – Jun 1 |
| Cherry Belle Radish | root | Apr 24 | May 15 – May 24 |
| Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) | vegetable | Apr 17 | May 17 – Jun 6 |
| Daikon Radishes | daikon radish | Apr 3 | May 18 – May 28 |
| Dill | herb | Apr 17 | May 27 – Jun 11 |
| French Breakfast Radish | root | Apr 24 | May 15 – May 22 |
| Mesclun Mix | vegetable | Apr 17 | May 8 – May 17 |
| Mizuna | vegetable | Apr 17 | May 27 – Jun 6 |
| Mustard Greens | vegetable | Apr 17 | May 22 – Jun 6 |
| Peppermint | herb | Apr 17 | May 17 – Jun 1 |
| Spearmint | herb | Apr 17 | May 17 – Jun 1 |
| Sweet Alyssum | flower | Apr 17 | May 27 – Jun 11 |
| Water spinach stems and leaves | water spinach | Apr 17 | May 17 – Jun 1 |
| Black Oil Sunflower Microgreens | microgreen | May 1 | May 8 – May 13 |
| Celeste Fig | fruit | May 1 | May 1 – Apr 30 |
| Chicago Hardy Fig | fruit | May 1 | May 1 – Apr 30 |
| Rambo Radish Microgreens | microgreen | May 1 | May 7 – May 11 |
| Speckled Pea Shoot Microgreens | microgreen | May 1 | May 9 – May 15 |
Key Tasks for May in Zone 5B
- 1 Start 2 varieties indoors this month under grow lights or in a sunny south-facing window. Use a seed-starting mix and bottom heat (70–75°F) for best germination rates.
- 2 Harden off transplants before moving outdoors — set them outside in a sheltered spot for increasing hours over 7–10 days before planting in the ground.
- 3 Check soil moisture before watering — stick a finger 2 inches into the soil. Water only when the soil is dry at that depth. Consistent moisture is more important than frequency.
Get a Personalized May Calendar
SoilStack builds your exact planting schedule from your ZIP code — day-by-day tasks, weather prompts, and harvest tracking included.
Start Your Free Garden Calendar