Zone 6B — May
What to Plant in May in Zone 6B
May in Zone 6B:
0 crops to start indoors,
11 to plant or direct sow outside, and
24 entering harvest window.
Last frost averages April 15. Reference city: Richmond, VA.
0 Start Indoors
11 Plant Outside
24 Harvest
Start Indoors in May
No crops to start indoors in May for Zone 6B.
Plant Outside in May
| Plant | Type | Action | Target Date | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banana Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 6 | Jul 5 – Jul 15 |
| California Wonder Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 6 | Jul 17 – Jul 20 |
| Cubanelle Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 6 | Jul 7 – Jul 15 |
| Culinary Turmeric | turmeric | Transplant | May 6 | Jan 1 – Mar 2 |
| Ginger | ginger | Transplant | May 6 | Jan 1 – Mar 2 |
| Habanero Pepper | pepper | Transplant | May 6 | Aug 4 – Sep 3 |
| Jimmy Nardello Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 6 | Jul 25 – Aug 4 |
| King Arthur Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 6 | Jul 7 – Jul 13 |
| Lunchbox Mini Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 6 | Jun 30 – Jul 5 |
| Padron Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 6 | Jul 5 – Jul 10 |
| Shishito Peppers | pepper | Transplant | May 6 | Jul 5 – Jul 10 |
Harvest in May
| Plant | Type | Planted / Sown | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astro Arugula | vegetable | Apr 15 | May 6 – May 25 |
| Black Oil Sunflower Microgreens | sunflower microgreens | Apr 29 | May 6 – May 11 |
| Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach | vegetable | Apr 15 | May 30 – Jun 6 |
| Bok Choy | vegetable | Apr 15 | May 30 – Jun 14 |
| Buckwheat | cover crop | Apr 15 | May 15 – May 30 |
| Cherry Belle Radish | root | Apr 22 | May 13 – May 22 |
| Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) | vegetable | Apr 15 | May 15 – Jun 4 |
| Contender Bush Bean | vegetable | Apr 15 | May 30 – Jun 9 |
| Daikon Radishes | daikon radish | Apr 1 | May 16 – May 26 |
| Dill | herb | Apr 15 | May 25 – Jun 9 |
| Endive / Escarole | vegetable | Apr 15 | May 30 – Jun 19 |
| French Breakfast Radish | root | Apr 22 | May 13 – May 20 |
| Leaf Lettuce Mix | vegetable | Apr 15 | May 30 – Jun 9 |
| Lemon Balm | herb | Apr 15 | May 30 – Jun 14 |
| Mesclun Mix | vegetable | Apr 15 | May 6 – May 15 |
| Mizuna | vegetable | Apr 15 | May 25 – Jun 4 |
| Mustard Greens | vegetable | Apr 15 | May 20 – Jun 4 |
| Peppermint | herb | Apr 15 | May 15 – May 30 |
| Rambo Radish Microgreens | radish microgreens | Apr 29 | May 5 – May 9 |
| Red Leaf Lettuce | vegetable | Apr 15 | May 30 – Jun 9 |
| Spearmint | herb | Apr 15 | May 15 – May 30 |
| Speckled Pea Shoot Microgreens | pea shoot microgreens | Apr 29 | May 7 – May 13 |
| Sweet Alyssum | flower | Apr 15 | May 25 – Jun 9 |
| Winner Kohlrabi | vegetable | Apr 15 | May 30 – Jun 4 |
Key Tasks for May in Zone 6B
- 1 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.
- 2 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.
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