Zone 7A — May
What to Plant in May in Zone 7A
May in Zone 7A:
0 crops to start indoors,
12 to plant or direct sow outside, and
89 entering harvest window.
Last frost averages April 17. Reference city: Raleigh, NC.
0 Start Indoors
12 Plant Outside
89 Harvest
Start Indoors in May
No crops to start indoors in May for Zone 7A.
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 | root vegetable | Transplant | May 6 | Jan 1 2027 – Mar 2 2027 |
| Dwarf Long Pod Okra | vegetable | Transplant | May 6 | Jun 30 – Jul 5 |
| Ginger | root vegetable | Transplant | May 6 | Jan 1 2027 – Mar 2 2027 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Early Pea | legume | Mar 25 | May 19 – May 24 |
| All Year Round | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 17 – May 26 |
| Blonde de Paris | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 3 – May 13 |
| Blue Curled Scotch | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 8 – May 13 |
| Broadleaf Classic | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 3 – May 13 |
| Burgundy Boston | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 3 – May 8 |
| Butterhead Lettuce | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 3 – May 18 |
| Canary Yellow | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 3 – May 13 |
| Cascadia Sugar Snap Pea | legume | Mar 25 | May 29 – May 31 |
| Chinese Forget-Me-Not Flowers | flower | Mar 16 | May 20 – Jun 9 |
| Crisphead | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 21 – May 28 |
| Curly Kale | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 8 – May 18 |
| Dark Green Romaine | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 13 – May 23 |
| Delicatesse Blue Kohlrabi | brassica | Mar 25 | May 19 – May 24 |
| Delicatesse White Kohlrabi | brassica | Mar 25 | May 19 – May 24 |
| Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage | brassica | Mar 25 | May 29 – Jun 8 |
| Georgia Southern Collard Greens | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 13 – Jun 2 |
| Green Arrow Pea | legume | Mar 25 | May 29 – Jun 3 |
| Hot Pink | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 3 – May 13 |
| Iceberg | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 21 – May 28 |
| Kagraner Sommer | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 3 – May 11 |
| Lacinato Kale | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 13 – May 18 |
| Little Gem | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 3 – May 9 |
| Little Marvel Pea | legume | Mar 25 | May 24 – May 27 |
| Lollo Bionda | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 3 – May 13 |
| Lollo Rossa | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 6 – May 9 |
| Magenta Sunset | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 8 – May 13 |
| Morris Heading | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 28 – Jun 2 |
| Mâche (Corn Salad) | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 13 – Jun 6 |
| Napa Cabbage | brassica | Mar 14 | May 23 – Jun 12 |
| Oregon Sugar Pod Snow Pea | legume | Mar 25 | May 24 – Jun 1 |
| Phacelia California Bluebell/Desert Bluebell Flowers | flower | Mar 16 | May 10 – May 20 |
| Premier | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 3 – May 13 |
| Progress No. 9 Shelling Pea | legume | Mar 25 | May 22 – May 26 |
| Radicchio | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 13 – Jun 7 |
| Rainbow Mix | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 3 – May 13 |
| Red Romaine | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 13 – May 23 |
| Red Russian Kale | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 3 – May 13 |
| Romaine Lettuce | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 18 – May 28 |
| Ruby Red | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 8 – May 13 |
| Salad Bowl Green | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 2 – May 3 |
| Siberian Dwarf | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 3 – May 8 |
| Sugar Ann Snap Pea | legume | Mar 25 | May 16 – May 20 |
| Summer Bibb | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 8 – May 13 |
| Swiss Chard | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 3 – May 13 |
| Tom Thumb | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 3 – May 23 |
| Tuscany Black | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 13 – May 28 |
| Vates | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 3 – May 8 |
| Vates | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 13 – May 28 |
| Vienna Purple Kohlrabi | brassica | Mar 25 | May 19 – May 29 |
| Vienna White Kohlrabi | brassica | Mar 25 | May 29 |
| Wando Pea | legume | Mar 25 | May 27 – Jun 1 |
| Winter Density | lettuce | Mar 14 | May 7 – May 13 |
| Beauty Pink Radishes | root vegetable | Apr 15 | May 10 – May 15 |
| Beauty Purple Radishes | root vegetable | Apr 15 | May 10 – May 15 |
| Beauty White Radishes | root vegetable | Apr 15 | May 10 – May 15 |
| Black Oil Sunflower Microgreens | microgreen | Apr 29 | May 6 – May 11 |
| Bouquet Dill | herb | Apr 1 | May 21 – Jun 5 |
| Buckwheat | cover crop | Apr 15 | May 15 – May 30 |
| Champion Radishes | root vegetable | Apr 15 | May 10 – May 15 |
| Cherry Belle Radish | root vegetable | Apr 22 | May 13 – May 22 |
| Daikon Radishes | root vegetable | Apr 1 | May 16 – May 26 |
| Dark Green Italian Giant Parsley | herb | Apr 1 | May 31 – Jun 15 |
| Dill | herb | Apr 15 | May 25 – Jun 9 |
| Dukat Dill | herb | Apr 1 | May 11 – May 21 |
| Easter Egg Radishes | root vegetable | Apr 15 | May 13 – May 17 |
| Fairy Dwarf Mix Candytuft Flowers | flower | Apr 1 | May 16 – May 31 |
| Fenugreek | herb | Apr 1 | May 6 – May 21 |
| French Breakfast Radish | root vegetable | Apr 22 | May 13 – May 20 |
| Golden Globe Turnips | root vegetable | Apr 15 | May 30 – Jun 4 |
| Green Purslane | vegetable | Apr 22 | May 27 – Jun 11 |
| Hailstone Radishes | root vegetable | Apr 15 | May 15 |
| Mammoth Dill | herb | Apr 1 | May 16 – Jun 5 |
| Medium Red Clover Cover Crop | cover crop | Apr 1 | May 31 – Jun 15 |
| Purple Plum Radishes | root vegetable | Apr 15 | May 13 – May 15 |
| Rambo Radish Microgreens | microgreen | Apr 29 | May 5 – May 9 |
| Rapeseed Cover Crop | cover crop | Apr 1 | May 16 – Jun 10 |
| Royal Carpet Alyssum Flowers | flower | Apr 1 | May 16 – May 31 |
| Scarlet Flax Flowers | flower | Apr 1 | May 26 – Jun 10 |
| Shungiku (Edible Chrysanthemum) | vegetable | Apr 1 | May 11 – May 26 |
| Slow-Bolt (Slo-Bolt) Cilantro/Coriander | herb | Apr 15 | May 13 – May 25 |
| Sparkler Radishes | root vegetable | Apr 15 | May 10 – May 15 |
| Speckled Pea Shoot Microgreens | microgreen | Apr 29 | May 7 – May 13 |
| Sweet Alyssum | flower | Apr 15 | May 25 – Jun 9 |
| Tri Color Amaranth (Joseph's Coat) | vegetable | Apr 22 | May 22 – Jun 6 |
| Viola and pansy edible flowers | flower | Apr 1 | May 31 – Jun 10 |
| Water spinach stems and leaves | lettuce | Apr 15 | May 15 – May 30 |
| White Icicle Radishes | root vegetable | Apr 15 | May 15 – May 25 |
| Yellow Sweet Blossom Clover Cover Crop | cover crop | Apr 1 | May 31 – Jun 30 |
Key Tasks for May in Zone 7A
- 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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