Zone 8A — May
What to Plant in May in Zone 8A
May in Zone 8A:
0 crops to start indoors,
0 to plant or direct sow outside, and
154 entering harvest window.
Last frost averages March 30. Reference city: Dallas, TX.
0 Start Indoors
0 Plant Outside
154 Harvest
Start Indoors in May
Nothing to start seeds indoors in May for Zone 8A.
Next window: September
— 1 variety, including Garlic.
Plant Outside in May
Nothing to plant or sow outside in May for Zone 8A.
Next window: August
— 2 varieties, including Nantes Carrot (fall planting), Sugar Snap Pea (fall planting).
Harvest in May
| Plant | Type | Planted / Sown | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crisphead | lettuce | Feb 22 | May 1 – May 8 |
| Full Heart Batavian | lettuce | Feb 22 | May 18 – May 23 |
| Iceberg | lettuce | Feb 22 | May 1 – May 8 |
| Morris Heading | lettuce | Feb 22 | May 8 – May 13 |
| Napa Cabbage | brassica | Feb 22 | May 3 – May 23 |
| Verona Red | lettuce | Feb 22 | May 18 – May 25 |
| Alaska Early Pea | legume | Mar 9 | May 3 – May 8 |
| Alaska Mix Nasturtium Flowers | flower | Mar 30 | May 19 – May 29 |
| All Season Cabbage | brassica | Mar 16 | May 25 – Jun 4 |
| All Year Round Cauliflower | brassica | Mar 16 | May 20 |
| Baby Blue Eyes Flowers | flower | Mar 30 | May 29 – Jun 28 |
| Bachelor's button edible flowers | flower | Mar 30 | May 29 – Jun 18 |
| Boltardy Beets | root vegetable | Mar 30 | May 19 – May 29 |
| Borage | flower | Mar 30 | May 24 – Jun 13 |
| Bouquet Dill | herb | Mar 16 | May 5 – May 20 |
| Broad Windsor Fava Bean | legume | Mar 9 | May 23 – Jun 2 |
| Bull's Blood Beets | root vegetable | Mar 30 | May 19 – May 24 |
| Calabrese Broccoli | brassica | Mar 16 | May 20 |
| Calendula | flower | Mar 30 | May 19 – May 29 |
| California Bluebell | flower | Mar 30 | May 24 – Jun 3 |
| Calypso Cilantro | herb | Mar 30 | May 19 – May 24 |
| Cascadia Sugar Snap Pea | legume | Mar 9 | May 13 – May 15 |
| Charleston Wakefield Cabbage | brassica | Mar 9 | May 23 |
| Chinese Forget-Me-Not Flowers | flower | Mar 16 | May 20 – Jun 9 |
| Clemson Spineless Okra | vegetable | Mar 30 | May 24 – Jun 2 |
| Copenhagen Cabbage | brassica | Mar 16 | May 20 |
| Crackerjack Mix Marigolds | flower | Mar 30 | May 29 – Jun 13 |
| Crimson Clover | cover crop | Mar 30 | May 29 – Jun 28 |
| Crimson Forest Bunching Onions | root vegetable | Mar 30 | May 29 |
| Crosby's Egyptian Beets | root vegetable | Mar 30 | May 24 – May 29 |
| Cylindra Beets | root vegetable | Mar 30 | May 29 |
| Dark Green Italian Giant Parsley | herb | Mar 16 | May 15 – May 30 |
| Delicatesse Blue Kohlrabi | brassica | Mar 9 | May 3 – May 8 |
| Delicatesse White Kohlrabi | brassica | Mar 9 | May 3 – May 8 |
| Di Cicco Broccoli | brassica | Mar 16 | May 20 |
| Dill | herb | Mar 30 | May 9 – May 24 |
| Dutch Yellow Shallots | allium | Mar 2 | May 31 – Jun 30 |
| Dwarf Jewel Mix Nasturtium Flowers | flower | Mar 30 | May 19 – May 29 |
| Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage | brassica | Mar 9 | May 13 – May 23 |
| Early Purple Broccoli | brassica | Mar 16 | May 20 |
| Early Wonder Beets | root vegetable | Mar 30 | May 19 |
| Empress of India Nasturtium Flowers | flower | Mar 30 | May 19 – May 29 |
| Evergreen Parsley | herb | Mar 16 | May 25 – Jun 9 |
| Fairy Dwarf Mix Candytuft Flowers | flower | Mar 23 | May 7 – May 22 |
| French Marigold | flower | Mar 30 | May 19 – May 29 |
| French Red Shallots | allium | Mar 2 | May 31 – Jun 30 |
| German Chamomile | herb | Mar 30 | May 29 – Jun 3 |
| Globe Gilia Flowers | flower | Mar 30 | May 29 – Jun 18 |
| Glorious Gleam Nasturtium Flowers | flower | Mar 30 | May 24 – Jun 8 |
| Golden Acre Cabbage | brassica | Mar 16 | May 20 |
| Golden Detroit Beets | root vegetable | Mar 30 | May 24 – May 29 |
| Golden Globe Turnips | root vegetable | Mar 30 | May 14 – May 19 |
| Green Arrow Pea | legume | Mar 9 | May 13 – May 18 |
| Hairy vetch cover crop stands | cover crop | Mar 30 | May 29 – Jun 28 |
| Hard Red Wheat Cover Crop | cover crop | Mar 9 | May 23 – Jun 12 |
| Holland Red Shallots | allium | Mar 2 | May 31 – Jun 30 |
| Igloo Cauliflower | brassica | Mar 16 | May 20 – May 25 |
| Japanese Eggplant | vegetable | Mar 30 | May 19 – Jun 3 |
| Lacy Phacelia Flowers | flower | Mar 30 | May 24 – Jun 13 |
| Lemon Cucumber | cucumber | Mar 30 | May 29 – Jun 8 |
| Little Fingers Carrots | root vegetable | Mar 30 | May 24 |
| Little Marvel Pea | legume | Mar 9 | May 8 – May 11 |
| Mammoth Melting Sugar Snow Pea | legume | Mar 9 | May 16 – May 22 |
| Medium Red Clover Cover Crop | cover crop | Mar 16 | May 15 – May 30 |
| Michihili Cabbage | brassica | Mar 9 | May 18 |
| Nasturtium | flower | Mar 30 | May 19 – Jun 3 |
| National Pickling Cucumber | cucumber | Mar 30 | May 19 – May 27 |
| Nodding Catchfly Flowers | flower | Mar 30 | May 29 – Jun 28 |
| Orange Sulphur Cosmos Flowers | flower | Mar 30 | May 24 – Jun 8 |
| Oregon Giant Snow Pea | legume | Mar 9 | May 18 – May 22 |
| Oregon Sugar Pod Snow Pea | legume | Mar 9 | May 8 – May 16 |
| Paris Market Carrots | root vegetable | Mar 30 | May 19 – May 24 |
| Peach Melba Nasturtium Flowers | flower | Mar 30 | May 19 – May 29 |
| Phacelia cover crop and bee forage | cover crop | Mar 30 | May 14 – May 29 |
| Plains Coreopsis | flower | Mar 30 | May 29 – Jun 8 |
| Progress No. 9 Shelling Pea | legume | Mar 9 | May 6 – May 10 |
| Rapini Broccoli Raab | brassica | Mar 16 | May 20 |
| Red Acre Cabbage | brassica | Mar 9 | May 23 – May 28 |
| Royal Carpet Alyssum Flowers | flower | Mar 23 | May 7 – May 22 |
| Scarlet Flax Flowers | flower | Mar 16 | May 10 – May 25 |
| Signet marigold edible flowers | flower | Mar 30 | May 29 – Jun 3 |
| Snowball Self-Blanche Cauliflower | brassica | Mar 16 | May 20 |
| Sparky Mix Marigolds | flower | Mar 30 | May 24 – Jun 8 |
| Sweet Alyssum | flower | Mar 30 | May 9 – May 24 |
| Tall Trailing Mix Nasturtium Flowers | flower | Mar 30 | May 24 – Jun 8 |
| Tomatillo | vegetable | Mar 30 | May 29 – Jun 23 |
| Vienna Purple Kohlrabi | brassica | Mar 9 | May 3 – May 13 |
| Vienna White Kohlrabi | brassica | Mar 9 | May 13 |
| Vietnamese Coriander | herb | Mar 30 | May 9 – May 29 |
| Viola and pansy edible flowers | flower | Mar 16 | May 15 – May 25 |
| Violetta Purple Cauliflower | brassica | Mar 16 | May 20 |
| Wando Pea | legume | Mar 9 | May 11 – May 16 |
| Whirlybird Nasturtium Flowers | flower | Mar 30 | May 19 – May 29 |
| White Detroit Beets | root vegetable | Mar 30 | May 24 – May 29 |
| Yellow Sulphur Cosmos Flowers | flower | Mar 30 | May 24 – Jun 8 |
| Yellow Sweet Blossom Clover Cover Crop | cover crop | Mar 16 | May 15 – Jun 14 |
| Zinnia | flower | Mar 30 | May 29 – Jun 28 |
| Ashley Cucumber | cucumber | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 5 |
| Beit Alpha Cucumbers | cucumber | Apr 6 | May 26 – Jun 10 |
| Black Beauty Zucchini | squash | Apr 10 | May 25 – Jun 4 |
| Blue Lake Bush Bean | legume | Apr 6 | May 26 – Jun 3 |
| Borlotti Bush Bean | legume | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 10 |
| Boston Pickling Cucumber | cucumber | Apr 6 | May 26 – May 31 |
| Bush Pickle Cucumbers | cucumber | Apr 6 | May 21 – May 29 |
| Chioggia Beet | root vegetable | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 10 |
| Cocozelle Summer Squash | squash | Apr 6 | May 26 |
| Contender Bush Bean | legume | Apr 6 | May 21 – May 31 |
| County Fair Cucumbers | cucumber | Apr 6 | May 26 – May 28 |
| Daikon Radishes | root vegetable | Apr 6 | May 21 – May 31 |
| Detroit Dark Red Beet | root vegetable | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 5 |
| Dragon Tongue Bean | legume | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 5 |
| Eight Ball Zucchini | squash | Apr 6 | May 21 – May 31 |
| Epazote | herb | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 10 |
| Gold Rush Zucchini | squash | Apr 6 | May 21 – May 26 |
| Golden Beet | root vegetable | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 10 |
| Golden Wax Bush Bean | legume | Apr 6 | May 26 – Jun 5 |
| Green Fingers Persian Cucumber | cucumber | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 5 |
| Green Purslane | vegetable | Apr 6 | May 11 – May 26 |
| Harvester Bush Bean | legume | Apr 6 | May 26 – May 31 |
| Homemade Pickles Cucumber | cucumber | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 5 |
| Jade Bush Bean | legume | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 5 |
| Landreth Bush Bean | legume | Apr 6 | May 26 – May 31 |
| Lebanese White Bush Summer Squash | squash | Apr 6 | May 21 |
| Marketer Cucumber | cucumber | Apr 6 | May 31 |
| Matt's Wild Cherry Tomatoes | tomato | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 10 |
| Maxibel Filet Bean | legume | Apr 6 | May 26 – Jun 5 |
| Pattypan Squash | squash | Apr 6 | May 23 – May 31 |
| Poona Kheera Cucumbers | cucumber | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 10 |
| Provider Bush Bean | legume | Apr 6 | May 26 – May 31 |
| Red Garnet Amaranth | vegetable | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 5 |
| Roma II Bush Bean | legume | Apr 6 | May 29 – Jun 4 |
| Round de Nice Zucchini Summer Squash | squash | Apr 6 | May 21 |
| Royal Burgundy Bush Bean | legume | Apr 6 | May 26 – May 31 |
| Shelling Pea | legume | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 15 |
| Slenderette Bush Bean | legume | Apr 6 | May 29 – Jun 2 |
| Snow Pea | legume | Apr 6 | May 28 – Jun 15 |
| Sugar Snap Pea | legume | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 15 |
| Summer Max Mix Cover Crop | cover crop | Apr 13 | May 28 – Jun 12 |
| Summer Savory | herb | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 10 |
| Sunspot Sunflowers | flower | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 15 |
| Sweet Success Cucumbers | cucumber | Apr 6 | May 30 – Jun 3 |
| Tasty Jade Cucumbers | cucumber | Apr 6 | May 30 |
| Tavera Filet Bean | legume | Apr 6 | May 30 |
| Tendergreen Bush Bean | legume | Apr 6 | May 26 – May 31 |
| Tiny Tim Tomatoes | tomato | Apr 13 | May 28 – Jun 7 |
| Top Crop Bush Bean | legume | Apr 6 | May 26 – May 31 |
| Tri Color Amaranth (Joseph's Coat) | vegetable | Apr 6 | May 6 – May 21 |
| Turnip | root vegetable | Apr 6 | May 26 – Jun 5 |
| Watermelon Radishes | root vegetable | Apr 6 | May 26 – Jun 10 |
| West Indian Burr Gherkin Cucumber | cucumber | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 10 |
| White Wonder Cucumber | cucumber | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 5 |
| Wisconsin SMR 58 Cucumbers | cucumber | Apr 6 | May 31 – Jun 3 |
| Yellow Crookneck Squash | squash | Apr 6 | May 26 – Jun 5 |
| Garlic | root vegetable | Oct 1 | May 29 – Jun 28 |
Key Tasks for May in Zone 8A
- 1 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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