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Zone 8B — May

What to Plant in May in Zone 8B

May in Zone 8B: 9 crops to start indoors, 0 to plant or direct sow outside, and 210 entering harvest window. Last frost averages March 20. Reference city: Houston, TX.
Updated May 13, 2026 · Frost data from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
9 Start Indoors
0 Plant Outside
210 Harvest
Frost risk: Cleared

Frost season has cleared in Zone 8B. The last spring frost typically passed by March 20, and the very latest 10% chance closed by April 8. Tender crops are safe to plant out.

See full Zone 8B frost outlook

Start Indoors in May

Plant Type Start Indoors Transplant Outside Harvest Window
Black Beauty Eggplant (fall planting) vegetable May 20 Jul 15 Sep 28 – Oct 13
Casper Eggplant (fall planting) vegetable May 20 Jul 15 Sep 28
Florida Market Eggplant (fall planting) vegetable May 20 Jul 15 Oct 3 – Oct 13
Long Green Louisiana Eggplant (fall planting) vegetable May 20 Jul 15 Sep 18 – Sep 23
Long Ping Tung Eggplant (fall planting) vegetable May 20 Jul 15 Sep 8 – Sep 13
Long Purple Italian Eggplant (fall planting) vegetable May 20 Jul 15 Sep 28
Pandora Striped Eggplant (fall planting) vegetable May 20 Jul 15 Sep 28 – Oct 3
Round Mauve Eggplant (fall planting) vegetable May 20 Jul 15 Oct 3 – Oct 13
Cherry Bomb peppers (fall planting) pepper May 23 Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20

Plant Outside in May

Nothing to plant or sow outside in May for Zone 8B.
Next window: July — 10 varieties, including Black Beauty Eggplant (fall planting), Casper Eggplant (fall planting), Florida Market Eggplant (fall planting).

Harvest in May

Plant Type Planted / Sown Harvest Window
Broadleaf Full Heart Batavian Endive lettuce Feb 6 May 2 – May 7
Candy Onion allium Feb 13 May 14 – May 24
Charleston Wakefield Cabbage brassica Feb 27 May 8
Dutch Yellow Shallots allium Feb 20 May 21 – Jun 20
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage brassica Feb 27 May 3 – May 13
French Red Shallots allium Feb 20 May 21 – Jun 20
Hard Red Wheat Cover Crop cover crop Feb 27 May 13 – Jun 2
Holland Red Shallots allium Feb 20 May 21 – Jun 20
King Richard Leek allium Feb 20 May 6
Leek allium Feb 20 May 31 – Jun 30
Michihili Cabbage brassica Feb 27 May 8
Red Acre Cabbage brassica Feb 27 May 13 – May 18
Shallot allium Feb 27 May 28 – Jun 27
Verona Red Chicory lettuce Feb 6 May 2 – May 9
Witloof White Chicory lettuce Feb 6 May 27 – Jun 16
Alaska Early Pea legume Mar 27 May 23
Alaska Mix Nasturtium Flowers flower Mar 20 May 14 – May 24
All Season Cabbage brassica Mar 6 May 15 – May 25
All Year Round Cauliflower brassica Mar 6 May 10
Armenian Cucumber cucumber Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 5
Ashley Cucumber cucumber Mar 27 May 21 – May 26
Baby Blue Eyes Flowers flower Mar 20 May 19 – Jun 18
Baby's Breath Flowers flower Mar 20 May 4 – May 19
Bachelor's button edible flowers flower Mar 20 May 19 – Jun 8
Basil Herb Mix herb Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 15
Beit Alpha Cucumbers cucumber Mar 27 May 16 – May 31
Black Beauty Zucchini squash Mar 31 May 15 – May 25
Black-Eyed Pea legume Mar 27 May 31 – Jun 5
Blue Lake Bush Bean legume Mar 27 May 16 – May 24
Boltardy Beets root vegetable Mar 27 May 16 – May 26
Borage flower Mar 20 May 14 – Jun 3
Borlotti Bush Bean legume Mar 27 May 21 – May 31
Boston Pickling Cucumber cucumber Mar 27 May 16 – May 21
Bull's Blood Beets root vegetable Mar 27 May 16 – May 21
Bush Pickle Cucumbers cucumber Mar 27 May 11 – May 19
Calabrese Broccoli brassica Mar 6 May 10
California Bluebell flower Mar 20 May 14 – May 24
California Giant Mix Zinnia Flowers flower Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 5
Calypso Cilantro herb Mar 20 May 9 – May 14
Canary Bird Zinnia Flowers flower Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 5
Cascadia Sugar Snap Pea legume Mar 27 May 26
Caserta Summer Squash squash Mar 27 May 31
Cherokee Trail of Tears Bean legume Mar 27 May 31 – Jun 25
Cherry Queen Zinnia Flowers flower Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 5
Chinese Forget-Me-Not Flowers flower Mar 6 May 10 – May 30
Chioggia Beet root vegetable Mar 27 May 21
Cinnamon Basil herb Mar 27 May 31 – Jun 15
Cocozelle Summer Squash squash Mar 27 May 24
Contender Bush Bean legume Mar 27 May 11 – May 21
Copenhagen Cabbage brassica Mar 6 May 10
Cosmic Purple Carrot root vegetable Mar 27 May 24 – Jun 10
County Fair Cucumbers cucumber Mar 27 May 16 – May 18
Crackerjack Mix Marigolds flower Mar 20 May 19 – Jun 3
Crimson Clover cover crop Mar 20 May 19 – Jun 18
Crimson Forest Bunching Onions allium Mar 20 May 19
Crosby's Egyptian Beets root vegetable Mar 27 May 21 – May 26
Curly Parsley herb Mar 20 May 29 – Jun 8
Cylindra Beets root vegetable Mar 27 May 26
Dark Green Italian Giant Parsley herb Mar 6 May 5 – May 20
Dark Green Summer Squash squash Mar 27 May 16
Detroit Dark Red Beet root vegetable Mar 27 May 26
Diva Cucumbers cucumber Mar 27 May 24
Dragon Tongue Bean legume Mar 27 May 21 – May 26
Dwarf Jewel Mix Nasturtium Flowers flower Mar 20 May 9 – May 19
Early Purple Broccoli brassica Mar 6 May 10
Early Wonder Beets root vegetable Mar 27 May 16
Eight Ball Zucchini squash Mar 27 May 11 – May 21
Empress of India Nasturtium Flowers flower Mar 20 May 14 – May 24
Epazote herb Mar 27 May 21 – May 31
Everbearing Cucumber cucumber Mar 27 May 26
Evergreen Bunching Onions allium Mar 20 May 19 – May 24
Evergreen Parsley herb Mar 6 May 15 – May 30
Flat-Leaf Parsley herb Mar 20 May 29 – Jun 18
Fortex Pole Bean legume Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 5
Gaillardia Annual Mix Flowers flower Mar 20 May 29 – Jun 18
German Chamomile herb Mar 20 May 19 – May 24
Globe Gilia Flowers flower Mar 20 May 19 – Jun 8
Glorious Gleam Nasturtium Flowers flower Mar 20 May 14 – May 29
Gold Rush Zucchini squash Mar 27 May 11 – May 16
Golden Acre Cabbage brassica Mar 6 May 10
Golden Beet root vegetable Mar 27 May 21 – May 31
Golden Bush Scallop Summer Squash squash Mar 27 May 31
Golden Detroit Beets root vegetable Mar 27 May 21 – May 26
Golden Globe Turnips root vegetable Mar 27 May 11 – May 16
Golden Wax Bush Bean legume Mar 27 May 16 – May 26
Greek Basil herb Mar 27 May 31 – Jun 10
Green Arrow Pea legume Mar 27 May 31 – Jun 5
Green Fingers Persian Cucumber cucumber Mar 27 May 21 – May 26
Green Purslane vegetable Mar 27 May 1 – May 16
Green shiso leaves herb Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 5
H-19 Little Leaf Cucumbers cucumber Mar 27 May 23 – May 28
Hairy vetch cover crop stands cover crop Mar 20 May 19 – Jun 18
Harvester Bush Bean legume Mar 27 May 16 – May 21
Henderson Bush Lima Bean legume Mar 27 May 27 – Jun 5
Homemade Pickles Cucumber cucumber Mar 27 May 26
Igloo Cauliflower brassica Mar 6 May 10 – May 15
Italian Large Leaf Basil herb Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 10
Jade Bush Bean legume Mar 27 May 21 – May 26
Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean legume Mar 27 May 31
Lacy Phacelia Flowers flower Mar 20 May 4 – May 19
Landreth Bush Bean legume Mar 27 May 16 – May 21
Lebanese White Bush Summer Squash squash Mar 27 May 16
Lettuce Leaf Basil herb Mar 27 May 31 – Jun 15
Licorice Basil herb Mar 27 May 31 – Jun 15
Lima Bean legume Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 15
Lime Basil herb Mar 27 May 31 – Jun 10
Little Fingers Carrots root vegetable Mar 27 May 21
Little Marvel Pea legume Mar 27 May 26 – May 29
Love-in-a-Mist Flowers flower Mar 20 May 24 – May 29
Luminosa Zinnia Flowers flower Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 5
Lunar White Carrots root vegetable Mar 27 May 21 – May 26
Mammoth Sunflower flower Mar 20 May 24 – Jun 8
Marketer Cucumber cucumber Mar 27 May 21
Matt's Wild Cherry Tomatoes tomato Mar 27 May 21 – May 31
Maxibel Filet Bean legume Mar 27 May 16 – May 26
Medium Red Clover Cover Crop cover crop Mar 6 May 5 – May 20
Minowase Daikon Radish root vegetable Mar 27 May 11 – May 21
Mrs. Burns Lemon Basil herb Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 5
Muncher Cucumber cucumber Mar 27 May 26 – May 31
Nantes Carrot root vegetable Mar 27 May 28 – Jun 10
Nasturtium flower Mar 20 May 9 – May 24
Nodding Catchfly Flowers flower Mar 20 May 19 – Jun 18
Orange King Zinnia Flowers flower Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 5
Orange Sulphur Cosmos Flowers flower Mar 20 May 14 – May 29
Oregon Giant Snow Pea legume Mar 27 May 26
Oregon Sugar Pod Snow Pea legume Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 3
Paris Market Carrots root vegetable Mar 27 May 31
Peach Melba Nasturtium Flowers flower Mar 20 May 9 – May 19
Petch Siam Thai Eggplant vegetable Mar 20 May 21
Phacelia cover crop and bee forage cover crop Mar 20 May 4 – May 19
Pinkeye Purple Hull Cowpea legume Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 5
Plains Coreopsis flower Mar 20 May 19 – May 29
Polar Bear Zinnia Flowers flower Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 5
Poona Kheera Cucumbers cucumber Mar 27 May 21 – May 31
Progress No. 9 Shelling Pea legume Mar 27 May 24 – May 28
Provider Bush Bean legume Mar 27 May 16 – May 21
Purple Top White Globe Turnip root vegetable Mar 27 May 16
Pápalo leaves herb Mar 20 May 29 – Jun 8
Queen Anne's Lace Flowers flower Mar 20 May 24 – Jun 3
Rattlesnake Pole Bean legume Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 5
Red Currant Tomato tomato Mar 20 May 29 – Jun 8
Red Garnet Amaranth vegetable Mar 27 May 21 – May 26
Red Velvet Leaf Basil herb Mar 27 May 31 – Jun 15
Roma II Bush Bean legume Mar 27 May 19 – May 25
Romano Pole Bean legume Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 3
Round de Nice Zucchini Summer Squash squash Mar 27 May 18
Royal Burgundy Bush Bean legume Mar 27 May 21
Salad Bush Cucumbers cucumber Mar 27 May 23 – May 24
Shelling Pea legume Mar 27 May 21 – Jun 5
Signet marigold edible flowers flower Mar 20 May 19 – May 24
Slenderette Bush Bean legume Mar 27 May 19 – May 23
Snow Pea legume Mar 27 May 18 – Jun 5
Snowball Self-Blanche Cauliflower brassica Mar 6 May 10
Spacemaster Bush Cucumber cucumber Mar 27 May 26 – May 31
Sparky Mix Marigolds flower Mar 20 May 14 – May 29
Straight Eight Cucumber cucumber Mar 27 May 26 – May 31
Sugar Ann Snap Pea legume Mar 27 May 21
Sugar Snap Pea legume Mar 27 May 21 – Jun 5
Summer Savory herb Mar 27 May 21 – May 31
Sunspot Sunflowers flower Mar 27 May 21 – Jun 5
Suyo Long Cucumbers cucumber Mar 27 May 26 – May 31
Sweet Success Cucumbers cucumber Mar 27 May 20 – May 24
Tall Trailing Mix Nasturtium Flowers flower Mar 20 May 14 – May 29
Tasty Jade Cucumbers cucumber Mar 27 May 20
Tavera Filet Bean legume Mar 27 May 20
Taylor Dwarf Bush Bean legume Mar 27 May 31 – Jun 3
Tendergreen Burpless Cucumber cucumber Mar 27 May 31
Tendergreen Bush Bean legume Mar 27 May 16 – May 21
Thorogreen Bush Lima Bean legume Mar 27 May 31 – Jun 10
Tongue of Fire Bean legume Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 30
Top Crop Bush Bean legume Mar 27 May 16 – May 21
Vermont Cranberry Bean legume Mar 27 May 31 – Jun 30
Viola and pansy edible flowers flower Mar 6 May 5 – May 15
Violetta Purple Cauliflower brassica Mar 6 May 10
Wando Pea legume Mar 27 May 29 – Jun 3
Watermelon Radishes root vegetable Mar 27 May 16 – May 31
Wautoma Cucumbers cucumber Mar 27 May 26
West Indian Burr Gherkin Cucumber cucumber Mar 27 May 21 – May 31
Whirlybird Nasturtium Flowers flower Mar 20 May 9 – May 19
White Detroit Beets root vegetable Mar 27 May 21 – May 26
White Lisbon Bunching Onions allium Mar 20 May 19
White Wonder Cucumber cucumber Mar 27 May 21 – May 26
Wisconsin SMR 58 Cucumbers cucumber Mar 27 May 21 – May 24
Yard Long Bean legume Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 25
Yellow Sulphur Cosmos Flowers flower Mar 20 May 14 – May 29
Yellow Sweet Blossom Clover Cover Crop cover crop Mar 6 May 5 – Jun 4
Broccolini brassica Apr 3 May 23 – Jun 2
Calendula flower Apr 3 May 23 – Jun 2
Clemson Spineless Okra vegetable Apr 3 May 28 – Jun 6
Early Girl Tomatoes tomato Apr 3 May 25 – Jun 4
Early White Bush Scallop Pattypan Squash squash Apr 3 May 20 – May 28
Emerald Green Velvet Okra vegetable Apr 3 May 28 – May 31
French Marigold flower Apr 3 May 23 – Jun 2
Glacier Tomatoes tomato Apr 3 May 28 – May 31
Japanese Eggplant vegetable Apr 3 May 23 – Jun 7
Long Ping Tung Eggplant vegetable Apr 3 May 28 – Jun 2
Marketmore 76 Cucumber cucumber Apr 3 May 31 – Jun 10
National Pickling Cucumber cucumber Apr 3 May 23 – May 31
Oregon Spring Tomatoes tomato Apr 3 May 31 – Jun 12
Red Burgundy Okra vegetable Apr 3 May 28 – Jun 2
Red Robin Tomatoes tomato Apr 3 May 28
Sakura Tomatoes tomato Apr 3 May 28 – Jun 2
Snow Crown Cauliflower brassica Apr 3 May 23 – Jun 2
Stupice Tomatoes tomato Apr 3 May 28 – Jun 12
Summer Max Mix Cover Crop cover crop Apr 3 May 18 – Jun 2
Sun Gold Tomatoes tomato Apr 3 May 30 – Jun 7
Sweet Alyssum flower Apr 3 May 13 – May 28
Tigerella Tomatoes tomato Apr 3 May 28 – Jun 12
Tiny Tim Tomatoes tomato Apr 3 May 18 – May 28
Yellow Crookneck Squash squash Apr 3 May 23 – Jun 2

Key Tasks for May in Zone 8B

  1. 1 Start 9 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. 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.
Back to full Zone 8B planting calendar
April May in Zone 8B June

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