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Zone 8B — May

What to Plant in May in Zone 8B

May in Zone 8B: 0 crops to start indoors, 0 to plant or direct sow outside, and 215 entering harvest window. Last frost averages March 20. Reference city: Houston, TX.
Updated May 13, 2026 · Frost data from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
0 Start Indoors
0 Plant Outside
215 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

Nothing to start seeds indoors in May for Zone 8B.
Next window: September — 1 variety, including Garlic.

Plant Outside in May

Nothing to plant or sow outside in May for Zone 8B.
Next window: August — 1 variety, including Nantes Carrot (fall planting).

Harvest in May

Plant Type Planted / Sown Harvest Window
Broad Windsor Fava Bean legume Feb 27 May 13 – May 23
Cascadia Sugar Snap Pea legume Feb 27 May 3 – May 5
Charleston Wakefield Cabbage brassica Feb 27 May 13
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
Full Heart Batavian lettuce Feb 6 May 2 – May 7
Green Arrow Pea legume Feb 27 May 3 – May 8
Hard Red Wheat Cover Crop cover crop Feb 27 May 13 – Jun 2
Holland Red Shallots allium Feb 20 May 21 – Jun 20
Mammoth Melting Sugar Snow Pea legume Feb 27 May 6 – May 12
Michihili Cabbage brassica Feb 27 May 8
Oregon Giant Snow Pea legume Feb 27 May 8 – May 12
Red Acre Cabbage brassica Feb 27 May 13 – May 18
Verona Red lettuce Feb 6 May 2 – May 9
Vienna White Kohlrabi brassica Feb 27 May 3
Wando Pea legume Feb 27 May 1 – May 6
Witloof White lettuce Feb 6 May 23 – Jun 15
Alaska Mix Nasturtium Flowers flower Mar 20 May 9 – May 19
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
Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry vegetable Mar 20 May 29 – Jun 18
Baby Blue Eyes Flowers flower Mar 20 May 19 – Jun 18
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 20 May 9 – May 19
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
Brunswick Cabbage brassica Mar 6 May 25 – Jun 4
Bull's Blood Beets root vegetable Mar 20 May 9 – May 14
Bush Pickle Cucumbers cucumber Mar 27 May 11 – May 19
Calabrese Broccoli brassica Mar 6 May 10
Calendula flower Mar 20 May 9 – May 19
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
Caserta Summer Squash squash Mar 27 May 31
Chantenay Carrots root vegetable Mar 20 May 29
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 – May 31
Cinnamon Basil herb Mar 27 May 31 – Jun 15
Clemson Spineless Okra vegetable Mar 20 May 14 – May 23
Cocozelle Summer Squash squash Mar 27 May 16
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
Cosmos flower Mar 20 May 29 – Jun 18
Cosmos Sensations Mix Flowers flower Mar 20 May 29 – Jun 3
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 root vegetable Mar 20 May 19
Crosby's Egyptian Beets root vegetable Mar 20 May 14 – May 19
Curly Parsley herb Mar 20 May 29 – Jun 8
Cylindra Beets root vegetable Mar 20 May 19
Daikon Radishes root vegetable Mar 27 May 11 – May 21
Dark Green Italian Giant Parsley herb Mar 6 May 5 – May 20
Detroit Dark Red Beet root vegetable Mar 27 May 21 – May 26
Di Cicco Broccoli brassica Mar 6 May 10
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 20 May 9
Eight Ball Zucchini squash Mar 27 May 11 – May 21
Empress of India Nasturtium Flowers flower Mar 20 May 9 – May 19
Epazote herb Mar 27 May 21 – May 31
Everbearing Cucumber cucumber Mar 27 May 26
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
French Marigold flower Mar 20 May 9 – May 19
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 20 May 14 – May 19
Golden Globe Turnips root vegetable Mar 20 May 4 – May 9
Golden Wax Bush Bean legume Mar 27 May 16 – May 26
Greek Basil herb Mar 27 May 31 – Jun 10
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 30 May 30 – Jun 8
Heritage Rainbow Blend Carrots root vegetable Mar 20 May 29 – Jun 3
Homemade Pickles Cucumber cucumber Mar 27 May 21 – 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
Japanese Eggplant vegetable Mar 20 May 9 – May 24
Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean legume Mar 27 May 31 – Jun 7
Kuroda Carrots root vegetable Mar 20 May 29
Lacy Phacelia Flowers flower Mar 20 May 14 – Jun 3
Landreth Bush Bean legume Mar 27 May 16 – May 21
Lebanese White Bush Summer Squash squash Mar 27 May 11
Lemon Cucumber cucumber Mar 20 May 19 – May 29
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 20 May 14
Love-in-a-Mist Flowers flower Mar 20 May 24 – Jun 13
Luminosa Zinnia Flowers flower Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 5
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
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
National Pickling Cucumber cucumber Mar 20 May 9 – May 17
Nodding Catchfly Flowers flower Mar 20 May 19 – Jun 18
Nutri-Red Carrots root vegetable Mar 20 May 29 – Jun 3
Orange King Zinnia Flowers flower Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 5
Orange Sulphur Cosmos Flowers flower Mar 20 May 14 – May 29
Paris Market Carrots root vegetable Mar 20 May 9 – May 14
Pattypan Squash squash Mar 27 May 13 – May 21
Peach Melba Nasturtium Flowers flower Mar 20 May 9 – May 19
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
Provider Bush Bean legume Mar 27 May 16 – May 21
Purple Carrots root vegetable Mar 20 May 29 – Jun 3
Purple Haze Carrots root vegetable Mar 20 May 29 – Jun 1
Pápalo leaves herb Mar 20 May 29 – Jun 8
Rapini Broccoli Raab brassica Mar 6 May 10
Rattlesnake Pole Bean legume Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 5
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 11
Royal Burgundy Bush Bean legume Mar 27 May 16 – 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
Snow White Carrots root vegetable Mar 20 May 29 – Jun 3
Snowball Self-Blanche Cauliflower brassica Mar 6 May 10
Solar Yellow Carrots root vegetable Mar 20 May 29 – Jun 3
Spacemaster Bush Cucumber cucumber Mar 27 May 26 – May 31
Sparky Mix Marigolds flower Mar 20 May 14 – May 29
St. Valery Carrots root vegetable Mar 20 May 29
Straight Eight Cucumber cucumber Mar 27 May 26 – May 31
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
Tendersweet Carrots root vegetable Mar 20 May 29
Tomatillo vegetable Mar 20 May 19 – Jun 13
Tongue of Fire Bean legume Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 30
Top Crop Bush Bean legume Mar 27 May 16 – May 21
Turnip root vegetable Mar 27 May 16 – May 26
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
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 20 May 14 – May 19
White Lisbon Bunching Onions root vegetable Mar 20 May 24
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 Crookneck Squash squash Mar 27 May 16 – May 26
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
Zinnia flower Mar 20 May 19 – Jun 18
Broccolini brassica Apr 3 May 23 – Jun 12
Early Girl Tomatoes tomato Apr 3 May 25 – Jun 4
Emerald Green Velvet Okra vegetable Apr 3 May 28 – May 31
Glacier Tomatoes tomato Apr 3 May 28 – May 31
Long Ping Tung Eggplant vegetable Apr 3 May 28 – Jun 2
Manitoba Tomatoes tomato Apr 3 May 28 – Jun 7
Marketmore 76 Cucumber cucumber Apr 3 May 31 – Jun 10
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
Summer Max Mix Cover Crop cover crop Apr 3 May 18 – Jun 2
Sun Gold Tomatoes tomato Apr 3 May 30 – Jun 7
Tigerella Tomatoes tomato Apr 3 May 28 – Jun 12
Tiny Tim Tomatoes tomato Apr 3 May 18 – May 28
Garlic root vegetable Sep 21 May 19 – Jun 18

Key Tasks for May in Zone 8B

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

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