What to plant in May — zone 3a
Zone 3a averages its last spring frost around May 30 and its first fall frost around September 10. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Garden care
- Harden off early transplantsaround May 2
Two weeks of increasing outdoor time keeps cold-hardy seedlings from stalling when they go out.
Start indoors
- Lettucearound May 2
4 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-30). Succession sow every 2 weeks. Harvest outer leaves for a cut-and-come-again supply.
Direct sow
- Lettucearound May 2
Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.
- Spinacharound May 2
Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.
- Radisharound May 2
Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.
- Carrotaround May 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Kalearound May 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Beetaround May 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Onionaround May 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Broccoliaround May 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Chivesaround May 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Potatoaround May 16
Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.
- Cilantroaround May 16
Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.
- Parsleyaround May 16
Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.
- Dillaround May 30
Soil is ready 0 weeks after last frost.
Transplant out
- Kalearound May 9
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Broccoliaround May 9
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Chivesaround May 9
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Strawberryaround May 9
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Lettucearound May 16
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Onionaround May 16
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Parsleyaround May 16
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Mintaround May 16
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
Plan & order
- Order fall seedaround May 13
Fall brassicas and greens get sown in the heat of summer — have the seed on hand before that window opens.
Start indoors for fall
- Broccoliaround May 16
Fall broccoli window opens — sow trays any time in the next four weeks.
Turn this into your own calendar
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