What to plant in May — zone 7a
Zone 7a averages its last spring frost around April 15 and its first fall frost around October 25. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Direct sow
- Winter squasharound May 6
Warm soil — first summer sowing of winter squash.
- Beetaround May 13
Warm soil — first summer sowing of beet.
- Carrotaround May 13
Warm soil — first summer sowing of carrot.
Garden care
- Mulch every bedaround May 6
3-4 in of straw or leaves now holds water, blocks weeds, and cools roots for the whole summer.
- Set up deep wateringaround May 13
Switch to fewer, longer soaks (1-1.5 in/week at the root) instead of daily sprinkles.
- Side-dress heavy feedersaround May 27
Tomatoes, peppers, corn and squash get compost or fish emulsion once fruit sets.
Succession sow
- Bush beanaround May 13
Sowing 2: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Sweet cornaround May 13
Sowing 2: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Cucumberaround May 20
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Zucchiniaround May 20
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Basilaround May 20
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Bush beanaround May 27
Sowing 3: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Winter squasharound May 27
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Sweet cornaround May 27
Sowing 3: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
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