What to plant in May: zone 7a
A rule-of-thumb starting point for zone 7a: last spring frost around April 15, first fall frost around October 25. Zones are set by winter lows, not frost dates, so two gardens in the same zone can be weeks apart. Measure your ZIP below for dates from your area's own 30-year record.
Transplant out
- Sweet Potatoaround May 6
Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Plant rooted slips, not seed. Wait until soil holds 65F, then let vines sprawl and cure roots at 80F for 10 days before storage: that curing step is what makes them sweet.
- Eggplantaround May 6
Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Eggplant sulks in cold soil. Transplant 3 weeks after last frost, not on it. Harvest while skin is glossy: dull skin means bitter, seedy flesh.
- Okraaround May 6
Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Okra wants hot soil, 70F+, or seed rots. Pick pods at 3-4 in every other day: one pod left to toughen tells the plant to stop producing.
- Malabar Spinacharound May 6
Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Not a true spinach; it's a vigorous heat-loving vine that replaces greens through the hottest weeks other greens can't survive.
Direct sow
- Okraaround May 6
Soil is ready 3 weeks after last frost.
- 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 bed3 sowings: May 6 and May 13 and May 27
3-4 in of straw or leaves now holds water, blocks weeds, and cools roots for the whole summer. Sowing again a few weeks later keeps the harvest coming instead of arriving all at once.
Succession sow
- Bush bean2 sowings: May 13 and May 27
Sowing 2: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season. Sowing again a few weeks later keeps the harvest coming instead of arriving all at once.
- Sweet corn2 sowings: May 13 and May 27
Sowing 2: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season. Sowing again a few weeks later keeps the harvest coming instead of arriving all at once.
- 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.
- Winter squasharound May 27
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
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