What to plant in May — zone 7b
Zone 7b averages its last spring frost around April 5 and its first fall frost around November 5. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Succession sow
- Bush beanaround May 3
Sowing 2: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Sweet cornaround May 3
Sowing 2: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Cucumberaround May 10
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Zucchiniaround May 10
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Basilaround May 10
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Bush beanaround May 17
Sowing 3: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Winter squasharound May 17
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Sweet cornaround May 17
Sowing 3: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Beetaround May 24
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Carrotaround May 24
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Bush beanaround May 31
Sowing 4: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Cucumberaround May 31
Sowing 3: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Zucchiniaround May 31
Sowing 3: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Sweet cornaround May 31
Sowing 4: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Basilaround May 31
Sowing 3: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
Direct sow
Garden care
- Set up deep wateringaround May 3
Switch to fewer, longer soaks (1-1.5 in/week at the root) instead of daily sprinkles.
- Side-dress heavy feedersaround May 17
Tomatoes, peppers, corn and squash get compost or fish emulsion once fruit sets.
- Prune and stake tomatoesaround May 24
Pull suckers and lower leaves for airflow — the main defense against blight in humid heat.
- Shade the cool-season bedaround May 31
30-40% shade cloth keeps lettuce, cilantro and spinach from bolting in peak heat.
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