What to plant in May — zone 8b
Zone 8b averages its last spring frost around March 20 and its first fall frost around November 25. 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 1
Sowing 3: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Winter squasharound May 1
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Sweet cornaround May 1
Sowing 3: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Beetaround May 8
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Carrotaround May 8
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Bush beanaround May 15
Sowing 4: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Cucumberaround May 15
Sowing 3: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Zucchiniaround May 15
Sowing 3: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Sweet cornaround May 15
Sowing 4: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Basilaround May 15
Sowing 3: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Winter squasharound May 22
Sowing 3: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Beetaround May 29
Sowing 3: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Carrotaround May 29
Sowing 3: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
Garden care
- Side-dress heavy feedersaround May 1
Tomatoes, peppers, corn and squash get compost or fish emulsion once fruit sets.
- Prune and stake tomatoesaround May 8
Pull suckers and lower leaves for airflow — the main defense against blight in humid heat.
- Shade the cool-season bedaround May 15
30-40% shade cloth keeps lettuce, cilantro and spinach from bolting in peak heat.
- Scout for pests weeklyaround May 22
Squash bugs, hornworms and cucumber beetles peak now — five minutes of hand-picking beats a rescue spray.
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