What to plant in May: zone 9a
A rule-of-thumb starting point for zone 9a: last spring frost around February 28, first fall frost around December 5. 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.
Succession sow
- Winter squash2 sowings: May 2 and May 23
Sowing 3: replant every 21 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.
- Beet2 sowings: May 9 and May 30
Sowing 3: replant every 21 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.
- Carrot2 sowings: May 9 and May 30
Sowing 3: replant every 21 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 16
Sowing 4: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Zucchiniaround May 16
Sowing 4: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Basilaround May 16
Sowing 4: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
Garden care
- Scout for pests weeklyaround May 2
Squash bugs, hornworms and cucumber beetles peak now: five minutes of hand-picking beats a rescue spray.
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