What to plant in May in United States
16 vegetables, fruits and herbs to sow or plant in May in United States, for the climate around Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, USA.
Climate: A cold continental temperate climate with hard winters (nights to -16 °C, frost roughly November to March), warm humid summers up to 39 °C, and rain spread evenly through the year with a wetter July to September.
Vegetables
Tomato Solanum lycopersicum
Warm summers and long days ripen tomatoes well once transplanted after the last frost.
Harvest: 60–85 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Sweet pepper Capsicum annuum
Hot summer days give peppers the heat they need, and they grow happily in containers.
Harvest: 70–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Zucchini Cucurbita pepo
Warm soil and summer rain produce heavy harvests from a single plant.
Harvest: 45–60 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Kale Brassica oleracea
Kale survives cold nights and sweetens after autumn frosts.
Harvest: 55–70 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Carrot Daucus carota
Loose soil warms in spring and carrots can be sown in succession through summer.
Harvest: 70–80 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Green bean Phaseolus vulgaris
Beans sown after frost love the warm summer and produce well with regular rain.
Harvest: 50–65 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Beetroot Beta vulgaris
Beets handle both cool springs and warm summers and can be sown repeatedly.
Harvest: 50–70 daysEasyIn pots
Potato Solanum tuberosum
Potatoes go in after the last frost and do well with the region's reliable rainfall.
Harvest: 90–120 daysEasyIn pots
Fruits
Strawberry Fragaria × ananassa
Strawberry plants are fully hardy and bear well in the sunny, moist summers.
Harvest: 60–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum
Cold winters meet the chill requirement, and acidic soil with ample rain suits it.
Harvest: 2–3 yearsEasyIn potsCare guide →
Concord grape Vitis labrusca
This native grape is cold hardy and ripens in the warm, humid late summer.
Harvest: 3–4 yearsModerate
Herbs
Basil Ocimum basilicum
Basil needs warm nights and hot days, which the summers here provide.
Harvest: 30–60 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Parsley Petroselinum crispum
Parsley handles cool weather and light frost and keeps producing through autumn.
Harvest: 70–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Chives Allium schoenoprasum
Chives are fully hardy perennials that return every spring.
Harvest: 60–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Spearmint Mentha spicata
Mint is vigorous in the rainy summers and survives the coldest winters underground.
Harvest: 60–80 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Thyme Thymus vulgaris
Thyme is hardy here and loves the sunny, well-drained spots of a garden or balcony.
Harvest: 70–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →