May is flying by, and if you haven’t started sowing yet, don’t panic! There are still some great plants you can get in the ground right now, but the window is closing fast.
Some of these picks might surprise you — they’re not the ones most gardeners think of first. Stick around, because a couple on this list are real hidden gems that could make your garden this season.
1.) Bush Beans
Bush beans are one of the easiest crops you can grow, and May is the perfect time to get them in the ground. They prefer warm soil, full sun, and good drainage — no fancy setup needed.
Direct sow seeds about an inch deep and six inches apart. Skip the fertilizer heavy in nitrogen, or you’ll get lots of leaves and not much else. They thrive in zones 3–10 and are usually ready to harvest in about 50–60 days.
2.) Zucchini
Zucchini is one of those plants that practically begs to be grown in summer. Sow seeds directly into the ground in May once the soil has warmed up, and you’ll have squash ready to harvest in about 8 weeks. It grows best in full sun with rich, well-draining soil.
Keep it well-watered and watch out for powdery mildew on the leaves. One or two plants are honestly plenty — zucchini is famously productive, and you’ll have more than enough to share with the neighbors.
3.) Cucumbers
Cucumbers are one of those plants that really need warm soil to get going, so May is the perfect time to sow them. They grow fast once conditions are right, making them a great last-minute addition to your garden. Aim for a sunny spot and well-draining soil.
Keep them well-watered — cucumbers are thirsty plants — and give them something to climb if you’re growing a vining variety. They thrive in zones 4–11 and are ready to harvest in about 50–70 days.
4.) Summer Squash
Summer squash is one of those plants that practically takes care of itself once it gets going. Sow seeds directly in the ground in May, and you’ll be harvesting in as little as 50 days. It loves full sun and warm soil, so wait until any frost risk has passed — zones 3 through 10 are all good to go.
Give it plenty of space, consistent watering, and a little compost, and it’ll reward you with more squash than you probably expected.
5.) Marigolds
Marigolds are one of the easiest flowers you can grow from seed, and May is actually a great time to get them started. They love full sun and warm soil, so conditions are pretty much perfect right now. Direct sow them where you want them to grow, since they don’t love being moved around.
Keep the soil moist until they sprout, which usually takes about a week. Once they’re established, they’re pretty low-maintenance and will bloom right through until the first frost.
6.) Sunflowers
Sunflowers are one of the easiest things you can grow, and May is honestly the perfect time to get seeds in the ground. They love full sun and well-drained soil, and once they’re established, they don’t need much fussing over. Just water them during dry spells and give taller varieties some support if your garden gets windy.
They grow fast, which makes them so satisfying to watch. Most varieties do well in zones 3–9 and will flower by midsummer if sown now.
7.) Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are one of the easiest flowers you can grow, making them a great pick for beginners. Sow seeds directly in the ground in May, once the frost risk has passed, and they’ll take off fast. They do best in full sun and actually prefer poor soil — too much fertilizer and you’ll get lots of leaves but few flowers.
These cheerful bloomers are also edible, so you can toss the flowers and leaves into salads. Bonus: they help keep aphids away from nearby plants.
8.) Basil
Basil is one of those herbs you’ll kick yourself for not planting sooner. May is actually the perfect time to get it in the ground, since it loves warm soil and plenty of sunshine. Aim for at least six hours of direct light a day and keep it watered consistently.
Pinch off any flower buds as they appear to keep the leaves coming all summer long. It’s a tender annual, so don’t worry about hardiness zones — just enjoy it while the warm weather lasts.
9.) Cilantro
Cilantro is one of those herbs that does best in cool weather, so May is honestly your last good window before the heat makes it bolt and go to seed almost overnight. Sow seeds directly in the ground since it doesn’t transplant well, and pick a spot with full sun or light shade.
Keep the soil moist and thin seedlings to about 6 inches apart. It grows fast, so you can start harvesting leaves in just 3 to 4 weeks.
10.) Dill
Dill is one of those herbs that’s honestly hard to mess up, which makes it a great choice for May sowing. It grows best in full sun with well-drained soil, and it doesn’t need much fussing once it’s in the ground.
Sow it directly where you want it to grow, since dill doesn’t transplant well. Keep the soil lightly moist until it sprouts, then mostly leave it alone.
It thrives in zones 3–9 and does especially well in warmer spring conditions.
11.) Zinnia
Zinnias are one of the easiest flowers you can grow from seed, and May is actually a great time to sow them directly in the ground. They love warm soil and full sun, so skip starting them indoors — they do much better when planted where they’ll grow.
Water them regularly when they’re young, then ease off once they’re established. Deadhead spent blooms to keep the flowers coming all summer long. They thrive in zones 2–11 as a warm-season annual.
12.) Cosmos
Cosmos are one of the easiest flowers you can grow from seed, making them a great pick for May sowing. They thrive in full sun and actually prefer poor, well-drained soil — too much fertilizer and you’ll get lots of leaves but fewer flowers.
Direct sow them where you want them to grow, and thin seedlings to about 12 inches apart. They’ll bloom all summer long and keep going until the first frost, often self-seeding for next year too.
13.) Sweet Corn
Sweet corn is one of those crops that really needs warm soil to get going, so May is the perfect time to sow it directly outdoors. It grows best in a sunny spot with well-drained soil, and it’s happiest in zones 4–8.
Plant seeds about an inch deep in blocks rather than rows — corn is wind-pollinated, so spacing them in a grid helps with pollination. Keep the soil moist and watch those stalks shoot up fast!
