What to plant in May in Zone 10

Start indoors this month

Seed trays indoors, under a light or in the brightest window you have. These are slow crops that need a head start on the season.

Nothing in our dataset needs an indoor start this month in this zone.

Set out into the final container

Transplants go into the pot they will finish in. Hardening them off for four to five days first prevents most transplant shock.

No transplanting window is open this month here.

Direct sow

Sow straight into the final pot. These crops resent root disturbance, and transplanting them usually costs more time than it saves.

No direct-sowing window this month in this zone.

Sow for autumn

A second sowing timed backwards from first frost. Fewer pests, less watering, and better flavour in most cool crops.

No autumn sowing window opens this month in this zone.

Harvesting this month

• Cherry Tomato — harvest from Apr 28 (5 gal, 12" deep)
• Bush Bean — harvest from Apr 18 (3 gal, 9" deep)
• Basil — harvest from May 10 (2 gal, 8" deep)
• Bush Cucumber — harvest from Apr 18 (5 gal, 12" deep)
• Zucchini — harvest from Apr 13 (7 gal, 14" deep)
• Hot Pepper — harvest from May 20 (3 gal, 12" deep)
• Carrot — harvest from Apr 12 (3 gal, 12" deep)

Not this month

• Loose-leaf Lettuce — next window opens in October. Starting it now means 5 months of impatient waiting, or a plant that stalls.
• Radish — next window opens in October. Starting it now means 5 months of impatient waiting, or a plant that stalls.
• Kale — next window opens in October. Starting it now means 5 months of impatient waiting, or a plant that stalls.