GreenlyWhat to plant in May in California
Worked out for 11 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.
What to sow and plant in May in California, by zone: frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F (Los Angeles, San Jose and 1 more): tomato, bell pepper, zucchini, green beans, cucumber and 22 more; frost-free, highs of 61–72 °F (San Diego and Santa Barbara): broad bean, peas, onion, lettuce, radish and 40 more; frost-free, highs of 50–61 °F (San Francisco): broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, lettuce and 21 more.
In California, May is spring.
Frost-free, highs above 82 °F: Fresno, Sacramento, Bakersfield, Redding and 1 more
In May, on average, these cities have highs of 83 to 89 °F and lows of 54 to 60 °F, 0.4 to 1.5 in of rain on 2 to 5 days; the day lasts 14 h 01 min to 14 h 25 min (on the 15th).
No frost in May in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Zucchini, green beans, basil, bok choy, borage | Sacramento and Stockton |
Compared with April: no longer sown — cucumber, sweet corn, arugula, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano and Napa cabbage.
Not starting in May: tomato (January, started indoors), bell pepper (January, started indoors), lettuce (November, sown direct), peas (November, sown direct) and spinach (November, sown direct) — dates for Sacramento.
Ready to harvest in May in Sacramento, if sown in the right month: broad bean (February), peas (March), lettuce (March), cabbage (January), broccoli (February), Swiss chard (March), beet (March) and parsley (March).
Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: Los Angeles, San Jose and Riverside
In May, on average, these cities have highs of 76 to 81 °F and lows of 51 to 57 °F, 0.3 to 0.6 in of rain on 2 to 3 days; the day lasts 13 h 55 min to 14 h 10 min (on the 15th). A dry month: whatever is sown needs watering.
No frost in May in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| start indoors, plant out in July | Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper, moringa | Los Angeles and San Jose |
| sow direct or start indoors, plant out in June | Zucchini, basil | all |
| sow direct | Green Beans, bok choy, borage | all |
| start indoors, plant out in June | Cucumber, melon, achocha | Los Angeles and San Jose |
| sow direct or start indoors, plant out in June | Watermelon, pumpkin, luffa, okra, peanut | Los Angeles and San Jose |
| sow direct | Sweet Corn, arugula, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, Napa cabbage | Los Angeles and San Jose |
| start indoors, plant out in August | Celeriac, celery | Los Angeles and San Jose |
| sow direct | Soybean | Los Angeles |
Compared with April: no longer sown — peas, radish, beet, parsley, cilantro, chamomile, dill and mustard greens.
Not starting in May: lettuce (November, sown direct), peas (November, sown direct) and spinach (November, started indoors) — dates for Los Angeles.
Ready to harvest in May in Los Angeles, if sown in the right month: broad bean (February), peas (March), lettuce (March), cabbage (January), broccoli (February), Swiss chard (March), beet (March) and parsley (March).
Frost-free, highs of 61–72 °F: San Diego and Santa Barbara
In May, on average, these cities have highs of 69 to 70 °F and lows of 49 to 58 °F, 0.5 in of rain on 2 days; the day lasts 13 h 50 min to 13 h 57 min (on the 15th). A dry month: whatever is sown needs watering.
No frost in May in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Broad bean, lettuce, radish, cabbage, Swiss chard, green beans, chickpea, kohlrabi | San Diego |
| sow direct | Peas, beet, sweet corn, parsley, cilantro, arugula, bok choy, borage, chamomile, chayote, corn, dill, Florence fennel, kiwano, mustard greens, Napa cabbage | all |
| plant sets | Onion, shallot | San Diego |
| start indoors, plant out in June | Cauliflower | San Diego |
| start indoors, plant out in July | Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper, moringa | all |
| start indoors, plant out in June | Zucchini, cucumber, melon, watermelon, pumpkin, basil, achocha, luffa, okra, peanut | all |
| start indoors, plant out in August | Celeriac, celery | all |
| start indoors, plant out in July | Brussels Sprouts | San Diego |
Compared with April: new — green beans; no longer sown — carrot, broccoli, daikon, kale and parsnip.
Not starting in May: spinach (November, started indoors) — dates for San Diego.
Ready to harvest in May in San Diego, if sown in the right month: broad bean (February), peas (March), lettuce (March), radish (April), carrot (March), cabbage (January), broccoli (February) and Swiss chard (March).
Frost-free, highs of 50–61 °F: San Francisco
In May, on average, San Francisco has highs of 60 °F and lows of 52 °F, 0.7 in of rain on 3 days; the day lasts 14 h 12 min (on the 15th). A dry month: whatever is sown needs watering.
No frost in May in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Broad bean, peas, spinach, lettuce, radish, carrot, cabbage, broccoli, Swiss chard, beet, parsley, cilantro, arugula, chamomile, daikon, dill, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, parsnip, turnip | San Francisco |
| plant sets | Onion, shallot | San Francisco |
| start indoors, plant out in June | Cauliflower | San Francisco |
| start indoors, plant out in July | Leek, Brussels sprouts | San Francisco |
Compared with April: no longer sown — chicory.
Not starting in May: tomato (no month outdoors by these rules), bell pepper (no month outdoors by these rules), zucchini (no month outdoors by these rules) and green beans (no month outdoors by these rules) — dates for San Francisco.
Ready to harvest in May in San Francisco, if sown in the right month: broad bean (February), peas (March), spinach (March), lettuce (March), radish (April), carrot (March), cabbage (January) and broccoli (February).
How we work it out
For each city we use its average weather in May and the months after (highs, lows and rain for 2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo) and its average frost dates. A crop starts in May if the month's mean temperature reaches the minimum soil temperature for germination on its card (we use the mean air temperature as a stand-in for the soil's) and if, over its first months (up to three), the average highs stay within its group's range, with no frost for crops that cannot take it. Crops started indoors count from the month they are planted out.
Temperature groups from Colorado State University Extension: cool-season crops prefer 60–80 °F and lose quality in heat; hardy ones grow in days as cool as 40 °F, semi-hardy ones from 40–50 °F (we use 50 °F); warm-season crops need days above 55 °F, and the most tender (tomato, pepper, eggplant, melon, watermelon, squash) above 60 °F, up to 95 °F. Crops the guide does not name go into the stricter group by their frost hardiness. Fava (broad) beans, which the guide does not name, count as hardy: hardy varieties are sown in fall and overwinter (RHS). Garlic and bulbs: a month before the first frost, and later only while the ground is not frozen (as on each city's page).
This is a general rule from averages: your garden can be a week or two earlier or later, and a greenhouse or a cold frame brings the season forward. Greenly works out the dates for your location.
- Moon planting calendar for May 2027
- What to plant in May: all climates
- Gardening in the United States: guide by region
Other months in California
- What to plant in May in the Northeast and Midwest
- What to plant in May in the South
- What to plant in May in Texas
- What to plant in May in Florida
- What to plant in May in the Pacific Northwest
- What to plant in May in the Southwest
- What to plant in May in the Mountain West
- What to plant in May in Canada
- What to plant in May in the UK
- What to plant in May in Ireland
