GreenlyWhat to plant in May in Texas
Worked out for 10 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.
What to sow and plant in May in Texas, by zone: frost-free, highs above 82 °F (Dallas, Houston and 7 more): zucchini, green beans, cucumber, watermelon, pumpkin and 16 more; frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F (Amarillo): tomato, bell pepper, zucchini, green beans, cucumber and 22 more.
In Texas, May is spring.
Frost-free, highs above 82 °F: Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and 5 more
In May, on average, these cities have highs of 83 to 90 °F and lows of 60 to 75 °F, 0.1 to 9.3 in of rain on 1 to 17 days; the day lasts 13 h 24 min to 13 h 53 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 |
|---|---|---|
| start indoors, plant out in July | Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper | Houston, Corpus Christi, Lubbock and 1 more |
| sow direct | Zucchini, green beans, basil, bok choy, borage | Dallas, Houston, Austin and 5 more |
| start indoors, plant out in June | Cucumber | Houston, Austin, Corpus Christi and 2 more |
| start indoors, plant out in June | Melon, achocha | Houston, Corpus Christi, Lubbock and 1 more |
| sow direct | Watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, luffa, moringa, Napa cabbage, okra, peanut, soybean | Houston, Austin, Corpus Christi and 2 more |
| start indoors, plant out in August or sow direct | Chayote | Dallas, Houston, Austin and 4 more |
| start indoors, plant out in August | Celeriac, celery | Dallas, Houston, El Paso and 3 more |
Compared with April: no longer sown — arugula.
Not starting in May: lettuce (October, started indoors), peas (October, sown direct) and spinach (October, started indoors) — dates for Lubbock.
Ready to harvest in May in Lubbock, if sown in the right month: broad bean (February), peas (March), cabbage (January), beet (March), parsley (March), cilantro (March), arugula (April) and chamomile (March).
Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: Amarillo
In May, on average, Amarillo has highs of 81 °F and lows of 56 °F, 2.0 in of rain on 8 days; the day lasts 14 h 00 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 |
|---|---|---|
| start indoors, plant out in July | Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper | Amarillo |
| sow direct | Zucchini, green beans, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, bok choy, borage, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, luffa, moringa, Napa cabbage, okra, peanut, soybean | Amarillo |
| start indoors, plant out in June | Cucumber, melon, achocha | Amarillo |
| start indoors, plant out in August | Celeriac, celery | Amarillo |
Compared with April: new — green beans, borage, corn and soybean; no longer sown — arugula.
Not starting in May: lettuce (October, sown direct), peas (October, sown direct) and spinach (October, started indoors) — dates for Amarillo.
Ready to harvest in May in Amarillo, if sown in the right month: broad bean (February), peas (March), lettuce (March), Swiss chard (March), beet (March), parsley (March), cilantro (March) and arugula (April).
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 Texas
- What to plant in May in the Northeast and Midwest
- What to plant in May in the South
- What to plant in May in Florida
- What to plant in May in California
- 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
