A summer squash above was direct seeded in mounds in May at a community garden in Denver. Squash is best direct sown as it doesn't like to have it's roots disturbed, so we generally plant it directly in the garden in May and June.
Is May too late to direct sow seeds?
Answer: Nope! May is a great time to direct sow many seeds in most growing regions in most of the Northern Hemisphere!
May marks the transition from spring to summer in many regions, and the days are super long in May and June, with the longest day of the year on Summer Solstice around June 21st. May and June are an ideal time to direct sow a lot of seeds in your garden. Many of these seeds make the perfect companion plants for your peppers and tomatoes!
You can direct sow lots of vegetables seeds in May & June including:
Beans (Zones 3-10)
Beets (Zones 3-10)
Cabbage (Zones 3-10)
Carrots (Zones 3-10)
Radishes (Zones 3-10)
Bunching Onions (Zones 3-10)
Corn (Zones 3-7)
Cucumbers (Zones 3-10)
Peas (Zones 3-10)
Cilantro (Zones 3-10)
Herbs (Zones 3-10)
Basil (Zones 3-10)
Broccoli (Zones 3-10)
Spinach (Zones 3-10)
Lettuce (Zones 3-10)
Watermelons (Zones 3-10)
Cantaloupe (Zones 3-10)
Peppers* (Zones 3-10) - plant short season peppers & still get a harvest!
Summer Squash (Zones 3-10)
Zucchini (Zones 3-10)
Spaghetti Squash (Zones 3-10)
Pumpkins (Zones 3-10)
Tomatoes* (Zones 3-10) - plant short season tomatoes & still get a harvest!
Tomatillos (Zones 3-10)
Marigolds (Zones 3-10)
Nasturtium (Zones 3-10)
Sunflowers (Zones 3-10)
Find all of our Seeds to Plant in May & June »
*The month of May can still be chilly in many regions, so while you can try direct sowing these seeds, tomatoes and especially pepper seeds like warm temperatures for fast germination, so we do recommend sowing seeds for these indoors under lights to speed them along so that you can transplant them in June and still get a great harvest. You can also try the winter sowing method with vinegar/water jugs outdoors in May to help speed up germination if you don't have a good place indoors to start seeds.
So if it's May (or June) and you want to start a garden, don't worry, it's the perfect time to sow lots of seeds in the garden! Happy growing!
