If you have not started planting anything yet and it's already May, there are a lot of plants you can plant. In this article, I am sharing the May planting chart for North Texas.
If you’ve been following my articles, you probably know I’ve put together a full-year planting schedule for North Texas—with a lot of help from my grandpa, who’s 85 and full of gardening know-how. (You will find an eBook and a printable chart there)
I love organized charts, and this article will cover all types of plants in an organized way.
You will find leafy greens, vegetables, flowering plants, herbs, and berries (along with fruit trees) that you can start planting in May.
Gardeners often get confused about planting methods. They usually ask, 'Should I sow the seeds directly, or is it time to transplant?' To clear things up, I've mentioned the planting method next to each plant.
Leafy greens, we can start planting in May in North Texas
In this section, I am including only the leafy greens (not roots and other veggies).
| Plant | Planting Method | Transplanting Time | Recommended Varieties | Harvest Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow or transplant | Early May | Bright Lights, Fordhook Giant | 30–60 days |
| Malabar Spinach | Transplant | Mid to late May | Red Stem, Green Malabar | 60–70 days |
| New Zealand Spinach | Direct sow | – | Tetragonia | 55–70 days |
| Amaranth (Edible Leaf Type) | Direct sow | – | Red Leaf, Green Callaloo | 30–50 days |
| Asian Greens (Heat-tolerant types) | Transplant or direct sow | Early to mid May | Tatsoi, Mizuna, Komatsuna | 25–40 days |
| Sweet Potato Leaves | Transplant slips | Mid to late May | Any sweet potato cultivar (leaves are edible) | Harvest greens as needed |
| Mustard Greens (heat-tolerant types) | Direct sow | – | Southern Giant Curled, Florida Broadleaf | 30–50 days |
| Purslane | Direct sow or transplant | May (any time) | Golden Purslane, Green Purslane | 30–40 days |
If you don't want to consume high calories, then sweet potato leaves can be a good choice.
They are the same plant.
For malabar spinach, avoid a high-humidity environment. Give proper spacing so that air can flow nicely. Otherwise, the leaves might get infected by Cercospora beticola. It may cause red spots on malabar spinach leaves.
Vegetables to plant in May in North Texas
| Vegetable | Planting Method | Transplanting Time | Recommended Varieties | Harvest Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Okra | Direct sow | – | Clemson Spineless, Burgundy | 50–65 days |
| Sweet Potatoes | Transplant slips | Mid to late May | Beauregard, Georgia Jet | 90–120 days |
| Southern Peas (Cowpeas) | Direct sow | – | Blackeye, Texas Cream 40, Pinkeye Purple Hull | 60–90 days |
| Summer Squash | Direct sow | – | Yellow Crookneck, Zucchini Elite | 45–60 days |
| Cucumbers | Direct sow or transplant | Early May | Marketmore 76, Lemon Cucumber | 50–70 days |
| Eggplant | Transplant | Early to mid May | Black Beauty, Ichiban | 70–85 days |
| Peppers (Hot & Sweet) | Transplant | Early May | Jalapeño, Banana, Bell (California Wonder) | 60–90 days |
| Tomatoes (heat-tolerant or cherry types) | Transplant | Early May (last chance) | Heatmaster, Sun Gold, Juliet | 60–80 days |
| Yardlong Beans | Direct sow | – | Red Noodle, Chinese Mosaic | 60–75 days |
| Pumpkins (for early fall harvest) | Direct sow | Mid to late May | Small Sugar, Seminole, Jack Be Little | 90–120 days |
Due to the temp. rise, you may witness aphids on eggplants.
There are a few other vegetables we can start growing in May, but I have mentioned the veggies with a higher success rate if planted in May.
Flowering plants to plant in May - North Texas
| Flowering Plant | Planting Method | Blooming Season | Fragrance | Perennial or Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marigold | Direct sow or transplant | Late spring to fall | Strong, pungent | Annual |
| Zinnia | Direct sow | Late spring to frost | Light to none | Annual |
| Cosmos | Direct sow | Summer to fall | Light | Annual |
| Sunflower | Direct sow | Mid-summer | None | Annual |
| Coreopsis | Transplant or direct sow | Summer | Light | Perennial (some annual) |
| Salvia | Transplant | Late spring to fall | Light to sweet | Perennial |
| Mexican Petunia (Ruellia) | Transplant | Late spring to frost | None | Perennial |
| Portulaca (Moss Rose) | Direct sow or transplant | Summer | None | Annual |
| Periwinkle (Vinca) | Transplant | Summer to fall | Light | Annual |
| Petunia | Transplant | Late spring to early fall | Sweet | Annual |
You can go for Vinca and Sunpatiens both. I personally love Vinca as it does not require any maintenance.
Do you have a porch area? Want to make it eye-catching? take a look at this article: Best porch plants to grow in North texas
Herbs to plant in May
| Herb | Planting Method | Recommended Varieties | Flavor | Annual or Perennial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Direct sow or transplant | Genovese, Thai, Lemon Basil | Sweet, spicy, or citrusy | Annual |
| Oregano | Transplant | Greek, Italian | Earthy, pungent | Perennial |
| Thyme | Transplant | English, Lemon Thyme | Earthy, slightly minty | Perennial |
| Mint | Transplant (in container) | Spearmint, Peppermint | Cool, refreshing | Perennial |
| Rosemary | Transplant | Arp, Tuscan Blue | Woody, pine-like | Perennial |
| Chives | Transplant | Common, Garlic Chives | Mild onion or garlicky | Perennial |
| Dill | Direct sow | Fernleaf, Bouquet | Fresh, tangy | Annual |
| Cilantro | Direct sow | Santo, Calypso | Citrusy, slightly peppery | Annual (bolts fast in heat) |
| Lemongrass | Transplant | East Indian | Lemony, herbal | Perennial (tender) |
| Parsley | Transplant or direct sow | Italian Flat Leaf, Curled | Fresh, slightly peppery | Biennial (treated as annual) |
I love to grow herbs as companion plants to reduce pests in my garden.
You can read: best companion plants for a vegetable garden.
Berries and fruits to plant in May in North Texas
| Berry/Fruit | Planting Method | Recommended Varieties | First Harvesting Time (Months) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strawberries | Transplant | June Bearing, Everbearing, Day-neutral | 3–6 months |
| Blueberries | Transplant | Sunshine Blue, Legacy, Patriot | 12–18 months |
| Blackberries | Transplant | Apache, Marion, Boysenberry | 6–12 months |
| Raspberries | Transplant | Heritage, Red Latham, Fall Gold | 6–12 months |
| Peaches | Transplant | Red Haven, Elberta, Georgia Belle | 24–36 months |
| Pears | Transplant | Bartlett, Kieffer, Harrow Delight | 36–48 months |
| Apples | Transplant | Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith | 24–36 months |
| Plums | Transplant | Santa Rosa, Methley, Beauty | 18–24 months |
| Figs | Transplant | Texas Everbearing, Black Mission, Kadota | 6–12 months |
| Pineapple | Transplant | Queen, Red Spanish | 18–24 months |
Note: I have suggested the best planting method. If you are an experienced gardener, you can try other planting methods as well.
Apple and Blueberry harvesting rate (yield) can be increased by growing compatible pollinator varieties nearby.
You can check these two guides:
Blueberry cross pollination chart and apple tree cross pollination chart.
If you're short on garden space and unsure about what to plant, here’s my top pick:
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