Growing plants has never been easy, now think of the harsh sun rays during summer. We as humans have found various ways to deal with it but our gardens are the ones that end up taking the harsh sun rays. Sunlight is even necessary for plant growth by all plants that cannot thrive in excessive sunlight. Today we will discuss vegetables to grow in May.
Thus below are the 20 vegetables that can be grown in May- hot summer days with their climatic and temperature requirements.
20 Vegetables to Grow in May
- Beans
- Cucumbers
- Lettuce
- Ginger
- Corn
- Tomatoes
- Capsicum
- Eggplant
- Melons
- Zucchini Squashes
- Sweet Potatoes
- Green beans
- Dill
- Edamame
- Green onion
- Parsley
- Okra
- Cauliflowers
- Broccoli
- Malabar Spinach
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Can you grow Vegetables in May?– Yes, you can grow vegetables in the month of May. It is true that May is one of the hottest months of the year, But with a proper water supply and a little bit of care- You can easily grow vegetables in May.
Is Growing Vegetables in May different from other Time of the Year?– Yes, It’s kind of different regarding the requirements. If you are living in countries near equator then this time not good for seedlings. For those living in the Americas, It is an ideal time to grow summer vegetable, you can also prepare for upcoming monsoon and winter.
Do I need shade nets to grow vegetables in May?– Yes, For some vegetables you will need a shade net. With others, it’s your choice. I would personally recommend having a proper shade if you are starting with seedlings.
Is May month good for Growing Vegetables with seeds? – Actually, I don’t think so. With my experience, I can say that you should prepare seedlings at least a month before May. Overall, May is the best time to put those mature seedlings outside in the full sun.
More About vegetables to grow in May
All these vegetables are my personal selection, you can select one or suggest one so that I can Improve this list. Enjoy reading 15 legumes to grow in the garden.
I know some of you may find some vegetables not fit for summer but Believe me it’s completely based on my experience. So Before selecting anyone, you should read the details carefully. If you are not sure whether to chose one or other then please write down, I will try to help you out.
If you are planning to buy summer vegetable seeds then you can try my favorite selection. Also, check out this wonderful organic fertilizer for vegetables– I have tested in my garden.
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Beans:
Beans are summer plant which grows best in the warm weather. They are one of the longest cultivated plants. In the world, there are about 40000 varieties of beans.
It is a plant that grows best when the air temperature is warm and it usually requires 60 days to mature fully in order to be harvested.
The climatic conditions of the soil should not be less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The seeds of beans germinate best when the temperature is close to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Beans are the best vegetable to grow in the month of May.
If beans are planted when the temperature is cold it will lead to poor germination or the seed will rot.
It can grow in any type of soil except heavy clay soil but sandy and silt loam soil are considered ideal for its growth.
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Cucumbers:
It is a creeper cultivated in the gourd family. In general, it has been classified into 3 groups: “slicing”, “pickling”, and “burpless” It is a warm-season plant and cannot grow well in frost.
It grows best between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, it can tolerate up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit temperature.
If the soil is warm its seeds will sprout faster. It can tolerate temperatures as cold as 60 degrees. They can be planted outdoors between April and June.
May is a suitable month to grow cucumber outdoors where the temperature is always below 70 degrees.
There should be the proper spacing of 18 to 36 inches between each seed. It grows well in well-drained light-textured soil which contains high organic matter.
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Lettuce:
It belongs to the daisy family and is usually grown as a leafy vegetable. Its seeds sprout best at 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Lettuce is a green leafy vegetable. you can grow it anywhere but in the month of May, you should use some overhead nets to prevent sunburn of the leaves.
It was native to Mediterranean areas but has now transported to all parts of the world.
The average life of this plant is 65 to 130 days. It grows best in nitrogen-rich soil and is very easy to grow.
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Ginger
The Ginger plant is a perennial flowering plant used as a spice and also medicine. It mostly grows as an annual plant.
It can be planted in May after which it needs about 4 to 6 months to grow to be fully harvested.
The average height of the ginger plant is about 4-5 feet. Best quality ginger can be grown in soft sandy soil with high phosphorus and potassium concentration. You can add some wood ash to the soil before planting ginger.
It can be grown outside when temperatures are at least 70° F. Soil temperatures should be higher than 68° F before planting ginger plants.
The ideal temperature to plant ginger is 77° F. it grows best in well-drained moist soil.
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Corn
Maize is also known as corn. It is a warm-season plant. Corn is a tender cereal that was first grown in Mexico and has now become a staple food in many parts of the world.
It grows best when the soil temperature reaches 60° F, it is now grown throughout the world. Corn is a cold intolerant plant with a shallow root system thus requires good soil moisture to grow properly.
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Tomatoes:
Tomatoes originated in South and Central America but are now grown widely in the world in different varieties.
It is diversely eaten in both raw and in cooked form and also in many other ways. Tomatoes grow best when the temperature is between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is grown in 7500 varieties across the world which is used for different purposes. Tomato can grow in almost any soil type except heavy clay. Sandy and loamy soils are considered best for its growth.
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Capsicum:
Capsicum also is known as bell pepper or pepper is grown in different colors by the cultivators.
Seeds grow well when the temperature of the soil is between 70 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature of the soil is below 55 F seeds will not germinate.
They are native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. It is commonly found in green, yellow and red color. China is the largest producer of Capsicum. It grows best in well-drained loamy soil.
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Eggplant
Eggplant popularly known as brinjal is cultivated worldwide. It is believed that it is originated in India which grows in the warmest, frost-free time of the year.
This plant requires 100 to 140 warm days with temperatures between 70° and 90°F to reach its full maturity of harvest.
The fruit of this plant is cultivated in different shapes and sizes. The soil pH of 5.8 to 6.5 is considered ideal for the growth of the plant.
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Melons
Melon belongs to the family of Cucurbitaceae which is sweet edible, fleshy fruit. Seeds of this plant germinate is best when the temperature of the soil is between 70°F and 90°F.
It is important to plant its seeds when the soil temperature has reached 65°F when nights, as well as days, are warm. It originated in the hot valleys of Iran and India.
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Zucchini Squashes
Zucchini is a summer squash which can dark or light green in color. It needs warm soil and air temperatures to grow properly.
70s°F is ideal to plant Zucchini. The seed of this plant does not germinate in cold soil. A fully mature Zucchini can be 1m long or more.
It requires well-drained compost-rich soil to grow well. It grows in the United States as the temperature is warm and frost-free.
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Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potato is a dicot that belongs to the morning glory family. It originated in the tropical regions of America.
To plant a sweet potato soil temperature of 60° to 85°F is considered ideal and air temperature of 65° to 95°F is perfect. It is absolutely nontolerant to frost.
It requires abundant sunlight and warm nights to thrive thus is cultivated mostly in tropical regions. The sweet potato grows best in a well-drained fine sandy loamy soil.
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Green beans
Green beans are also known as French beans or string beans are a warm-season crop and are nontolerant to frost.
It grows best when the temperature of the soil is above 55 degrees Fahrenheit and air temperatures range between 65°F to 85°F.
Though you can grow beans anytime throughout the year just after the last frost, It is better to select this vegetable to grow in May.
For best germination of seeds, Always place the seeds in the soil near full sun. There are over 130 varieties of green beans cultivated around the world.
Green beans cannot grow in heavy clay or soil with excess silt but sandy or loam soil is considered ideal for its growth.
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Dill
It’s an herb widely grown in Eurasia and is used for flavoring food.
It grows up to 60 to 40 m with delicate leaves. This herb grows best when planted outside in direct sunlight at a warm temperature.
It requires 60 to 70 degree Fahrenheit temperature to grow ideally. 70 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature to plant dill. It grows best in slightly acidic sandy or loamy soil.
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Edamame
They are popularly known as soya beans or stem beans as they are attached to the stem. Green soya bean pods are harvested by the hands so that the crop is not damaged and are harvested before they are fully ripened.
They are a warm-season crop and are grown only when the soil temperature reaches at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is important to plant them at the right temperature so that the seeds germinate efficiently. The low temperature of the soil leads to the struggle or even complete failure of seed germination.
It grows best in slightly acidic soil which has plenty of organic matter.
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Green onion
Scallions also are known as green onion, spring onions, Chinese onion or salad onions belong to allium onion species.
A temperature of 68 to 77 degrees F is considered ideal to plant green onion. Green onion is a good option for vegetables to grow in May.
In some places with varied climates, green onion seeds are planted in the early spring in order to take advantage of cool temperatures.
Commercially may is not an ideal month to grow green onion but you can grow these in your garden at this time with some care.
Seeds of green onion are planted ½ inch deep in well-cultivated soil for best germination and growth. It can grow well in a wide range of soil varying from loamy, sandy loan, and clay loams.
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Parsley
Parsley is a species of flowering plant that is native to Mediterranean regions. It is considered ideal to grow parsley in the morning sun or in partial shade in the afternoon.
It grows best when the temperature of the air is between 60° to 65°F. Its leaves are often used as garnishing whereas root parsley is used to make soups stews etc. it grows best in well-drained moist soil in full sun.
You can definitely grow Parsley in the month of May. Parsley is one of the best choices for vegetables to grow in May.
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Okra
Okra or popularly known as ladyfinger belongs to the mallow family and is a flowering plant. It has an edible green seed pod.
You should also read:- Is Okra Fruit or Vegetable? Surprising Garden facts
The ideal temperature of the soil to plant the seeds of okra 65 degrees Fahrenheit and the air temperature between 70 and 85 F is considered ideal for its growth. This is one of my favorite vegetables to grow in May.
Okra has a 60 to 70-day growing cycle after which the green seeded pods can be harvested. It can be grown in ordinary garden soil but loamy soil is considered ideal for its growth.
Okra can be grown in the garden as well as in containers. It requires high day temperature so you can easily grow Okra in Summer- May month.
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Cauliflowers
It is a plant the grows from seeds. The white flesh is edible and is known as curd. It is relatively a difficult plant to grow as compared to the cabbage.
It requires plentiful sun and moist soil to grow properly. The ideal temperature of the soil for seed germination is 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is produced in containers such as flats hotbeds or infield. It grows well in deep loamy soil with a good drainage system.
Did you know that cauliflowers grow in four different colors? you can grow white, orange, purple and green cauliflowers.
Though it is difficult you can try growing cauliflowers in May; I have grown it twice year-round.
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Broccoli:
It belongs to the cabbage family of which both flowering head and stalk are edible.
The word broccoli means the flowering crest of cabbage. There are majorly three types of broccoli grown which are: Calabrese broccoli, Sprouting broccoli and Purple cauliflower broccoli
The ideal temperature of the soil to plant broccoli is 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Considering may month to grow broccoli- Yes, you can with little care.
If you are searching for some vegetables to grow in May then Broccoli is a good choice.
The seeds of broccoli take four to seven days to germinate when the condition of the soil is ideal.
Broccoli seeds will germinate in low temperatures of 40 F but the process may take two or three times longer than the ideal conditions process depending on the variety.
It grows best in well-drained soil with a pH level between 6 to 6.8.
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Malabar Spinach
Basella alba is commonly known as Malabar spinach, vine spinach, and Ceylon spinach and is widely used as a lea vegetable.
It is believed that it had naturally grown in China, tropical Africa, Brazil, Belize, Colombia, etc. Its dark green leaves resemble those of spinach.
It is another good option for vegetables to grow in May.
The Malabar spinach plant is a vine type of plant that survives in hot temps, even exceeding 90 F. it grows best in frost-free regions.
Cool temperatures cause it to creep. It can be grown as an annual as well as perennial plant. It grows best in well-drained and aerated moist soil.
All the plants require well-drained and moist soil to survive the harsh sun rays in the month of May.
May is probably the hottest month of the year worldwide. If you are planning to grow any kind of vegetable at this time, then you must prepare for the hot scorching sun and protect your seedlings from burning.
Hope today’s topic- Vegetables to grow in May, is useful to all of you. If you have any questions or suggestion then write down in the comment box. I will definitely try to answer all of them.