What to plant in May in Massachusetts?

It’s not quite last frost, but its so close (May 20-31 for Zone 6a). The beginning of the month is still too cold for planting out night shades or any melons and squashes. If you have some cold weather protection then by all mean push the limits of the season. A frost planet set on crops lightly at night would provide enough protection. In my garden I prefer to keep my plants under lights a bit longer. However, there is still plenty of seeds and seedlings you can start.

The first week in may you catch up to a bunch of cool weather crops or plant a second session of : carrots, peas, radishes, broccoli, cabbage, celery, lettuce, arugula, and beets. You can plant kale, chard, potatoes, nasturtium, beans, turnips, and most herbs ( hold off on basil ) onions too.

I put my stakes and any trellis and structures in place before things are planted and well before things start climbing. The less disruption to the root system the better once things are in the ground. It also helps me keep companion plants and interplanting nice neat and organized.

Inside I am planting my first succession of squash, melons, and cucumbers but they will be in either soil blockers or peat pots as not to disturb the roots. They prefer to be direct sown but I like to cheat a little :)

If you started plants inside its time to start “hardening off” your plants that will move out mid month. Hardening off is the process to get your indoor plants ready for their home outside.I start with keeping them out just a few hours in the afternoon and then work their way up to being outside all day and night. Its sort of a pain in the butt bring them in and out, so some people use the frost blanket I mentioned to keep them out and cover them… I don’t trust New England weather so I bring them inside.