What to Plant in May — Zone 12

Zone 12 is frost-free — May is open planting season for warm-weather crops.

No frost windows apply in zone 12 (Hawaiʻi lowlands, Puerto Rico) — this list follows the heat-driven calendar instead.

Plant in May	Notes
🍅 Tomatoes	Warm-season — good to plant now
🫑 Peppers	Warm-season — good to plant now
🍆 Eggplant	Warm-season — good to plant now
🍏 Tomatillos	Warm-season — good to plant now
🥒 Cucumbers	Warm-season — good to plant now
🥒 Zucchini	Warm-season — good to plant now
🎃 Winter Squash	Warm-season — good to plant now
🎃 Pumpkins	Warm-season — good to plant now
🍉 Watermelon	Warm-season — good to plant now
🍈 Cantaloupe	Warm-season — good to plant now
🌽 Sweet Corn	Warm-season — good to plant now
🫘 Green Beans (Bush)	Warm-season — good to plant now
🫘 Pole Beans	Warm-season — good to plant now
🌶️ Okra	Warm-season — good to plant now
🍠 Sweet Potatoes	Warm-season — good to plant now
🌿 Basil	Warm-season — good to plant now
🌻 Sunflowers	Warm-season — good to plant now
🌸 Zinnias	Warm-season — good to plant now
🏵️ Marigolds	Warm-season — good to plant now
🌺 Nasturtiums	Warm-season — good to plant now

Frequently asked questions

What can I plant in May in zone 12?

Warm-season crops: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, tomatillos, cucumbers, zucchini, and 14 more. Cool-season vegetables do better waiting for the October–March mild season.

Does zone 12 have a planting season at all?

Not a frost-driven one — zone 12 is frost-free, so the calendar runs on heat and rainfall. The practical rhythm: cool-season vegetables October through March, warm-season crops most of the year with a pause at peak summer heat.

What to Plant in May — Zone 12

Frequently asked questions

What can I plant in May in zone 12?

Does zone 12 have a planting season at all?

May in other zones

Zone 12, month by month

Zone 12 frost dates near you