This May planting checklist is for Pacific Northwest gardeners who:
- Feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice about what to plant in May
- Aren't sure which warm-season crops are safe to put outside yet
- Want to know the real Seattle timing and not the generic advice written for California or the East Coast
- Have raised beds, containers, or a small backyard in the greater Seattle area
- Are staring at tomato and zucchini starts on their kitchen table wondering if it's time
It's especially helpful if you're in that in-between moment in May: cool-season crops are winding down, warm-season crops are waiting, and you're not sure what to do next.
Covers: kale, chard, lettuce, peas, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, basil, zucchini, squash, cucumbers, and beans - with specific timing for Zone 8b/9a and a simple rule for reading your own soil instead of a calendar.
May Planting Checklist - What's safe to plant outside in Seattle right now
The three columns reflect how Seattle's May actually works: it's not one single planting moment, it's three separate windows within the same month.
"Plant now" means the soil and overnight temps are already cooperating. These crops are cold-tolerant and have been waiting for you.
"Mid-May" means watch your nights. Once you've had a week of nights above 50°F and your 10-day forecast stays there, you're clear.
"Late May" means soil temperature, not air temperature. Stick your hand 3 inches down. If it feels cold, wait. If it feels warm, go.
You don't need to do everything at once. Work through the columns left to right over the month.
