From Veggies to Flowers, Here’s What to Plant in May

May is one of the most exciting months for gardeners. The soil is warming up, the risk of frost is mostly behind us here in Hood River, and it's prime time to fill your garden beds, containers, and raised beds with vibrant life. Whether you're growing food, flowers, or both, May is when the season really takes off—and we’ve got everything you need here at Good News Gardening to make your garden thrive.

Let's take a look at what to plant in your garden this May!

🌿 Vegetables to Plant in May

If you’ve been waiting to plant heat-loving vegetables, May is your green light. Now’s the time to transplant tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and squash. These crops love the warmth and will take off quickly when planted in well-prepped soil with good sun exposure. You can also sow seeds directly in the ground for beans, corn, and melons. Don’t forget root crops like carrots, beets, and radishes—they still do well when planted in early May and are great for succession planting throughout the season. And if you're into preserving, start planning now for your salsa garden or pickling veggies!

• Tomatoes (starts)

• Peppers

• Cucumbers

• Squash & Zucchini

• Green Beans

• Corn

• Eggplant

• Melons

• Lettuce & Salad Greens (early May)

• Carrots, Beets, Radishes (still time to sow)

  
  

  Check our early planting guide for a full list of vegetables and when to plant!

  
  

🌸 Flowers & Annuals

May is the season for color. Fill your beds, containers, and hanging baskets with classic summer bloomers like petunias, zinnias, snapdragons, marigolds, and cosmos. These annuals will keep blooming all summer long if you deadhead regularly and give them the right nutrients. It’s also a great time to direct-sow flower seeds like sunflowers and nasturtiums, which are easy to grow and bring tons of joy. Don’t forget to plant dahlias now from tubers—they’ll reward you with showy blooms starting mid-summer.

• Petunias, Marigolds, Zinnias, Cosmos, Snapdragons

• Sunflowers (direct sow seeds now!)

• Nasturtiums & Calendula

• Dahlias (plant tubers now)

• And SO many MORE! Come stop by and get inspired by our wide variety of flowers!

  
  

🪴 Herbs

An herb garden is one of the easiest and most rewarding things to grow, even in small spaces. May is perfect for planting basil, cilantro, parsley, dill, and chives. Woody herbs like thyme, oregano, sage, and rosemary also do well when planted now and can become beautiful, long-lasting additions to your garden or patio pots. Pro tip: plant your herbs near the kitchen for easy snipping while cooking!

• Basil

• Cilantro

• Parsley

• Thyme, Oregano, Sage, and Mint

• Chives and Dill

• We have a LARGE selection of herbs, come stop by or give us a call if you are looking for something specific

  
  

🌳 Other Things to Plant

Perennials, Shrubs & Trees

May is also a fantastic time to plant perennials and landscape additions like flowering shrubs and trees. The warm soil combined with spring rain helps new plantings get established before the summer heat sets in. Whether you're looking for color, shade, or privacy, adding new perennials and trees now gives them a strong head start. Be sure to mulch around the base to retain moisture and prevent weeds.

Pumpkins & Fall Harvest Crops

Believe it or not, now’s the time to think ahead to fall. If you want to grow your own pumpkins for carving or cooking, get those seeds in the ground by late May. They need a long growing season and plenty of space, but with a little planning, you'll have your own homegrown pumpkin patch come October.

Containers & Hanging Baskets

For those short on space or just looking to add some instant charm to a porch or patio, container gardening is a great way to go. May is perfect for designing mixed containers using the “thriller, filler, spiller” method—think a tall grass or spike for height (thriller), colorful annuals like calibrachoa or verbena (filler), and trailing plants like sweet potato vine or ivy geranium (spiller). We also carry gorgeous ready-made hanging baskets, including both flowers and Lizzano cherry tomato baskets for small-space veggie growing.

Need help picking plants or planning your garden? We’re happy to help at Good News Gardening—swing by to browse our wide selection of starts and garden supplies!

We're here to help your garden thrive!

No matter what you’re planting this May—whether it’s vibrant flowers, juicy tomatoes, or fragrant herbs—this is the perfect time to dig in and bring your garden to life. At Good News Gardening, we have everything you need to get growing, from expert advice to a wide selection of healthy plants, soil amendments, tools, and more. Come visit us in Hood River—we're here to help your garden thrive all season long!