May is transplant time for gardening in Delaware. It’s time to get all those seedlings in the ground and let them take off! But make sure to keep an eye on the weather until Mother’s Day, because you never know if a surprise frost or spring storm will occur!
Gardening in Delaware May Schedule
Delaware has 3 gardening zones depending on where you live: 6b, 7a & 7b. Be sure to know which zone you are in so you plant at the right time for your zone.
Help the pollinators for your garden’s success!
If you are interested in helping the monarchs this year, consider planting milkweed in your garden, which is their primary food source. You can learn more and get free seeds here: www.livemonarch.com and you can also find established milkweed to transplant at your local plant nurseries.
Local nurseries can also help you choose other native plants that pollinators love, so be sure to ask which plants will do well in your zone.
Indoor sowing
Most of the indoor sowing is finished for spring and summer, but don’t forget about Fall crops! Here in Delaware, we can get a jump start on our fall gardens by sowing these seeds indoors near the end of May
- Bell Peppers
- Tomatoes
- Eggplant
- Celery
Direct Ground Sowing
These are the seeds you can still sneak into the ground as it heats up in our region.
- Green Beans
- Corn
- Chives
- Okra
- Potatoes
- Squashes
Transplanting
All established seedlings can go in the ground this month. While the danger of frost is usually passed, most gardeners in this region will caution you to wait until after Mother’s Day to be safe.
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Melons
- Green beans
- Kale
- Collards
- Brussel sprouts
- Cabbage
- Chard
- Zucchini
- Summer squash
- Winter squash
- Peppers
- Celery
- Herbs
- Pumpkins
What’s in season now?
Even if you don’t garden, you can take advantage of seasonal foods in our region! If you like to preserve food by canning, pickling, dehydrating, or freezing, then consider this produce that is available in abundance now:
- Asparagus
- Green onions
- Leaf lettuce
- Mushrooms
- Parsley
- Peas
- Radishes
- Snow peas
- Spinach
- Strawberries
- Sugar peas
- Turnips
Happy Gardening!