Curious what you should plant in Tucson in May? It's a great time in the low desert! Let's talk about what you can grow in May in Tucson.

tucson average temperature graph may highlighted
Tucson average daily high rises from 87F to 96F over the month of May.
Overnight average lows rise from 58F to 67F during May.
garlic cloves with roots and soil just dug up from garden
May is the month to harvest your garlic in Tucson!

Planting

Cover Crops & Forage

1st Half of May

BROADCAST IN FIELD:

Alfalfa, Amaranth, Buckwheat, Cowpea, Millet, Sesame, Sorghum, Sorghum-Sudan (hybrid), Sudangrass


DIRECT SOW / DRILL IN FIELD:

Buckwheat, Corn, Cowpea


2nd Half of May

BROADCAST IN FIELD:

Alfalfa, Amaranth, Buckwheat, Cowpea, Millet, Sesame, Sorghum, Sorghum-Sudan (hybrid), Sudangrass


DIRECT SOW / DRILL IN FIELD:

Buckwheat, Cowpea


Warning!

if you're using sorghum, sorghum-sudan, or sudangrass as forage, understand that these grasses produce prussic acid and cyanide under certain conditions which may affect some livestock. Do thorough research before grazing animals on these.

Herbs

1st Half of May

SOW INDOORS:

Basil, Lemongrass


DIRECT SOW IN FIELD:

Basil, Lemongrass


HARDEN OFF & TRANSPLANT TO FIELD:

Basil, Lemongrass


2nd Half of May

SOW INDOORS:


DIRECT SOW IN FIELD:

Basil, Lemongrass


HARDEN OFF & TRANSPLANT TO FIELD:

Basil, Lemongrass


Fruits & Vegetables

1st Half of May

SOW INDOORS:

Amaranth, Chili Pepper, Cowpea, Eggplant, Malabar, Melon, Pole Bean, Summer Squash


DIRECT SOW IN FIELD:

Amaranth, Chili Pepper, Cowpea, Eggplant, Malabar, Melon, Okra, Pole Bean, Sorghum, Summer Squash, Sweet Pepper, Sweet Potato (Slips)


HARDEN OFF & TRANSPLANT TO FIELD:

Amaranth, Basil, Chili Pepper, Cowpea, Eggplant, Malabar, Melon, Okra, Pole Bean, Summer Squash, Sweet Pepper


2nd Half of May

SOW INDOORS:

Chili Pepper, Cowpea


DIRECT SOW IN FIELD:

Amaranth, Chili Pepper, Cowpea, Eggplant, Malabar, Melon, Okra, Pole Bean, Sorghum, Summer Squash, Sweet Potato (Slips)


HARDEN OFF & TRANSPLANT TO FIELD:

Amaranth, Basil, Chili Pepper,Cowpea, Eggplant, Malabar, Melon, Okra, Pole Bean, Summer Squash


Grains, Seeds, & Cereals

1st Half of May

BROADCAST IN FIELD:

Amaranth, Buckwheat, Millet, Sesame, Sorghum, Sorghum-Sudan (hybrid), Sudangrass


DIRECT SOW / DRILL IN FIELD:

Buckwheat, Corn


2nd Half of May

BROADCAST IN FIELD:

Amaranth, Buckwheat, Millet, Sesame, Sorghum, Sorghum-Sudan (hybrid), Sudangrass


DIRECT SOW / DRILL IN FIELD:

Buckwheat


Flowers

1st Half of May

BROADCAST IN FIELD:


2nd Half of May

BROADCAST IN FIELD:


Harvesting

garlic scapes harvested in bowl from garden
Before your garlic is ready for harvest it may produce scapes (flowering heads) which can be harvested in early-May to spice up any recipe

Produce

1st Half of May

Garlic Scapes, Strawberries


2nd Half of May

Garlic, Strawberries


garlic plants harvest grown in garden
May is the month to harvest garlic in Tucson! After harvesting, read about how to cure your garlic for storage here.
strawberries in hand small one ripe alpine one not ripe yellow and red with foliage on plant 1
Strawberries often start bearing fruit during May in Tucson! My fave

Seed Saving

1st Half of May

Garlic, Strawberries


2nd Half of May

Garlic, Strawberries


Cut Flowers

1st Half of May


2nd Half of May


Weeding

Weeds to Pull

Bindweed

Cowpen Daisy

Mallow

Spiny Sowthistle

More Tucson Planting Guides

« April   

Check out the Tucson
planting guide for April


« April Planting Guide  

   June »

Check out the Tucson
planting guide for June


  June Planting Guide »

All Months

Find the full list of Tucson monthly planting guides here


All Monthly Guides

Know some plants I missed for May in Tucson? I'd love to hear from you in the comments!