May Gardening in Central Texas

Growth, maintenance, and preparing for summer heat

May is a month of strong growth in Central Texas gardens. Warm-season crops are establishing quickly, temperatures rise steadily, and attention begins to shift from planting to maintenance and protection. While there are still planting opportunities, success in May comes from supporting what’s already growing and preparing for summer stress.

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🌱 What Can You Do in May?

May gardening focuses on three main paths:

• Outdoor Sowing of heat-tolerant crops

• Limited Indoor Seed Starting for succession planting

• Transplanting warm-season plants early in the month

Choosing the right approach now helps your garden stay productive as temperatures increase.

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🌿 Outdoor Sowing — May

May is best suited for sowing heat-loving and drought-tolerant crops directly outdoors.

Good outdoor sowing choices:

• Southern peas (cowpeas)

• Okra

• Amaranth

• Basil

• Sunflowers

Tips for success:

• Plant early in the month when possible

• Water deeply during germination

• Mulch to retain soil moisture

👉 Shop May Outdoor Sowing Seeds

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🌱 Start Indoors — May

Indoor seed starting is limited in May but can still support staggered harvests.

Why start indoors now:

• Replace early planting losses

• Extend harvest windows

• Start herbs and flowers away from heat stress

Common indoor starts this month:

• Basil

• Herbs

• Flowers

Tips for success:

• Avoid excessive heat buildup indoors

• Provide strong light and airflow

• Transplant promptly to prevent stress

👉 Start Seeds Indoors — May

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🌼 Transplanting — May

Transplanting remains possible in May, especially early in the month.

What can be transplanted:

• Tomatoes

• Peppers

• Eggplant

• Herbs

Transplanting tips:

• Transplant on cloudy or mild days

• Water deeply after planting

• Mulch immediately to protect roots

👉 See May Transplant Options

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🌱 What to Plant in May — Central Texas

Planting in May should focus on crops that tolerate warmth and establish quickly.

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🌿 Outdoor Sowing (May)

• Southern peas

• Okra

• Amaranth

• Basil

• Sunflowers

👉 Shop May Outdoor Sowing Seeds

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🌱 Start Indoors (May)

• Basil

• Herbs

• Flowers

👉 Start Seeds Indoors — May

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🌼 Transplanting (May)

• Tomatoes

• Peppers

• Eggplant

• Herbs

👉 See May Transplant Options

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🛠️ May Garden Tasks (Worth Doing)

As heat increases, maintenance becomes critical.

Helpful tasks this month:

• Apply deep mulch

• Adjust watering schedules

• Install shade cloth if needed

• Monitor pests closely

Good care now prevents stress later.

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🌱 New to Gardening?

If May feels overwhelming, focus on:

• Mulching existing plants

• Sowing one or two heat-tolerant crops

Consistency matters more than quantity.

👉 View the Monthly Gardening Guides

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🌿 Looking Ahead

June brings higher temperatures and fewer planting opportunities. Gardens that are well-mulched and watered in May will perform better through summer.

May is about support and preparation — protect what you’ve planted and plan ahead.

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🌱 Ready to Grow?

• 👉 Shop May Outdoor Sowing Seeds

• 👉 Shop May Indoor Seed Starting Seeds

• 👉 View Monthly Gardening Guides