There’s something magical about this time of year—the way the ground softens, the air warms, and the excitement of gardening seems to surge back with full force. After months of waiting, New England soil is finally waking up, and planting season has officially arrived. Walking through the farmer’s market this past weekend, I couldn’t help but smile at the stacks of compost and bags of soil lined up like an invitation: it’s time to get your hands dirty again.
Every year, I get swept up in the anticipation of what our garden might become. We’ve been dreaming big this season—raised beds brimming with vegetables, a growing patch of perennials, berries (raspberries and strawberries are at the top of the list), and maybe even a few experiments along the way. May always feels like the month of possibility, when the garden is just waiting for us to decide what it will grow into.
Advice from the Experts
To help shape this year’s plan, I turned to two people who know gardens inside and out: Kim and Chris of Greenlion. Their expertise goes far beyond basic planting; they specialize in thoughtful garden design, companion planting, and creating spaces that are both beautiful and productive. For Rhode Islanders, they even offer garden consultations and small-space designs—a dream resource if you’ve ever stood in front of a bare patch of soil and wondered, where do I even begin?
Their May planting list is comprehensive, full of both tried-and-true staples and clever pairings that make the most of every inch of soil. With their input (and a few personal favorites from our own experience), I’ve pulled together a list of what to focus on this month, along with a few notes to make the process a little easier.
Timing is Everything
One of the trickiest parts of May planting is navigating the unpredictable weather. In New England, the soil may be warming, but frost is still a lurking possibility. While Rhode Island gardeners can usually start planting earlier in the month, those of us in colder spots like Vermont tend to play it safe until Memorial Day weekend. Even then, I’ve seen surprise freezes sneak in as late as early June—proof that nature has her own timeline.
That’s why it’s so important to know your plant hardiness zone. If you’re not sure what grows best where you live, the USDA hardiness map is a great resource. For those in warmer climates, May might already feel like midsummer, and you may have been planting since early spring. But for us here in the Northeast, patience pays off—waiting until frost risk has truly passed can save you the heartbreak of starting over.
What to Plant in May
So, what actually goes into the soil this month? Here are some favorites—both from Greenlion’s expertise and our own gardening adventures:
- Leafy greens – Spinach, lettuce, kale, and Swiss chard thrive in the cooler temperatures of May and will give you early harvests.
- Herbs – Basil, parsley, cilantro, and dill are staples we can never resist. They’re easy to grow in garden beds or containers near the kitchen.
- Root vegetables – Carrots, beets, and radishes are great May sowings, especially if you want quick returns. Radishes in particular are a beginner’s best friend.
- Perennials – Adding things like lavender, echinacea, or peonies now means you’ll have beauty and structure in the garden year after year.
- Berries – Raspberries and strawberries love to get settled this time of year. They require some patience, but nothing beats picking fresh fruit from your own yard.
- Companion plants – Tomatoes with basil, beans with corn, marigolds near just about everything—they help each other grow while warding off pests.
This mix of practical vegetables, fragrant herbs, and long-lasting perennials is a recipe for both beauty and abundance.
Lessons from the Garden
Every year, I’m reminded that gardening isn’t just about the end result—it’s about the process. It’s about the quiet joy of pressing a seed into soil, the hopeful act of watering an empty bed, and the small thrill of spotting the first green shoots. Gardening teaches patience, resilience, and humility. You can’t rush nature, and sometimes, despite all your best efforts, things simply don’t grow the way you planned.
But that’s part of the charm. Each season offers new lessons, new experiments, and new successes to savor. This year, for us, it’s about expanding, experimenting, and leaning into the rhythm of the garden as it unfolds.
Looking Ahead
As we dig into May, I can’t help but feel the energy of the season: hopeful, busy, buzzing with possibility. Soon the raised beds will be filled, the perennials will take root, and the berry bushes will begin their quiet march toward fruiting. The garden will change week by week, offering its surprises and challenges in equal measure.
For now, the best thing we can do is start. To gather the seeds, roll up our sleeves, and trust that with a little patience, the work we put in today will bloom into something beautiful tomorrow.
Because that’s the promise of May: a blank canvas of soil, waiting for us to decide what kind of story it will tell this summer.
