What's in Season in May?
Reliably in season across most of the country
Asparagus (peak in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest), strawberries across the southern half and California, lettuce, spinach, radishes, peas, and rhubarb.
May region by region
The U.S. runs on more than one harvest clock — the Gulf South peaks in winter, the desert Southwest is a November-to-April operation, and California barely pauses. Here is May in each region, from the same Cooperative Extension calendars behind our state guides.
| Region | Typically in season in May |
|---|---|
| Northeast | Asparagus, radishes, spinach, lettuce, rhubarb |
| Midwest & Upper Midwest | Asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries, peas, spinach, salad greens, radishes, early cabbage |
| Southeast | Strawberries, peas, cabbage, beets, Swiss chard, early tomatoes, squash, cucumbers |
| Gulf & Deep South | Blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, cucumbers, honeydew, peaches, watermelon, onions, tomatoes |
| Mountain West | Asparagus, lettuce, radishes, rhubarb, spinach, peas, strawberries |
| Pacific Northwest | Asian vegetables, lettuce, radishes, greens, rhubarb, herbs |
| California | Valencia oranges, grapefruit, lemons, strawberries, avocados, sweet corn, peas, beans, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, sweet onions, potatoes, carrots |
| Southwest Desert | Cantaloupe and melons, citrus (lemons), squash, sweet corn, early warm-season vegetables |
Typical regional windows, not town-by-town guarantees — elevation, weather, and growing method shift any crop by weeks. Confirm locally at your market.
Regional highlights this month
- Gulf & Deep South: May–June are the final harvest months for Florida tomatoes, sweet corn, cucumbers, and squash before the deep-summer shutdown. Texas floods with melons, blueberries, peaches, new potatoes, and tomatoes.
- Southeast: Vidalia onion season is a Georgia signature this month; strawberries peak across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.
- Pacific Northwest: Washington cherries begin in late May; the Midwest hits its asparagus surge, with Michigan a top producer.
Find it fresh near you
The month tells you what to look for; your local market tells you what's actually on the tables this week. Find a farmers market by ZIP code, browse farm stands and u-pick farms to buy at the source, or pull up your state's calendar below for the local version of this month.
Frequently asked questions
What's at peak in May?
Asparagus (Mid-Atlantic and Midwest peak) and strawberries — the wave reaches the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and California's main season. Peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes, and rhubarb round out the national list.
Why do May tomato claims confuse people?
Because both are true somewhere: Florida's tomato season is finishing in May while northern field tomatoes won't arrive until roughly July. National lists that merge the two clocks mislead both audiences.
When is Vidalia onion season?
May is the heart of it — Vidalia sweet onions are a Georgia spring signature, and their arrival at markets is a reliable May marker across the Southeast.
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Sources
- USDA SNAP-Ed — Seasonal Produce Guide
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — Texas Home Vegetable Gardening Guide
- Go Texan — Texas Produce Availability Chart
- NC State Extension — Garden Calendars
- Clemson HGIC — Harvesting Vegetables
- UGA CAES — Organic Cool-Season Crop Rotations for the Southeast
- WSU Extension — Whatcom Seasonal Harvest Guide
- OSU Extension — Monthly Garden Calendars
- USDA AMS — Local & Regional Food Directories
These are typical regional harvest windows from Cooperative Extension and USDA sources, not a town-by-town guarantee. Where sources conflict, we side with the state-level Extension calendar. Storage crops are labeled as such — winter "in season" in the North usually means well-stored, not freshly picked.