What is Best to Plant in May for a Bountiful Summer Harvest: Fruits (Part 2 of 3)

Continuing from Part 1, where we discussed the best Vegetables to plant during the month of May.  Below is Part 2 of 3: Fruit.

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Best Fruits to Plant in May

Some fruits take longer to establish, but May is still a great time to get them started.

🍓Strawberries (everbearing or day-neutral)

• Why plant in May: They settle in quickly and can produce the same year.

• Harvest window: Mid-summer through fall for everbearing types.

• Mentioned in the Bible?: Strawberries aren’t mentioned in the Bible, but within Catholic and Anglican traditions during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, they came to represent righteousness and spiritual purity due to their heart shape and sweetness.

• Myth: In Native American legend, strawberries grew from the ground where the tears of a woman fell after a quarrel with her husband — the berries helped reunite them.

• Legend: In medieval Europe, strawberries symbolized perfection and righteousness; they were carved into church altars and pillars.

🍉Melons (cantaloupe, watermelon)

• Why plant in May: They require warm soil and long growing seasons.

• Harvest window: August through early September.

• Mentioned in the Bible?: Melons appear in Numbers 11:5 alongside cucumbers. The Israelites remembered melons from Egypt, associating them with refreshment and abundance.

• Myth: In ancient Egypt, melons were believed to have sprung from the tears of the god Ra.

• Legend: Some Middle Eastern folklore claims melons were the first fruits cultivated after the Great Flood.

Raspberries & Blackberries

• Why plant in May: Canes establish well in warm soil.

• Harvest window: Next year, though some varieties give a small fall crop.

• Mentioned in the Bible?: While not named directly, brambles and thorny berry bushes appear symbolically. In Judges 9:14–15, the bramble is used in a parable about leadership, representing humility and caution.

• Myth: In Greek mythology, raspberries were originally white. They turned red when the nymph Ida pricked her finger while picking berries for baby Zeus.

• Legend: In Celtic lore, blackberries were avoided after Samhain (late autumn) because they were believed to be claimed by mischievous spirits.

Please continue to Part 3. We will be discussing the best herbs to plant in May.

To refer back to Part 1, click here.