Lowcountry Almanac: May
Image above: With flippers flapping and saltwater dreams in her heart, this determined loggerhead photographed by Andre Johnson makes her way to the waves. Sea turtle nesting season runs from May 1 to Oct. 31, with Hilton Head Island’s first nest often spotted in early May. To give these tiny travelers their best chance, remember to turn off beachfront lights by 10 p.m., fill in holes, and admire marked nests from a respectful distance.
May in the Lowcountry is basically nature’s way of showing off. It’s the perfect handoff from spring’s gentle whisper to summer’s full-volume playlist — minus the sweat. Named after Maia, the Greek goddess of growth, May delivers golden light, jasmine-scented breezes and weather that practically begs you to get outside. Locals answer the call with beach days, festivals and all outdoor sports. Farmers markets overflow with produce that looks too pretty to eat, while trails lure you into pretending you’re outdoorsy. Al fresco dining? Yes, please, especially if it involves shrimp, a sunset and someone else doing the dishes. According to the 2025 Old Farmer’s Almanac and Grow Great Vegetables South Carolina, this is your month to shine. Or at least to plant something green and hope it lives.
Night & day
With sunrises earlier and sunsets stretching later, each day gives us more time to dig in and savor the season.
Sunrise: 6:15-6:34 a.m.
Sunset: 8:05-8:25 p.m.
Weather predictions
Rainy days and warm rays, May sets the stage for lush gardens and lively landscapes. Expect warmer-than-average temps and a little extra rainfall to keep things green.
- Average temperature: 75 degrees (1 degree above average)
- Precipitation: 5 inches (1 inch above average)
Forecast by week
- May 1-3: Showers, cool
- May 4-6: Sunny, warmer
- May 7-18: Thunderstorms, mild
- May 19-29: Sunny; mild, then hot
- May 30-31: Thunderstorms, warm
Astronomical events
Keep an eye on the sky — May brings a touch of celestial magic.
- May 6-7: Eta Aquarid meteor shower (look up!)
- May 12: Full Flower Moon
- May 27: New Moon
- May 31: Venus at greatest western elongation, brilliant in the early morning sky.
Tides & currents
Stay in sync with the rhythms of the Lowcountry coast. Click here for the latest tide and current predictions from NOAA.
Gardening
May is a gardener’s hustle month. With longer days and rising temps, summer crops (and those pesky weeds) grow at full speed.
Prep Plan fall/winter crops. Weed weekly using a scuffle hoe. Stake, string or cage tomatoes and peppers. Harvest garlic scapes; remove mulch from garlic. Move mulch to weeded broccoli beds. Weed onions three weeks before harvest. Weed corn twice and install blueberry netting.
Plant Time to put those seeds and starts in the soil.
Indoors: You’re off the hook, it’s all outside now. Outdoors: Sow beans, carrots, corn, radishes, peanuts, edamame, limas, cowpeas, asparagus beans, and heat-loving greens like Malabar spinach and amaranth. Also sow squash, melons, cucumbers, zucchini (cover until flowering), and transplant tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, melons and sweet potatoes. Consider planting summer cover crops like sorghum, buckwheat or millet.
Harvest May’s bounty is big and beautiful. Enjoy asparagus, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, chard, cherries, collards, garlic scapes, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, peas, radishes, rhubarb, scallions, senposai, spinach, squash, strawberries, turnips and zucchini.
Flowers in bloom Beyond the vegetable beds, May’s gardens burst with fresh blooms. Confederate jasmine weaves its fragrant magic along trellises and fences, while vibrant petunias, lantanas, marigolds and geraniums fill flower beds and containers. The color and scent of these blossoms enhance the joy of spending time outdoors, providing a floral backdrop as you tend to your garden.
Best days
Moon phases can inspire the perfect timing. Here are May’s most auspicious days for key activities:
- Fishing: May 1-12, 29-31
- Bake for Mom: May 1-2, 29-30
- Make jams & jellies: May 20-21
- Weed flower beds: May 23-24
- Pick flowers: May 6-7
- Entertain guests: May 3-5, 31
- Start new projects: May 27
