Shanghai in May: what to plant
Averaged over the last 5 years of daily records, May in Shanghai runs 16.6–25.7°C with about 93 mm of rain across the month. Here is what that climate actually supports.
❄️ No sub-zero nights in May in the last 5 years — frost is not the limiting factor here.
Best crops to sow now
- 🌱 Microgreens Fastest about 6 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🌿 Basil about 23 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🧅 Chives about 24 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🥬 Bok Choy about 28 days to harvest Recent mean 21.2°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🍓 Strawberry about 44 days to harvest Recent mean 21.2°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🥕 Carrot about 56 days to harvest Recent mean 21.2°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🥔 Potato about 64 days to harvest Recent mean 21.2°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🥒 Cucumber about 93 days to harvest Recent mean 21.2°C — right in the sweet spot
Leave these for another month
- 🌿 Spinach — Recent mean 21.2°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🫛 Peas — Recent mean 21.2°C is too hot (ideal 7–21°C)
- 🥗 Lettuce — Recent mean 21.2°C — right in the sweet spot
Other months in Shanghai
Temperature and rainfall are 5-year daily normals from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo. Suitability is scored with the same degree-day model the game runs on — it is not a generic planting calendar.