Mid May is a OK time to start a garden in zone 5-b. It could be late for peas, a bit late for root veggies, early for peppers, tomatoes, eggplants. The question is - do you have a workable piece of land that just need a simple tilling? If you need to clear the land, fight weeds, pick rocks, amend the soil - you will just get a maximum of a month to do so. I moved to my house in the mid July - I had few tomatoes and peppers started in pots in my previous place. So I covered "to be a bed" area to kill the grass and just placed containers on top. The rest of the summer I spent extending my future garden. First planting in the ground was in August - strawberries, then garlic in October. Tell me what you would like to grow, I can give you my schedule for zone 5 B. By the way, this year everything is at least 2 -3 weeks late. So you do have a good chance to have some of a garden this year.

It might be easier this year, due to time constraints, to use containers. You can set them up quickly right when you arrive rather than trying to get a garden plot all tilled and amended for planting. Then you'd still have all summer to get the garden ready for next year while still having stuff growing this year.

As an alternative, perhaps hire some one there to till and prep a small garden for you so it will be ready to use as soon as you arrive.

Just some things to consider.

Dave

Thanks, galinas!
The lady who lived in the house before had a few raised beds, maybe three 4X8, and the rest of it is grass (another thing that doesn't grow too well in my yard). I'm not sure how long it will take to kill it because it does look pretty thriving, or did last summer. We're vegetarians and the plan is to try to grow as much of our diet as possible, so in short, I'd like to grow everything. I appreciate your advice.

Thanks Dave. I've been reading your posts for years. You basically taught me how to garden.
I have tomatoes here that have just started setting fruit. I wish I thought I could possibly move them somehow but I think they'll just be too big. I wonder if you've ever heard of such a thing? They're in smartpots.

I love Gardenweb. This is why.

Tomatoes in smart pots could be moved in theory but that would be an awfully long trip for them to survive in either the car or a moving van. So balloonflower's suggestion is a really good one - some small rooted cuttings would arrive in NH at just about the right time. And I assume you will be taking the smart pots with you? You can just put them, soil and all into the moving van. :)

So if some previously used beds are already there what are the odds of hiring a local to get them ready for you to plant in? They may not be ideal but still usable for this year.

Dave

I would sure not count on killing this grass for this year planting, but start doing it right away by covering it with cardboard or anything else you can find. I used weed barrier - it worked fine, I just happened to have a roll in the house when I moved in. I am not sure about Southern NH, but here in Worcester, MA, about an hour drive form NH south border, soil is full of rocks. And under the grass it is probably a lot of them. In the beds, hopefully, they already gone. So I would count on growing in the beds, and the rest in containers. Lets see, what we can fit this year.
Turnips - grow very fast, and germinate easily. Can be planted through out the summer. So plant as soon as you able. Cover with tulle - cabbage fly eats the roots in my area every year, if not covered.
Carrots - germinate faster when it is warmer, but doesn't like summer heat, so choose one that grows fast. Actually,I wouldn't hold my breath for carrots this year.
Beets - a little late, but will grow if you manage it to keep soil moist before it germinates.
Radishes - I would say late, may bolt because of the day length, but you can try.
Herbs - good time for planting dill, a little late for parsley from seeds, easier to buy plants.
Lettuce - anytime
Cabbage - OK for planting very fast growing, like "Golden Acre", or wait a bit and start in pots on the porch for a fall crop.I cover with tulle as well - works pretty good.
Squash, zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkins, pepper, tomatoes, eggplants, melons(fast maturing) - good time for planting, wait until end of May(depending on the soil temp and weather), you will have to buy plants though.(I always start extra and offer them for my neighbors for free, so if you do not minds an hour(?) drive, I can share with you what I have. Shoot me an email, if you want to arrange something... ) Cucumbers has to be covered in my area due to cucumber beetle, so I grow only parthenocarpic ones in the vertical "greenhouse"-like setup with a net instead of film. Also powder mildew usually comes later in the season, so spray preventive (I use Serenade) to prolong season.
Potato - OK to plant, but has a space concern - may be prepare for the next year. Or plant in bags. I found red pontiac very productive in our area. Do not plant near tomatoes - late blight always starting on potatoes first.
Beans - perfect time to plant
Corn - perfect time as well
Onions - I would say too late for any type, but you can buy chive in pots and plant.
Garlic - if you find any of last year(I may have some, if will not dry out completely), you can plant it for greens right away, and plant in October for next year.
Sorrel - good time to start from seeds
OK, I guess it is full list of veggies I currently grow)

I will definitely look into someone who can prep the beds in advance of our arrival. That would be a lovely thing to pull into after a 1500 mile drive. I'll definitely take balloonflowers advice and come armed with my cuttings.
Galinas, you have outdone yourself. Thank you so much! I'll try to identify some good places for seedlings, but you may just end up with an email from me :)
You have all put my mind much more at ease. Now I feel like at least I know which way is up. I can't thank you enough. And I'll let you know how it goes!

I would start everything from starts for this year, anyway.

Get to know your new community. Where are the organic nurseries/places to find organic compost/soil etc. You might want to get in touch with your local freecycle.com to get manure/compost/soil. Freecycle is like Craigslist, but a little more local. Also check out the farmers markets, both for plants and veges you might not have time to get going in your area right away. In the NE, you seem to have a limited growing time (I'm in No C, so I have a 6-8 month growing time.)

I would look up your extension office to look up optimal planting times and transplanting times. I'm guessing that you have a fast intense growing period, where we have a long , slow growing time.

We are lucky to have a very organic area. Our dump compost is certified organic, there is a farm inside the city limits (100 YO) that sell their homegrown organic starts for 1/2 of what hoity toity organic nurseries charge. We also have several garden sales( ALL happening right NOW!) of organic starts. We also have a Baker Creek store just a town away! Nancy