May is the main planting kickoff in cold-winter zones, when gardens finally move from starts and prep into full outdoor action. Early May often still favors hardy transplants and direct-sown cool-season crops, while mid-to-late May is when many areas can safely set out warm-season plants as frost risk drops. Keep hardening off seedlings, use row cover if nights run cold, and focus on steady watering and early weed control so young plants establish quickly.
Indoors (fresh harvests):
-
Microgreens: peas, broccoli, sunflowers, arugula
-
Sprouts: alfalfa, broccoli, radish, mung
-
Herbs & greens under lights: chives, parsley, mint
Crops to start indoors in good light: tomato, pepper, eggplant, basil, cucumber, squash, melons, zinnia, marigold
Transplants to move outdoors (harden first): broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, lettuce, onion, parsley, pansies, snapdragons — and by mid-to-late May, tomato, pepper, and eggplant as frost risk drops
Crops that can be directly sown outdoors in May: peas, spinach, kale, Swiss chard, beets, carrots, radishes, turnips, parsnip, dill, cilantro — and after last frost: beans, corn, cucumber, squash, sunflower, nasturtium, sweet peas
Cover crops: oats, field peas, hairy vetch, red clover
Tip: This zone group covers a lot of territory. Nothing replaces talking with experienced gardeners in your area and watching the weather closely.
Use your USDA zone as a guide. Microclimates matter — coastal/urban spots run warmer; high elevation runs colder.
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Lemon Balm Seeds (Organic)
90 Days to maturity. Melissa officinalis. Organic Lemon Balm Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, perennial, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, and raised beds. Our Organic Lemon...
Basil Seeds - Green Leaf Holy Basil
65-75 days maturity. Ocimum sanctum. Green Leaf Holy Basil Seeds. Non-GMO, Heirloom. Annual. Holy basil is an essential herb in the Thai kitchen due to its unique flavor. It is...
Marshmallow Herb Seeds
60-90 Days to maturity. Althaea officinalis. Marshmallow Herb Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, and raised beds. A beautiful pollinator and traditional medicinal...
Basil Seeds - Red Leaf Holy Basil
65-75 days maturity. Ocimum sanctum. Red Leaf Holy Basil Seeds. Non-GMO, Heirloom. Annual. Holy basil is an essential herb in the Thai kitchen due to its unique flavor. This Holy...
Gourd Seeds, Wax - Winter Melon Round
85 to 95 Days to maturity. Benincasa hispida. Round Winter Melon Wax Gourd Seeds. Annual, Open Pollinated, Heirloom, Non-GMO. This melon is very popular in Asia and is quickly gaining...
Catmint Seeds - Blue Moon
60-80 Days to maturity. Nepeta nervosa. Blue Moon Cat Mint Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, Premium Quality Seeds, perennial. This heat-tolerant flowering herb is just the versatile plant that your garden needs!...
Flowering Cabbage Seeds - Osaka Series
91-98 Days to maturity. Brassica oleracea var. capitata. Osaka Flowering Cabbage Seeds. Non-GMO, cool weather annual. Osaka Series Osaka Flowering cabbage seeds grow a classic and elegant swirl of color...
Fennel Seeds - Sweet
90-115 days. Foeniculum vulgare var. azuricum. Sweet Fennel Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom, open-pollinated. This early strain is suitable for garden plots, raised beds, and containers. Sweet Fennel is a cool-bulbing...
Gourd Seeds - Bonanza
80-90 days to maturity. Luffa acutangula ’Bonanza’. Bonanza Gourd Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom gourd seed. This vigorous and productive plant produces a high yield of edible fruit on...
Lentil Seeds - Green - Organic
Organic Green Lentil Seeds. Lens culinaris. 80 to 110 days to maturity. Certified Organic by OTCO. Hardy Annual. Heirloom, Open Pollinated, Non-GMO. Produces light green, or greenish-brown lentils. Sometimes referred...
Flowering Kale Seeds - Kamome Series
91-98 Days to maturity. Brassica oleracea var. acephala. Kamome Series Flowering Kale Seeds. Non-GMO, cool weather annual. Kamome Series flowering kale seeds promise a timeless frost-hardy highlight to any temperate...
Lentil Seeds - Red - Organic
Organic Red Lentil Seeds. Lens culinaris. 80 to 110 days to maturity. Certified Organic by OTCO. Hardy Annual. Heirloom, Open Pollinated, Non-GMO. Used for vegetable gardening and sprouting. Approx 600...
Lentil Seeds - Black (Organic)
Organic Black Lentil Seeds. Lens culinaris. 80 to 110 days to maturity. Certified Organic by OTCO. Hardy Annual. Heirloom, Open Pollinated, Non-GMO. Use for vegetable gardening and sprouting. Produces dark...
Vietnamese Culantro Seeds - Ngo Gai
80-90 Days to maturity. Eryngium foetidum. Vietnamese Culantro Seeds - Ngo Gai Seeds. Annual heirloom. This herb belongs to the Apiacea family is often compared to parsley in flavor but...
Gourd Seeds - Martinhouse Bottle
Martinhouse Bottle Gourd Seeds. 90 - 110 days to maturity. Lagenaria siceraria. Heirloom, Annual. ~ 185 seeds/ounce Download Free Vegetable Growing Guide PDF Gourd Seeds - Martinhouse Bottle Download Free...
Gourd Seeds - Dok - Hybrid
80-90 days to maturity. Luffa cylindrica ’Dok’. Dok Gourd Seeds. Non-GMO warm-season annual hybrid. This beautiful plant produces early maturing, vigorous fruits. It is high yielding, has lateral branches, and...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Shiny Boy Hybrid (treated)
90 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Treated Shiny Boy Hybrid Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, heat-tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. 2010 Vegetable AAS Winner. Known...
Gourd Seeds - Extra Long
80-90 day maturity after transplanting. Luffa acutangula ’Extra Long’. Extra Long Gourd Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, heirloom. This unusual gourd plant has slender fruit. An attractive container specimen, the Luffa...
Burdock Seeds - Salada Musume
85-100 days to maturity. Arctium lappa. Salada Musume Burdock Seeds. Non-GMO, Heirloom, Cool-season Annual. Burdock has been grown for centuries, mainly in China and Japan, for its culinary and medicinal...
Gourd Seeds, Bottle - Miniature
90 to 95 days to maturity. Lagenaria leucantha var gourdaMiniature Bottle Gourd Seeds. Heirloom, Annual, Non-GMO. These miniature bottle-shaped gourds grow up to 12 inches long, and have a diameter...
Gourd Seeds - Buab Laem - Hybrid
80-90 days to maturity. Luffa acutangula ’Buab Laem’. Buab Laem Gourd Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, hybrid. This is a highly productive and vigorous hybrid. The green, edible fruit is tender...
Gourd Seeds - Haa Sing - Hybrid
80-90 days to maturity. Luffa acutangula ’Haa Sing’. Haa Sing Gourd Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, hybrid. This unique gourd plant has ridged fruit growing to be 26-30" long and dark...
Radish Seeds - Giant Luo Buo
Radish Seeds - Giant Luo Buo. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Raphanus sativus. 80-100 days. Cool season annual. This large oval white radish grows 8-10" long and 5-6" in diameter and is very...
Roselle Seeds - Asian Sour Leaf (Hibiscus)
70-90 day maturity. Hibiscus sabdariffa. Asian Sour Leaf Roselle Seeds. Non-GMO, Cool-season perennial heirloom. This unique perennial can be grown as an annual in areas where it will not survive...
Dandelion Seeds - True (Wild)
Taraxacum officinale. Non-GMO, Heirloom True (Wild) Dandelion Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. True wild Dandelions grow as tender perennials native to regions in Asia and Europe. Herbaceous and...
Burdock Seeds - Gobo Takinogawa
85-95 days to maturity. Arctium lappa ‘Gobo Takinogawa’. Gobo Takinogawa Burdock Seeds. Heirloom, Non-GMO, Annual, Open-pollinated. Burdock has been grown for centuries, primarily in China and Japan, for its culinary...
Gourd Seeds - Emerald - Hybrid
80-90 days to maturity. Luffa cylindrica ’Emerald’. Emerald Gourd Seeds. Non-GMO warm-season annual hybrid. This beautiful plant produces early maturing, smooth-type fruits that average 45-50cm long, 4-5 cm in diameter,...
Watermelon Seeds - Icebox - Hime Kansen Hybrid
95 Days to maturity. Citrullus vulgaris. Hime Kansen Hybrid Japanese Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, heat tolerant, seeded, icebox watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. This Japanese watermelon is...
Toraji Seeds - Balloon Flower
90-120 days to maturity Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) A. DC. Balloon Flower Toraji Seeds. Non-GMO, Heirloom. Perennial in Zones 3-8. Roots can be harvested after 2-3 years. Balloon Flower can also...
Melon Seeds - Sakata's Sweet
85-90 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Sakata's Sweet Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant Asian Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to...
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