May is prime warm-season planting time in mild-winter zones, with soil temperatures rising and growth accelerating. This is the month to get main-season crops established outdoors, keep up with succession sowing, and set up supports before vines and tall plants take off. Watch moisture as days warm, mulch to hold soil moisture, and keep an eye out for the first big flush of pests as the garden hits its stride.
Indoors (fresh harvests):
-
Microgreens: peas, broccoli, sunflowers, arugula
-
Sprouts: alfalfa, broccoli, radish, mung
-
Herbs & greens under lights: chives, parsley, mint
Transplants to move outdoors (harden first): pepper, tomato, eggplant, melons, basil, okra — these should go out early May if not already in the ground
Crops that can be directly sown outdoors in May: beans, corn, cucumber, squash, melons, okra, sunflower, basil, dill, sweet potato slips. Succession sow beets, carrots, and radishes early in the month before heat sets in.
Cover crops: buckwheat, cowpeas, sorghum-sudangrass
Note: Warm-season crops should be going directly outdoors now, not starting under lights.
Tip: An Olympia, WA zone 8 is very different from a Jackson, MS zone 8. Consider checking with your state Extension Service office for more specific recommendations and guidelines.
Use your USDA zone as a guide. Microclimates matter — coastal/urban spots run warmer; high elevation runs colder.
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Corn Seeds - Sweet - Jubilee Hybrid
80-89 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Jubilee Hybrid Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and drought-prone regions....
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Jalapeno Gigantia F1
Jalapeno Gigantia F1 Hybrid Hot Pepper Seeds. Capsicum annuum. F1 Hybrid. Non-GMO. Annual. 70 days to maturity. Jalapeno Gigantia are large, 5 inches long peppers that are great for stuffing....
Tomato Seeds - Paste - Giant Garden Paste Hybrid
95 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Giant Garden Paste Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, indeterminate, paste tomato. Giant Garden Paste has a wonderfully sweet and acidic...
Bells of Ireland Seeds
98-112 days. Bells of Ireland seeds promise exotic, unmistakable, and low-maintenance blooms native to the cool and dry highlands of Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. Bells of Ireland boast 24-36" tall...
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Green Ice
Green Ice leaf lettuce is glossy with fingered dark green leaves. Leaves are loose and wrinkled with frilled edges. This lettuce is deliciously crispy even when grown in the heat...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Red Pear
70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Red Pear Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. The...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Charleston Grey
87 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Charleston Grey Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, Picnic watermelon. Resistant to Anthracnose, Fusarium Wilt. Charleston Grey watermelon was introduced...
Pansy Seeds - Cool Wave Series
91-98 Days to maturity. Viola x wittrockiana. Cool Wave Series Pansy Seeds. Non-GMO, hybrid, Premium Quality Seeds, annual. Cool Wave Series seeds grow easily into a trailing/spreading version of the...
Onion Seeds - Short - Early White Grano PRR
100-110 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Early White Grano PRR Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, bulbing, short-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, and raised beds. Resistant...
Sunflower Seeds - Mexican
Tithonia rotundifolia Mexican sunflower is a showy, drought tolerant, annual that makes an excellent cut flower. The bright red-orange flowers measure 2-3 inches across, against velvety dark green leaves. Mexican...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Korean - Gochujang King -...
90-100 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Gochujang King Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, hot-type pepper with mild heat levels. 500 to 1,500 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing...
Melon Seeds - Honeydew - Green Flesh (Organic)
105 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Organic Green Flesh Honeydew Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant Honeydew Melon. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and...
Seed Starter Kit - Salad
Start your own salad garden seeds indoors and get a jump on the growing season. Also perfect for transplanting to indoor planters for year-round container gardening. Cultivate your own fresh,...
Basil Seeds - Cinnamon
Non-GMO, Open-pollinated, Heirloom Cinnamon Basil Herb Seed from True Leaf Market. Ocimum basilicum. As basil has lots of different varieties, Cinnamon Basil Herb is one of the most popular sweet...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Watermelon Beefsteak (Organic)
75 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Organic Watermelon Beefsteak Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Brandywine Red Potato Leaf (Organic)
80-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Organic Brandywine Red Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, potato leaf, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden...
Lettuce Seeds - Summer Bibb - Organic
(43 days) Lt. John B. Bibb served in the War of 1812, represented Logan County in the Kentucky House of Representatives and the state Senate from 1827 to 1834. Lt....
Beet Seeds - Cylindra - Organic
(60 days) This beet dates back to the 1880s. Also known as the "Formanova". Dark red, cylindrical and about 6-9"s long. This is not your typical beet as it is...
Vinca Seeds - Mediterranean XP Series
98-105 Days to maturity. Catharanthus roseus ’Mediterranean XP Series’. Mediterranean XP Series Vinca Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, annual. Premium Quality Seeds. Mediterranean XP vinca seeds grow one of summer's most exciting...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Purple Tiger
90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Purple Tiger Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, hot-type pepper with medium heat levels. 2,500 to 5,000 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Santa Fe Grande
80-89 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Santa Fe Grande Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high yielding, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, hot-type pepper with mild heat...
Morning Glory Seeds - Heavenly Blue
112 days. Heavenly Blue morning glory seeds promise a fun, unique, and effortless grow for your home, garden, or patio. Heavenly Blue seeds burst into 60-120" tall morning glories dazzling...
Cucumber Seeds - Spacemaster (Organic)
65 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Organic Spacemaster Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, pickling, or slicing cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots,...
Spinach Seeds - Winter Giant
50 days. Spinacia oleracea. Winter Giant Spinach Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom, open-pollinated. This crop is suitable for garden plots, raised beds, and containers. Winter Giant is a very cold-hardy spinach...
Radicchio Seeds - Rouge de Verona
Rouge De Verona Radicchio is an heirloom plant that can be compared to a cross between a cabbage and lettuce. Ready in about 80 days, Roufe De Verona can be...
Cress Seeds - Curled (Organic)
Non-GMO, Heirloom Organic Curled Cress Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Lepidium sativum. Cress is native to Persia, which is known as West Asia. Organic Curled Cress is herbaceous...
Lettuce Seeds - Red Romaine
Lactuca sativa (40 days) Red Romaine Lettuce has long crunchy spoon shaped leaves that start green and fade to profuse purple/red. Leaves are 12" tall and the plant is about...
Onion Sets - Spanish Yellow
100 Sets This is a pre-order item and is expected to ship in March to April for spring planting. Other seeds, supplies, or kits ordered with this product may ship...
Melon Seeds - Charentais (Organic)
90 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo var. inodorus. Organic Charentais Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant specialty melon. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds,...
Cucumber Seeds - Beit Alpha CMR/MMR
The Beit Alpha CMR/MMR cucumber is an excellent addition to any home garden. Each cucumber has a medium green exterior and very small black spine. This cucumber grows straight and...
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