May marks the shift into early summer conditions in the warm-winter zones, and gardens respond fast with rapid growth. Warm-season crops should be planted and growing strongly now, and succession sowing keeps harvests coming even as temperatures climb. Stay ahead of heat stress by mulching, watering consistently, and planting in the coolest part of the day — and in the hottest areas, begin planning for shade cloth and other summer protection.
Indoors (fresh harvests):
-
Microgreens: peas, broccoli, sunflowers, arugula
-
Sprouts: alfalfa, broccoli, radish, mung
-
Herbs & greens under lights: chives, parsley, mint
Transplants to move outdoors: Most warm-season crops should already be in the ground. If you have heat-tolerant starts on hand, get them out early in the month before conditions get too stressful.
Crops that can be directly sown outdoors in May: okra, sweet potato slips, cowpeas, yard-long beans, Malabar spinach, Armenian cucumber, and other heat-tolerant varieties. Standard cucumbers, squash, and beans can still go in early May in many areas.
Cover crops: cowpeas, sunn hemp, buckwheat, sorghum-sudangrass
Note: Cool-season crops are wrapping up. The focus shifts to heat-tolerant varieties and keeping the soil covered.
Tip: A Southern California zone 10 can be very different from a Florida zone 10. 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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Cauliflower Seeds - Snowball Y Improved
70-80 days to maturity. Brassica oleracea var. botrytis. Snowball Y Improved Cauliflower Seeds. Non-GMO, heirloom, open-pollinated, annual. This is suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, containers, and fields....
Radish Seeds - Daikon Minowase
Raphanus sativus (45 days) AKA Japanese Minowase Daikon Radish. Daikon is a root vegetable reported to have originated in the Mediterranean and brought to China for cultivation around 500 B.C....
Nasturtium Seeds - Jewel Mix
54-63 Days to maturity. Tropaeolum majus. Organic Nasturtium Jewel Mix Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom. Jewel Mix nasturtium is brilliant, easy to grow from seed, and perfectly suited for many dry...
Chamomile Seeds - German
Non-GMO, Heirloom German Chamomile Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Matricaria chamomilla. German Chamomile plants originated in Western Asia and were later cultivated in Europe, where chamomile has been...
Zinnia Seeds - California Giant Mix
75-90 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. California Giant Mixture Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, annual. The “king of summer annuals" California Giant Mix seeds are the largest variety of Zinnias ever,...
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Early Girl Hybrid
60 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Early Girl Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, indeterminate, salad. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Basil Seeds - Genovese
60-90 days. Genovese basil seeds. Ocimum basilicum. Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Genovese is a sweet basil heirloom native to the Italian provinces of Genoa, Savona, and Imperia; while locals are decided...
Cucumber Seeds - Muncher
65-70 days. Muncher Cucumber Seeds. Cucumis sativus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. One of the most reliably productive and tolerant grows on the farm or in the home garden, Muncher cucumber has become...
Barley - Whole (Organic) - Grass Seeds
Barley grass sprouting seed, with the hull on (whole barley). Great germination rate and a great seed for sprouting, growing barleygrass and more. Grows healthy, thick bladed barley grass for...
Basil Seeds - Thai
60-90 days. Non-GMO, Open-pollinated, Heirloom Thai Basil Herb Seed from True Leaf Market. Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora is native to various Asian regions, such as India and Iran. As basil...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Sunsugar Hybrid
62 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Sunsugar Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, indeterminate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, greenhouses, and containers....
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Sweetie
65-70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Sweetie Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Widely considered...
French Marigold Seeds - Durango Series (Coated)
56-63 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Durango Series French Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Durango Series French marigold seeds are an adorable, compact, and vibrant addition to grow in any...
Carrot Seeds - Purple
65-70 days. Purple carrot Seeds. Daucus carota subsp. sativus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. The Purple Carrot is unique in that it appears quite differently when it is sliced than when it is...
Wildflower Seeds - Bee Mix
50-365 Days to maturity. Bee Friendly Wildflower Seeds Mix. A non-GMO mix of annuals and perennial bee-friendly wildflowers for zones 3-9. The Bee Friendly Wildflower Mix grows some of the...
Basil Seeds - Lemon
Non-GMO, Lemon Basil Herb Seed from True Leaf Market. Ocimum basilicum x citriodorum is native to India. As basil has many different varieties, Lemon Basil Herb is considered non-sweet and...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Isis Candy
67 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Isis Candy Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, greenhouses, containers, and...
Broccoli Seeds - Green Sprouting Calabrese
brassica oleracea var. capitata (60-90 days) Start Green Sprouting broccoli early in the season and by early summer you will have tons of sweet broccoli. Harvest the central head then...
Broccoli Seeds - Di Cicco (Organic)
48 to 70 days. Annual. Organic Heirloom seeds. Di Cicco is an Italian heirloom broccoli dating back from 1890. Very vigorous plants produce heavy crops of 3 to 4 inch...
No-Till Forage Friendly Cover Crop Mix
30-60 Days to termination. No-Till Forage Friendly Cover Crop Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, winter-killing, no-till, and forage-friendly. This mix has been created as a forage-safe option for home gardens, small farms,...
Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Imperial 45
65-85 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Imperial 45 Cantaloupe Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, AAS winner, heat-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
French Marigold Seeds - Petite Mixture
56-63 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Petite Mixture French Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Petite Mixture French marigold seeds are an adorable, compact, and vibrant addition to grow in any...
Nasturtium Seeds - Alaska
54-63 Days to maturity. Tropaeolum majus. Nasturtium Alaska Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom. Alaska nasturtium is brilliant, easy to grow from seed, and perfectly suited for many dry and temperate climates....
Molokhia - Egyptian Spinach Seeds
60 Days to maturity. Corchorus olitorius. Egyptian Spinach Molokhia Seeds. Warm-season annual heirloom. Egyptian Spinach Molokhia, also called jute leaf, is not a true spinach. It is grown for the...
Radish Seeds - Watermelon
60-65 days. Watermelon Radish Seeds. Raphanus sativus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. AKA: "Roseheart Radish" or "Red Meat Radish". Watermelon Radish seeds are native to China and a cousin to Daikon radish. Watermelon...
Zinnia Seeds - Lilliput Mixture
54-70 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Lilliput Mixture Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, annual. Lilliput Mixture Zinnia Flowers are easy to grow from seeds and ideal for hot and drought-prone gardens....
Parsley Seeds - Dark Green Italian Flat-leaf
Petroselinum crispum Annual. 72 days. Non-GMO, Heirloom Dark Green Italian Flat Leaf Parsley Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Petroselinum crispum. Italian Parsley plants are hardy biennials often grown...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Rainbow Mixture
60 days. The Rainbow Mixture Swiss Chard seed mix is a blend of different colored swiss chard varieties. The chard can grow in zones 6 and up, and the leaves...
French Marigold Seeds - Sparky Mixture
63-77 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Sparky Mixture Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Sparky Mixture French marigold seeds offer one of the most vibrant and inexpensive blooms available to the...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Rainbow Mixture (Organic)
60 days. Organic Rainbow Mixture Swiss Chard seeds. Beta vulgaris var. cicla. Non-GMO. Organic Rainbow mixture swiss chard seed is the perfect variety mix for the home gardener who wants...
Cucamelon Seeds - Mexican Sour Gherkin
Cucamelon Seeds. Melothria scabra. 65 Days to maturity. Annual. Non-GMO, Heirloom, Open Pollinated. AKA: Mexican Mouse Melon, Sandia de Raton, Mexican Sour Gherkin, Mexican Miniature Watermelon, Mexican Sour Cucumber. Looking...
Zinnia Seeds - Dahlia Flowered Mixture
90-100 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Dahlia Flowered Mixture Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, annual. Growing Dahlia Flowered Mix zinnia seeds this season is an effortless and vibrant way to dash...
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