May is the month when the gardening season shifts into high gear across most of the country. In cold-winter zones, the last frost is finally behind us, and it's time to get warm-season crops in the ground. In mild-winter zones, the garden is already humming, and the focus turns to keeping up with rapid spring growth. And in the warmest zones, the race is on to get heat-lovers established before summer temperatures take over. Whatever your zone, May is a month of momentum.
Zones 1-7a: 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.
Zones 7b-9a: 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.
Zones 9b-12: 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.
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![Legend: H for Heirloom, O for Organic, A for AAS Winner, F for staff favorites]()
Endive Seeds - Pancaliere
60-75 Days to maturity. Cichorium endivia crispum. Pancaliere Endive Vegetable Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated seeds. A curled leaf endive from the north of Italy that produces bulky heads with dark...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Early Choice Black F1
65-70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Early Choice Black Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, F1 hybrid, indeterminate, salad tomato seeds. Suitable for growing in garden plots,...
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Husky Gold
65-75 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Husky Gold Salad Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, F1 hybrid, 1993 AAS winner, indeterminate, salad tomato. Suitable for growing in garden...
Wildflower Seeds - Backyard Bird Lover's Mix
60-90 Days to maturity. Backyard Bird Lover’s Wildflower Mix Flower Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated. A mix of annuals, perennials, and biennials for zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9....
Poppy Seeds - Danish Flag
60-75 Days to maturity. Papaver somniferum. Danish Flag Poppy Flower Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom flowers. This very large flowering variety of poppy produces crimson red flowers with a distinct...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Red Swan
55-60 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Red Swan Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, bush, snap, specialty bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. The Red...
Zinnia Seeds - Star Series
60-70 Days to maturity. Zinnia angustifolia. Star Series Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated zinnia seeds. Suitable for growing in containers, borders, garden beds, raised beds, and greenhouses. Star Series delivers...
Amaryllis Bulbs - 24/26 - Fantastica
1 Bulb Bag This is a pre-order item that is expected to ship in Late October to November for fall planting. Other seeds, supplies, or kits ordered with this product...
Amaryllis Bulbs - 24/26 - Laforest Morton
1 Bulb Bag This is a pre-order item that is expected to ship in Late October to November for fall planting. Other seeds, supplies, or kits ordered with this product...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Double Rich
60-80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Double Rich Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Pea Seeds - Snap - Sugar Lace II
68 Days to maturity. Pisum sativum. Sugar Lace II Snap Pea Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. This crop is suitable for garden plots, raised beds, and containers. Stringless, dark-green pods on...
Amaryllis Bulbs - 24/26 - Maria Goretti
1 Bulb Bag This is a pre-order item that is expected to ship in Late October to November for fall planting. Other seeds, supplies, or kits ordered with this product...
Amaryllis Bulbs - 24/26 - Red Lion
1 Bulb Bag This is a pre-order item that is expected to ship in Late October to November for fall planting. Other seeds, supplies, or kits ordered with this product...
Gourd Seeds - Small Conical Lattoo
60-80 days to maturity. Lagenaria siceraria. Small Conical Lattoo Gourd Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, annual. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and fields. Small Conical Lattoo is a distinctive...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Provider - Clearance Seeds
65% Germination - Non-refundable clearance seeds. 50-65 Days to maturity. Provider Bush Bean Seeds. Produces 5-8-inch, rounded pods with low fiber seeds in clusters, with a heavy yield. Pods are...
Tobacco Seeds - Silver River - Clearance Seeds
31% Germination - Non-refundable clearance seeds. 60-65 Days from transplant to maturity. Silver River Tobacco Seeds. Silver River is an eye-catching Burley-type tobacco known for its distinctive silvery-blue foliage and...
Begonia Tubers - Odorata - Red Glory
2 Bulb Bag This is a pre-order item and is expected to ship in late February or March for spring planting. Other seeds, supplies, or kits ordered with this product...
Gourd Seeds - Extra Long Snake - Clearance Seeds
46% Germination - Non-refundable clearance seeds. 60-90 Days to maturity. Extra Long Snake Gourd Seeds. The Extra Long Snake gourd not only adds a unique culinary ingredient to your garden...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Triple Crown Hybrid
Triple Crown F1 Hybrid Watermelon Seeds. Citrullus lanatus. F1 Hybrid. Non-GMO. Annual. 80 days to maturity. Seedless. This seedless watermelon is a beauty and delicious! Triple Crown contains red flesh...
Melon Seeds - Oshiro Uri Numane - Clearance Seeds
72% Germination - Non-refundable clearance seeds. 70 Days to maturity. Oshiro Uri Numane Pickling Melon Seeds. The Numane melon is a delicious traditional Japanese pickling melon. It grows as a...
Shiso Seeds (Perilla) - Green (Organic)
60-70 days. Perilla frutescens var. crispa. Organic Green Shiso Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Green Shiso is a...
Watermelon Seeds - Mini - Splendor Hybrid
60 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Splendor F1 Hybrid Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, heat tolerant, seeded, mini watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots and large containers (minimum 7...
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