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]()
Radicchio Seeds - Palla Rosa
Heirloom and Non-GMO Palla Rosa Radicchio is ready in 80-85 days in the garden. Radicchio is growing in popularity, and is known for its red leaves with white veins. Palla...
African Marigold Seeds - Inca II Series
77-84 Days to maturity. Tagetes erecta. Inca II Series African Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid. Inca II Series African marigold seeds invite timeless AAS award-winning color for your home, patio,...
Verbena Seeds - Quartz XP Series
84-91 Days to maturity. Verbena x hybrida. Verbena Quartz XP Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Verbena Quartz XP Series seeds are a classic and award-winning addition to any home or garden...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Pineapple
85-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Pineapple Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Watermelon Seeds - Mini - Sugar Baby (Organic)
75-80 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Organic Sugar Baby Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, mini watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots and large containers...
Okra Seeds - Red Burgundy
Abelmoschus esculentus (80 days) Developed at Clemson University by Leon Robbins. Wow, magenta stems hold emerald green leaves that are the backdrop for intense purple pods, born from canary yellow...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Gardener's Delight
50-80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Gardeners Delight Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Striped Klondike Blue Ribbon
77-80 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Striped Klondike Blue Ribbon Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. First bred in...
Echinacea Seeds - Magnus
70-84 days maturity. Echinacea purpurea. Echinacea Magnus Seeds. Non-GMO, Heirloom, Perennial. Magnus echinacea seeds grow one of the summer's most celebrated and resilient blooms. These sturdy stems and flat petals...
Bachelors Buttons Seeds - Mixed Colors
77-91 days. Bachelor's Buttons Flower Seeds. AKA: Cornflower. Annual. Mixed Colors Bachelor's Buttons flower seeds are a convenient and easy summertime grow perfect for kids, indoors, or wild unkept spaces....
Broccoli Seeds - Destiny Hybrid
70 to 75 days. Annual. Non-GMO Hybrid seeds. The Destiny Hybrid is a popular variety of the broccoli garden crop to grow. Destiny Hybrid seeds are more tolerant to heat...
Coleus Seeds - Wizard Series (Pelleted)
84-91 Days to maturity. Plectranthus scutellarioides’Wizard Series’. Coleus Wizard Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Wizard Series coleus seeds are a simple, compact, yet spectacular Asian showstopper perfect for many diverse gardens...
Echinacea Seeds - Cheyenne Spirit
70-80 days maturity. Echinacea x hybrida. Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit Seeds. Non-GMO, Heirloom, Perennial. Echinacea grows as a warm-season perennial and flowering herb native to Central North America. This vigorous echinacea...
Coleus Seeds - Rainbow Mixture
84-91 Days to maturity. Plectranthus scutellarioides. Coleus Rainbow Mixture Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Rainbow Mix coleus seeds are a fun plant for many gardens across the country. Rainbow Mix seeds grow...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Aquadulce Fava
70-85 Days to maturity. Vicia faba. Organic Fava Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, bush, shell, fava bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Heirloom Rainbow Blend (Organic)
80-100 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Organic Heirloom Rainbow Blend Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots,...
Tomato Seeds - Paste - Rio Grande
80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Rio Grande Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, determinate, paste tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Hibiscus Seeds - Luna Series
70-84 days to maturity. Hibiscus moscheutos. Hibiscus Luna Series Seeds. Non-GMO, F1 hybrid, perennial. Luna Series hibiscus seeds promise robust and long-lasting blooms to your garden when other flowers can...
Echinacea Seeds - White Swan
70-84 days. Non-GMO, Heirloom White Swan Echinacea Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Echinacea purpurea. Echinacea grows as a warm perennial native to North America. Cultivated in 1987, this...
Parsley Seeds - Plain or Single (Organic)
70-80 Days to maturity. Petroselinum crispum. Organic Plain or Single Parsley Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Plain...
Tomato Seeds - Paste - Super Italian Paste
73-97 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Super Italian Paste Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, paste tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Chinese Giant (Organic)
73-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Organic Chinese Giant Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, organic, heirloom, sweet pepper with no heat. 0 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing...
Celosia Seeds - Plumed - Castle Series
70-85 Days to maturity. Celosia plumosa. Castle Series Plumed Celosia Flower Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual flower. These classic Plumed Celosias are high performers throughout the summer, boasting densely packed and vibrantly...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Shishito (Organic)
60-80 Days to maturity. Capsicum annuum var. grossum. Organic Shishito Sweet Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, heirloom, open-pollinated, organic, cool weather annual. This thin-skinned and sweet pepper is popular in Asian market....
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Brandywine Yellow (Organic)
76-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Organic Brandywine Yellow Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, potato leaf, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Large Red Cherry (Organic)
75-80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Organic Large Red Cherry Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Ace 55 VF
85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Ace 55 VF Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, determinate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Basil Seeds - Thai Sweet Large Leaf
35-40 Days to maturity. Ocimum basilicum. Sweet Large Leaf Thai Basil Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. A...
Parsley Seeds - Italian Giant
70-80 Days to maturity. Petroselinum crispum. Italian Giant Parsley Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Italian Giant parsley brings...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Sangria Hybrid
87 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Sangria Hybrid Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. Resistant to Anthracnose (1), Fusarium Wilt...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Vintage Wine
80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Vintage Wine Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Tomato Seeds - Paste - Amish Paste (Organic)
75-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Amish Paste (Organic) Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, paste tomato. Amish Paste tomato plants produce one of the largest...
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