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]()
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Red Ponderosa Beefsteak (Organic)
90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Organic Red Ponderosa Beefsteak Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Also known as Scarlet Beefsteak, Red...
Sweet Marjoram Seeds
70 days. Annual. Non-GMO, Heirloom Marjoram Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Origanum majorana. Marjoram is a tender perennial herb in warmer regions and grown as an annual in...
Statice Seeds - QIS Series
91-105 Days to maturity. Limonium sinuatum. Statice QIS Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. QIS Series statice is easy to grow from seed and a favorite for fresh-cut arrangements, baskets, and bouquets....
Winter Rye - Organic - Cover Crop Seeds
This is organic rye grain (Secale cereale) - not Ryegrass (Lolium). It is not for over-seeding lawns. Organic. Annual. Heirloom. Non-GMO Organic winter rye cover crop is one of the...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Brandywine Pink
90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Brandywine Pink Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, potato leaf, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
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...
Wild Bergamot Seeds - Bee Balm
65 Days to maturity. Monarda fistulosa. Bee Balm Wild Bergamot Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, borders, and pollinator gardens. A native wildflower...
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...
Rutabaga Seeds - American Purple Top
90 days. Brassica napus var. napobrassica. American Purple Top Rutabaga Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom, open-pollinated. This crop is suitable for garden plots, fields, raised beds, and containers. American Purple Top...
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...
Thyme Seeds - Winter
95 Days to maturity. Thymus vulgaris. Winter Thyme Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Common Thyme, German Thyme, English...
Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Hearts of Gold
80-90 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Hearts of Gold Cantaloupe Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Petunia Seeds - Double Cascade Series (Pelleted)
98-105 Days to maturity. Petunia x hybrida. Pelleted Double Cascade Series Petunia Seeds. Non-GMO, hybrid, Premium Quality Seeds, annual. Growing Double Cascade Series seeds promise to excite your garden with...
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...
Lovage Seeds
Non-GMO, Heirloom Lovage Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Levisticum officinale. Lovage is a leafy perennial herb originating from regions in Southern Europe. This hardy and herbaceous variety is...
Pumpkin Seeds - Cinderella (Organic)
This is the pumpkin to grow if you want a fairytale ending. Also called Rouge Vif D"Etampe, this is the pumpkin drawn in Disney's Cinderella. Non- GMO Organic Cinderella Pumpkin...
Vinca Seeds - Pacifica XP Series
98-105 Days to maturity. Catharanthus roseus. Pacifica XP Series Vinca Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, annual. Premium Quality Seeds. Pacifica XP seeds easily grow into convenient, tidy, and low-maintenance vincas bursting with...
Petunia Seeds - Double Madness Series (pelleted)
98-105 Days to maturity. Petunia x hybrida. Pelleted Double Madness Series Petunia Seeds. Non-GMO, hybrid, Premium Quality Seeds, annual. Double Madness Series seeds grow a hardy and spectacular alternative to...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Georgia Rattlesnake
Citrullus lunatus (90 days) AKA "Gypsy" and "Augusta Rattesnake" watermelon. Georgia Rattlesnake is said to have been developed in the 1830s. It has been an old Southern favorite for a...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Brandywine Pink (Organic)
90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Organic Brandywine Pink Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, potato leaf, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Melon Seeds - Canary Yellow
80-120 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Canary Yellow Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. This winter melon...
Pumpkin Seeds - Cinderella
95 to 150 days. Cinderella Pumpkin Seeds. Also known as Rouge vif D'Etampes. Kids love this antique french heirloom pumpkin. Flatter than regular pumpkins and darker of color, this is...
Rudbeckia Seeds - Black-Eyed Susan
84-98 days maturity. Rudbeckia hirta. Rudbeckia Black-Eyed Susan Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Ornamental. Black-Eyed Susan seeds grow some of the season's most timeless and familiar blooms of varieties native to the...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Mortgage Lifter
85-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Mortgage Lifter Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Asclepias Seeds - Butterfly Milkweed
91-98 Days to maturity. Asclepias tuberosa. Butterfly Milkweed Seeds. Perennial, non-GMO, heirloom, open-pollinated. Butterfly Weed Asclepias seeds invite perennial color into your home, patio, or garden. Asclepias flowers are easy...
Hard Red Spring Wheat - Organic - Cover Crop Seeds
90 Days. Triticum aestivum. Open-Pollinated. Cover Crop. Organic. Non-GMO Organic Hard Red Spring Wheat cover crop is one of the most tolerant, productive, and beneficial grows available to home gardeners....
Watermelon Seeds - Giant - Black Diamond
90 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Black Diamond Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, Giant watermelon. Developed in Arkansas in the 1950s. Called black diamond because of...
Sunflower Seeds - Autumn Beauty Mix
90-100 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. Autumn Beauty Mix Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Annual. Heirloom. Autumn Beauty Mix seeds grow one of the summer's most explosive and familiar...
Portulaca Seeds - Double Mix
84-91 Days to maturity. Portulaca grandiflora. Double Mix Portulaca Seeds. Non-GMO, annual. Double Mix portulaca seeds promise some of the most stunning, and most convenient succulents available to home gardeners....
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...
Sunflower Seeds - Mammoth Grey Stripe (Organic)
90-110 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. Organic Mammoth Grey Stripe Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Annual. Mammoth sunflower seeds grow one of the tallest, brightest, and most breathtaking flowers...
Sunflower Seeds - Velvet Queen
90-110 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. Velvet Queen Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Annual. Heirloom. Velvet Queen seeds grow one of the summer's most exclusive and rare blooms, exceptional...
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