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]()
Squash Seeds - Winter - Japanese Red Kuri (Uchiki Kuri)
95 days to maturity. Cucurbita maxima. Japanese Red Kuri (Uchiki Kuri) Winter Squash Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom, open-pollinated. Suitable for growing in fields, garden plots, raised beds, and containers. Teardrop-shaped...
Fenugreek (Organic) - Microgreens Seeds
6-12 days. Organic Fenugreek seeds are popularly used in spice mixes and teas. Ground Fenugreek seeds is one of the primary ingredients in curry powder. Fenugreek seeds also make a...
Pak Choi Seeds - Extra Dwarf
Cabbage Seeds - Pak Choi - Extra Dwarf. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Annual. Brassica rapa (Chinensis group). 30 days. Cool-warm season. This specialty pak choi variety is smaller than baby pak choi....
Bean Seeds - Bush - Midori Giant Edamame Soybean
80 Days to maturity. Glycine max. Midori Giant Edamame Soybean Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, bush, shell, soybean, Asian bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised...
Fenugreek Seeds
Non-GMO, Open Pollinated. Heirloom Fenugreek Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Trigonella foenum-graecum. Fenugreek is a warm fast-maturing annual that's been used as an incense dating back to Ancient...
Mustard Seeds - Osaka Purple
21 to 45 days. An outstanding mustard of dark green-purple leaves with bright white veins. Harvest at 4 to 6 inches for salad or allow it to grow to full...
Mustard - Mizuna Red Streaks - Microgreens Seeds
Up to 12 days. Organic Red Streaks Mizuna Mustard Microgreens Seeds. A flavorful mustard sought after because of the spectacular red-purple highlights. Grows fast and tenacious. Mustard Microgreens are easy...
Eggplant Seeds - Purple Shine - Hybrid
65 days to maturity after transplant. Solanum melongena ’Purple Shine’. Purple Shine Eggplant Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, hybrid. This is a popular Chinese type eggplant variety. Fruits are firm and...
Carrot Seeds - Kuroda Long 8"
The Kuroda Long 8" carrot is a sweet Asian carrot. It is tolerable to multiple climates, and grows best with some shade. Seeds should be planted in fertile loose soil....
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Fushimi
65 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Fushimi Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, sweet pepper with mild heat levels. 1,000 to 2,500 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for...
Gourd Seeds, Bitter - India - Hybrid
40-55 Days to Maturity (after transplanting). Momordica charantia ’India’. India Bitter Gourd Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, hybrid. The India-type bitter melon has dark green skin; this hybrid's 6-8 inch fruits...
Caraway Seeds
455 Days to maturity (2nd year). Carum carvi. Caraway Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, heirloom, biennial herb seed. Attracts pollinators and is both cold and drought-tolerant once established. Caraway is an attractive...
Radish Seeds - Korean - Cheong Du - Hybrid
60 to 65 days to maturity. Raphanus sativus. Cheong Du Korean Radish Seeds. Hybrid, cool season annual. Cheong Du radishes are a common, popular variety in Korea. Their name means...
Pea Seeds - Snow - Taiwan Sugar (Organic)
60-70 Days to maturity. Pisum sativum. Organic Taiwan Sugar Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to powdery...
Broccoli Seeds - Chinese Broccoli - Kailaan
Broccoli Seeds - Chinese Broccoli - Kailaan. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Brassica oleracea var alboglabra. Also known as cai ro, chair lan, Chinese broccoli, Chinese kale, gailaan, gai lan, gailon, gelancai, guy...
Nasturtium Seeds - Empress of India
Empress of India Nasturtium Flower Seeds. Edible Flowers. Annual Flower. Mix with a salad of baby greens or use as a garnish. The dark leaves set off the dazzling, long-spurred...
Amaranth Seeds - Green Leaf - Lu Hsien
45-70 days to maturity.Amaranthus mangostanus ‘Lu Hsien’. Lu Hsien Green Leaf Amaranth Seeds. Non-GMO, Heirloom, annual. Amaranth is originally from the tropics of multiple continents; today, it is grown globally....
Mustard Seeds - Spinach (Komatsuna) - Tendergreen
45 days. Mustard-Spinach or Komatsuna. Milder than regular mustard greens, this variety has thick, smooth leaves on upright, heat and cold tolerant plants. Tendergreen is widely used both in stir...
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...
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Jung Green
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Jung Green. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Brassica rapa var parachinesis. 40-45 days. Warm season annual. Flowering Brassica is a fast growing green that can be harvested as...
Cucumber Seeds - China Long - Hybrid
50-60 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus ‘China Long’. China Long Cucumber Seeds. Warm-season annual hybrid. Non-GMO. China Long is an early maturing sooyow type cucumber. This cucumber has very spiny...
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....
Eggplant Seeds - Millionaire Purple Hybrid
55 days. Japan long-type produces early, high quality fruit over 8 inches long with brilliant black skin and a purple calyx. The tender flesh is nearly seedless. This is a...
Radish - Minowase - Microgreens Seeds
6 to 10 days. A Daikon-type of radish microgreen with cool white stems and dark green cotyledons. Minowase Radish is an ideal microgreen on the spicy side of flavor, but...
Chinese Broccoli Seeds - Suiho - Hybrid
50 to 55 Days to maturity. Brassica oleracea var alboglabra. Chinese Broccoli Seeds - Suiho - Hybrid seeds. Annual, Hybrid. Also known as Noble Jade or Emerald Green variety. This...
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...
Eggplant Seeds - Long Ping Tung
Long Ping Tung Eggplant Seeds originate from Ping Tung, Taiwan. Plants are disease resistant and do well even in heat. Fruits produced are 12-18" long and 1.25" wide. They are...
Bean Seeds - Pole - Akasanjaku Yard Long
75 Days to maturity. Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis. Akasanjaku Yard Long Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heat-tolerant, heirloom, pole, snap, Asian, specialty bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots,...
Gourd Seeds - Nam Tao Ngam - India Type -...
45-50 Days to maturity. Lagenaria siceraria. India Type Nam Tao Ngam Hybrid Seeds. Annual, Hybrid. India Type Nam Tao Ngam produces vigorously growing vines and 18-20" long bright green gourd...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Garbanzo (Organic)
100 Days to maturity. Cicer arietinum. Organic Garbanzo Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic open-pollinated, heirloom, bush, shell, specialty, sprouting bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and...
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