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.
50
100
true
//store.trueleafmarket.com/cdn/shop/t/54/assets/review-fallback.json?v=33078429469613971781712858278
![Legend: H for Heirloom, O for Organic, A for AAS Winner, F for staff favorites]()
Broccoli - Waltham 29 - Microgreens Seeds
8-12 days. Broccoli makes an excellent microgreen, as it is one of the easiest crops to grow. It has a deliciously mild, fresh brocolli or cabbage flavor and makes a...
Pea - Speckled (Organic) - Microgreens Seeds
8-14 days. Speckled peas are particularly fine for pea shoot production. We only stock seeds with high germination rates so these tasty Organic peas can be sprouted or grown into...
Broccoli - Organic - Sprouting Seeds
5-7 Days. Brassica oleracea var. italica. Non-GMO. Organic. High Germination. Up to 50x more nutrients than fully matured raw broccoli, Organic broccoli sprout seeds offer more nutritional benefits without needless...
Alfalfa (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds
4-6 Days to Harvest. Medicago sativa. Organic Alfalfa Sprouting Seeds. High Germination. Organic. Non-GMO. An ancient field crop that has continued to thrive in this modern era, organic alfalfa has...
Sunflower - Black Oil - Microgreens Seeds
Non-GMO Black Oil Sunflower Seeds. Shell On (Whole), Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Helianathus Annus. 8-12 Days for mature, delicious microgreens. Black Oil sunflower seeds are some of the best seeds for...
Arugula - Slow Bolt - Microgreens Seeds
6-8 days. Slow Bolt Arugula is easy to grow and grows fast as a microgreen. It's a favorite and generally considered a staple of the spicier side of microgreens and...
Mung Bean - Organic - Sprouting Seeds
2-4 Days to Harvest. Vigna radiata. Organic Mung Bean Sprouting Seeds. Mung bean sprouts are arguably the most widely used sprouts. This organic seed is a great starter sprout that...
Kale - Red Russian - Microgreens Seeds
8-12 days. Check out this vibrant kale microgreen with dark green leaves and variegated stems of pink, floral purple, and at times, bright red. It has a consistent flavor compared...
Cucumber Seeds - Pickling - Boston Pickling
55-60 days. Boston Pickling Cucumber Seeds. Cucumis sativus. Non-GMO. The Boston Pickling cucumber is an American heirloom first marketed in 1877 by the pioneering Detroit-based seed company, D.M. Ferry &...
Spinach Seeds - Giant Noble
Non-GMO. Heirloom. Giant Noble Spinach Vegetable Garden Seed. Spinacia oleracea. The smooth and rich-green leaves of these spinach plants help provide this heirloom's name" as Giant Noble Spinach leaves grow...
Pea - Dun - Microgreens Seeds
8-14 days. Dun Pea micro greens are one our all-time favorite microgreens! The pea shoots are sweet and delicious and fairly straight and leafy. They make a great garnish or...
Rosemary Seeds
2nd year maturity. Rosemary Culinary Herb Seeds. Salvia rosmarinus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. A woody and cold-hardy perennial known to live 15-20 years, culinary rosemary is one of the most persistent and...
Cilantro Seeds - Slow Bolt (Organic)
Non-GMO, Heirloom Organic Slow Bolt Cilantro Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Coriandrum sativum. Cilantro is native to regions in North Africa and West Asia. As a cool-season ancient...
Broccoli Seeds - Waltham 29
85-90 days. Waltham 29 Broccoli Seeds. Brassica oleracea var. italica. Annual. Non-GMO. Developed at the University of Massachusetts Amherst's historic research farm, Waltham Field Station, heirloom Waltham 29 broccoli garden...
Pea - Green (Organic) - Microgreens Seeds
8-14 days. Green Pea microgreens are a staff favorite here at True Leaf! The tendrils add a unique texture while the stems have the same familiar crunch and sweet flavor...
Cilantro - Slow Bolt - Microgreens Seeds
21-28 days. This slow-bolting strain is grown primarily for its broad, deep green, celery-like, pungent foliage. As a microgreen, these seeds take time but are well worth it, not only...
Basil - Genovese - Microgreens Seeds
12-16 days. Use micro basil in place of regular basil in any recipe, for extra intense basil flavor. Micro basil pesto is amazing. Keep damp with regular misting until sprouted...
Basil Seeds - Italian Large Leaf
60-90 days. Italian Large Leaf basil seeds. Ocimum basilicum. Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Giant green shiny leaves full of seasonal aroma that just makes your mouth water, Italian Large Leaf is...
Pea Seeds - Snap - Sugar Snap
60-70 Days to maturity. Pisum sativum. Sugar Snap Pea seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, 1979 AAS winner. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to powdery...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Blue Lake 274
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Blue Lake 247 Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom snap bush bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Blue...
Cabbage Seeds - Golden Acre
65 days. The Golden Acre cabbage is a crop that can be grown in climate zones three through twelve, and is resistant to yellowing diseases. This hardy plant produces heads...
Broccoli Seeds - Waltham 29 (Organic)
85-90 days. Organic Waltham 29 Broccoli Seeds. Brassica oleracea var. italica. Annual. Non-GMO. Developed at the University of Massachusetts Amherst's historic research farm, Waltham Field Station, Organic Waltham 29 broccoli...
Peppermint Seeds
90 Days. Peppermint Culinary Herb Seeds. Mentha sp. Non-GMO. A deliciously versatile and bright herb, peppermint seeds are a naturally occurring hybrid between culinary spearmint and watermint. Grown very similar...
Bean Seeds - Pole - Blue Lake FM1K
65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris . Blue Lake Pole FM1K Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, drought-tolerant, pole, snap bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised...
Radish - Rambo (Organic) - Microgreens Seeds
6-10 days. Organic Rambo Radish is another striking radish that boasts the same wonderful dark cotyledons as Sango radish. The rosy stems and bright floral flavor add both a tasty...
Radish - Rambo - Microgreens Seeds
6-10 days. Rambo radish is another striking radish that boasts the same wonderful dark cotyledons as Sango radish. The rosy stems and bright floral flavor add both a tasty and...
Okra Seeds - Clemson Spineless
50-70 days. Clemson Spineless Okra Seeds. Abelmoschus esculentus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Also known as Clemson Spineless 80. Clemson Spineless okra debutedas the 1939 All-America Selections Vegetable Winner is a highly popular...
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...
Brussels Sprouts Seeds - Long Island Improved
90-100 days. Long Island Improved Brussels sprouts seeds. Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera. Non-GMO. Brussels Sprouts can be grown in colder climates, and the crop is very tolerant of frost. While...
[
{
"featured_image": "files/broccoli-waltham-microgreens-wm_700_1222x1222_55b59029-d13f-489d-9aba-eaf9295bfe76.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/broccoli-waltham-seeds-wm_700.jpg",
"price": 560,
"handle": "broccoli-waltham-29-microgreens-seeds",
"title": "Broccoli - Waltham 29 - Microgreens Seeds",
"url": "/products/broccoli-waltham-29-microgreens-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Pea_Sprouting_Speckled_Organic_Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "files/pea_microgreens_Person_Comp.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "pea-sprouting-speckled-organic",
"title": "Pea - Speckled (Organic) - Microgreens Seeds",
"url": "/products/pea-sprouting-speckled-organic",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Broccoli-Organic-Sprouting-Seeds_abe2151f-a5b7-491e-868f-3f7ad272bc45.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/broccoli-sprouts-wb-wm.jpg",
"price": 1179,
"handle": "organic-broccoli-sprouting-seeds",
"title": "Broccoli - Organic - Sprouting Seeds",
"url": "/products/organic-broccoli-sprouting-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Radish-Rambo-Organic-Microgreens_e95c9337-2037-4c98-861f-c283e036d998.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/1675189569_CopyofSustainable-WM-Black_600x600px_56.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "radish-rambo-seeds",
"title": "Radish - Rambo (Organic) - Microgreens Seeds",
"url": "/products/radish-rambo-seeds",
"available": false
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Alfalfa-Organic-Sprouting-comp_bd60099f-b616-4f8d-bb6a-1737e9f8694d.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/alfalfa-4-oz-wm.jpg",
"price": 897,
"handle": "sprouting-alfalfa-sprouting-seeds",
"title": "Alfalfa (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds",
"url": "/products/sprouting-alfalfa-sprouting-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Black-oil-Sunflower-Large-Microgreens-Seeds_1222x1222_3fd8e68f-925f-42fb-9689-82cddc6edc3d.jpg",
"secondary_image": "files/black_oil_sunflower_microgreens_693a74cf-a824-4dcb-8273-63c8cd5e061a.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "sunflower-black-oil-microgreens-seeds",
"title": "Sunflower - Black Oil - Microgreens Seeds",
"url": "/products/sunflower-black-oil-microgreens-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Arugula-Slow-Bolt-Microgreens-comp_651650cc-2bfd-4333-b881-876380857584.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/arugula-slow-bolt-seeds-wm_700.jpg",
"price": 504,
"handle": "arugula-slow-bolt-microgreens-seeds",
"title": "Arugula - Slow Bolt - Microgreens Seeds",
"url": "/products/arugula-slow-bolt-microgreens-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Mung-Bean-Organic-Sprouting-comp_1498826c-cecc-48ee-bf98-85d9e04a6797.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/mungbean-sprouts-wb-wm.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "organic-mung-bean-sprouting-seeds",
"title": "Mung Bean - Organic - Sprouting Seeds",
"url": "/products/organic-mung-bean-sprouting-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/kale-red-russian-micros-shopify_1222x1222_881abfa1-9133-4c28-8730-86da93b706eb.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/kale-red-russian-seeds-wm_700.jpg",
"price": 563,
"handle": "kale-red-russian-microgreens-seeds",
"title": "Kale - Red Russian - Microgreens Seeds",
"url": "/products/kale-red-russian-microgreens-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Cucumber-Pickling-Boston-Pickling-comp_8dddf6c2-4a46-4601-a165-ec08512dc228.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_979a6a68-0b58-49dc-9c5d-159ea982f623.png",
"price": 299,
"handle": "cucumber-pickling-boston-pickling",
"title": "Cucumber Seeds - Pickling - Boston Pickling",
"url": "/products/cucumber-pickling-boston-pickling",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Spinach-Seeds-Giant-Noble-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-1-oz-sm_1_1_2461a3bb-b9fd-4f34-85f0-7852d66334b9.png",
"price": 299,
"handle": "spinach-giant-noble-seeds",
"title": "Spinach Seeds - Giant Noble",
"url": "/products/spinach-giant-noble-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/dun-pea-microgreens-wm_700_1222x1222_09e842b8-3c9c-4f8e-a650-9c518713af34.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/pea-dun-seeds-wm_700.jpg",
"price": 773,
"handle": "dun-pea-seeds",
"title": "Pea - Dun - Microgreens Seeds",
"url": "/products/dun-pea-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Herb-Rosemary_66432c00-fd89-45b6-82a9-0bb19ef14caf.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Packet_1_4057937d-a729-45fc-bcd4-d77972c7c61c.jpg",
"price": 339,
"handle": "rosemary-herb-seeds",
"title": "Rosemary Seeds",
"url": "/products/rosemary-herb-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Cilantro_Slow_Bolt_Herb_Garden_Organic.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_0f773f1c-9de1-4a59-8dc1-ec82d220e783.png",
"price": 359,
"handle": "cilantro-slow-bolt-organic",
"title": "Cilantro Seeds - Slow Bolt (Organic)",
"url": "/products/cilantro-slow-bolt-organic",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Radish-Daikon-Organic-comp_f49cad81-b6bf-4293-8647-aae21aacd5c4.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/1674058718_CopyofKItazawa-WM-Green_600x600px_23.jpg",
"price": 785,
"handle": "radish-sprouting-daikon-organic-seeds",
"title": "Radish Seeds - Microgreen - Daikon Minowase (Organic)",
"url": "/products/radish-sprouting-daikon-organic-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "products/seeds-wheat-sprouting-hard-red-spring-seed-wheat-hr-spring-grain-bulk-wm_e5a572f1-a8d4-4d92-8012-637030650b87.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/seeds-organic-hard-red-wheat-seeds-hard-red-wheat-16-oz-bag-seed-wm_5574f823-af1c-4283-a1fa-513052a2ca5e.jpg",
"price": 655,
"handle": "organic-hard-red-wheatgrass-seed",
"title": "Wheat - Hard Red Spring (Organic) - Grass Seeds",
"url": "/products/organic-hard-red-wheatgrass-seed",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Broccoli-Waltham_485f50eb-ff6f-4b6e-953d-881c5e7b3f74.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_f4bd5c1f-2cb0-40b2-b5ba-bc73d33c2f1b.png",
"price": 299,
"handle": "broccoli-waltham-29-seeds",
"title": "Broccoli Seeds - Waltham 29",
"url": "/products/broccoli-waltham-29-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/1673992642_CopyofSustainable-WM-Black_600x600px_33_1222x1222_a52aac42-1a1c-4d2f-afa4-1c16f155d6ad.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/1673992642_CopyofSustainable-WM-Black_600x600px_31.jpg",
"price": 908,
"handle": "pea-sprouting-green-organic",
"title": "Pea - Green (Organic) - Microgreens Seeds",
"url": "/products/pea-sprouting-green-organic",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/cilantro-slow-bolt-microgreens-comp_2e15c0e2-4a66-4b95-ac5b-5ff049b364fe.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/cilantro-slow-bolt-seeds-wm_700.jpg",
"price": 486,
"handle": "cilantro-slow-bolt-microgreens-seeds",
"title": "Cilantro - Slow Bolt - Microgreens Seeds",
"url": "/products/cilantro-slow-bolt-microgreens-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/basil-genovese-microgreens-wm_700_1222x1222_1a736283-2353-48c0-95f7-29b063db55cb.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/basil-genovese-seeds-wm_700.jpg",
"price": 632,
"handle": "basil-genovese-microgreens-seeds",
"title": "Basil - Genovese - Microgreens Seeds",
"url": "/products/basil-genovese-microgreens-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Radish-Rambo-Conventional-Microgreens-Comp_41880e22-1121-4086-9a72-4b1b2ebe1cf8.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/radish-rambo-seeds-wm_700_b40e5408-3505-4cc0-9dea-aa48d5228d82.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "radish-seeds-rambo",
"title": "Radish - Rambo - Microgreens Seeds",
"url": "/products/radish-seeds-rambo",
"available": false
},
{
"featured_image": "files/basil-italian-large-leaf-seed-wm_700_1222x1222_8a343679-02ae-4787-bdec-1821247ebbba.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_a8070a9a-2a8a-4ca7-a6ce-f510d96d3e72.png",
"price": 299,
"handle": "basil-italian-large-leaf-seed",
"title": "Basil Seeds - Italian Large Leaf",
"url": "/products/basil-italian-large-leaf-seed",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Pea-Seeds-Snap-Sugar-Snap-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Pouch_1_2503d570-94d0-46a7-80be-5faa98212c9e.jpg",
"price": 309,
"handle": "pea-snap-sugar-snap",
"title": "Pea Seeds - Snap - Sugar Snap",
"url": "/products/pea-snap-sugar-snap",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Lettuce-Seeds-Mixed-Greens-Gourmet-Mixture-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/lettuce-gourmet-mix-wood-grown-wm-700.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "lettuce-mixed-greens-gourmet-mixture-seeds",
"title": "Lettuce Seeds - Mixed Greens - Gourmet Mixture",
"url": "/products/lettuce-mixed-greens-gourmet-mixture-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Okra-Seeds-Clemson-Spineless-80-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Pouch_1_a7bc5119-5085-4296-a9c8-7e1eaaa21579.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "okra-clemson-spineless",
"title": "Okra Seeds - Clemson Spineless",
"url": "/products/okra-clemson-spineless",
"available": false
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Bean-Bush-Blue-Lake-Bush_37e5ae80-ab49-4ef8-a1dc-7d58b7cce33a.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_404407dc-cb09-4f7d-9208-39730c61aa22.png",
"price": 299,
"handle": "bean-bush-blue-lake-bush-274",
"title": "Bean Seeds - Bush - Blue Lake 274",
"url": "/products/bean-bush-blue-lake-bush-274",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Cabbage-Seeds-Golden-Acre-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_c32cd5fb-d32c-43d9-8a9c-2a3ff80c9044.png",
"price": 299,
"handle": "cabbage-golden-acre-seeds",
"title": "Cabbage Seeds - Golden Acre",
"url": "/products/cabbage-golden-acre-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Broccoli-Waltham-29-Organic-comp_2500bfa4-4916-4b8c-b832-5a4876542406.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SSC-organic-generic-packet-com_7383a76f-50e1-471e-a221-136ca936c719.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "waltham-29-broccoli-seed-organic",
"title": "Broccoli Seeds - Waltham 29 (Organic)",
"url": "/products/waltham-29-broccoli-seed-organic",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Peppermint-Seeds-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SeedPouch_dd6490a7-5150-4c4d-964a-15be6c330286.jpg",
"price": 339,
"handle": "peppermint",
"title": "Peppermint Seeds",
"url": "/products/peppermint",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Parsley-Seeds-Dark-Green-Italian-Flat-leaf-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Pouch_1_7f97f7ec-d7c3-4d34-9c42-c9b0c35c9898.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "parsley-dark-green-italian-flat-leaf-seeds",
"title": "Parsley Seeds - Dark Green Italian Flat-leaf",
"url": "/products/parsley-dark-green-italian-flat-leaf-seeds",
"available": false
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Bean-Pole-Blue-Lake-Pole-FM1K_a34d16e5-359b-4e39-8979-fdd13c752f1a.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_eb16eb04-ea98-46dd-842a-1763f16bc660.png",
"price": 358,
"handle": "bean-pole-blue-lake-pole-fm1k-seeds",
"title": "Bean Seeds - Pole - Blue Lake FM1K",
"url": "/products/bean-pole-blue-lake-pole-fm1k-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Brussels-Sprouts-Seeds-Long-Island-Improved-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_6a56fca2-4281-4a89-b092-f4acf7945d89.png",
"price": 299,
"handle": "brussels-sprouts-long-island-improved-seeds",
"title": "Brussels Sprouts Seeds - Long Island Improved",
"url": "/products/brussels-sprouts-long-island-improved-seeds",
"available": false
}
]
