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]()
Digitalis (Foxglove) Seeds - Mixed Color
2nd-year maturity. Digitalis purpurea. Digitalis Mixed Color Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Mixed Color foxglove seeds grow classic and delicate blooms where other flowers would wither. Mixed Color seeds deliver compact 12-18"...
Shasta Daisy Seeds - Alaska
2nd-year maturity. Leucanthemum × superbum. Shasta Daisy Alaska Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Ornamental. Shasta daisy Alaska seeds promise classic, home-grown American color to your home, patio, or garden this season. Alaska...
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...
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...
Artichoke Seeds - Purple Italian Globe
120 days. Perennial, Non-GMO, Heirloom Seeds. This heirloom Artichoke from Italy produces purple-headed fruits measuring from 3 to 6 inches across. These artichokes are a beautiful purple shade that will...
Lavender Seeds - Hidcote Blue
100+ Days to maturity. Lavandula angustifolia. Hidcote Blue Lavender Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, and raised beds. Experience the classic beauty and sweet...
Asparagus Seeds - UC 72
2-3 years, perennial.Non-GMO, open pollinated. The UC 72 Asparagus variety was created to be tolerant to drought and Fusarium Wilt. Plants produce large yields after being in the ground for...
Wildflower Seeds - Partial Shade Mix
Partial Shade Mix wildflower seeds grow some of the season's most inspired, classic, and lasting blooms. Partial Shade Wildflower Mix seeds contain a blend of 19 partial-sun varieties of wildflowers...
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...
Lavender Seeds - Munstead
126-140 Days to maturity. Lavender angustifolia. Munstead Lavender Seeds. Heirloom, Non-GMO, Open Pollinated. Perennial. A fragrant robust lavender that, due to its short size and tightly held blooms (about 8...
Delphinium Seeds - Pacific Giant Series
2nd-year maturity. Delphinium cultorum. Delphinium Pacific Giant Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Growing Pacific Giant Series delphinium seeds this season is a classic and vibrant way to invigorate a stale flowerbed,...
Wildflower Seeds - Dry Land Mix
Annual and perennial mix. Dry Land Mix wildflower seed grows some of the season's most classic, colorful, and fragrant collection of blooms. Dryland Mix wildflower seeds contain a unique mix...
Alyssum Seeds - Basket of Gold
56-63 Days to maturity. Aurinia saxatilis syn. Alyssum saxatile. Basket of Gold Alyssum seeds. Non-GMO, Open-Pollinated, Perennial. Basket of Gold Alyssum flower seeds promise some of the most tolerant and...
Sweet William Seeds - Double Mixture
105-112 days to maturity. Dianthus barbatus. Dianthus Double Mixture Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual, or Biennial. Ornamental. Double Mix Sweet William seeds promise elegant 3-5 inch blooms of crimsons, scarlets, and pinks...
Wildflower Seeds - Monarch Butterfly Mix
Monarch Butterfly Mix. Garden Flower Mix. 13 Varieties of Assorted Flower Seeds. Ornamental. Heirloom. Non GMO. Assorted mix of 13 varieties of wildflowers including Butterfly Milkweed, Aster, Purple Coneflower, Rocket...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Kyoto Kujo Negi
80 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Kyoto Kujo Negi Japanese Bunching Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom, bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers....
Gaillardia Seeds - Blanket Flower
84-91 Days to maturity. Gaillardia aristata. Gaillardia Blanket Flower Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Blanket Flower gaillardia seeds promise a vibrant and perennial touch of authentic American color in your garden. Blanket...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Red Beard
40-50 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Red Beard Japanese Bunching Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom, bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers....
Echinacea Seeds - Bravado
70-84 days maturity. Echinacea purpurea. Echinacea Bravado Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Bravado echinacea seeds grow one of summer's most celebrated and resilient blooms boasting classic 4-5 inch rosy pink "daisy-like" coneflowers....
Strawberry Seeds - Mignonette
Mignonette Strawberry Seeds. Heirloom. Non GMO. Perennial. Fragaria vesca. AKA: Alpine Strawberry or Wild Strawberry. 80-85 days. The French Mignonette strawberry is unlike any you‚ve bought from the grocery store,...
White Berseem Clover (Coated) - Cover Crop Seeds
Open-pollinated Coated (clay and inoculant) White Berseem clover seeds grow an essential annual cover crop for gardens lacking in nitrogen and productivity. Non-GMO White Berseem clover seeds quickly mature into...
Parsley Seeds - Japanese Mitsuba
50-60 Days to maturity. Cryptotaenia japonica. Japanese Mitsuba Parsley Seeds. Non-GMO, annual/perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, and raised beds. The long stalks of this...
Japanese Mugwort - Yomogi
45 Days to maturity. Artemisia princeps. Yomogi Japanese Mugwort Seeds. Non-GMO perennial heirloom. Yomogi, or Japanese Mugwort, is an easy-to-grow perennial herb that grows in almost any condition. It is...
Echinacea Seeds - PowWow Wild Berry
70-84 days. Non-GMO, Heirloom PowWow Wild Berry Echinacea Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Echinacea purpurea. Echinacea grows as a warm perennial herb native to North America. These vigorous...
Columbine Seeds - Colorado Blue
2nd-year maturity. Aquilegia coerulea. Columbine Colorado Blue Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Colorado Blue columbine seeds grow a spectacular favorite that promises an authentic slice of the Rocky Mountains...
Lupine Seeds - Texas Blue Bonnet
91-98 Days to maturity. Lupinus texensis’Texas Blue Bonnet’. Lupine Texas Blue Bonnet Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Texas Bluebonnet lupine seeds grow an old-fashioned favorite that promise to deliver a slice of...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Ishikura Winter Long
40-60 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Ishikura Winter Long Japanese Bunching Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold hardy, bunching onions. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised...
Wildflower Seeds - Rocky Mountain Mix
Rocky Mountain Wildflower Mix seeds promise an authentic touch of the untamed American west in your very own garden. Wildflower Rocky Mountain Mix seeds grow a stunning blend of 22...
Artichoke Seeds - Purple Romagna
85-100 days. Cynara scolymus. Purple Romagna Artichoke Seeds. Non-GMO, tender perennial, heirloom, open-pollinated. This crop is suitable for garden plots, raised beds, or field production. Purple Romagna is an Italian...
Thyme Seeds - Winter (Organic)
95 Days to maturity. Thymus vulgaris. Organic 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,...
Salsify Seeds - Sandwich Island
Sandwich Island Salsify is a root vegetable that you won't find in the grocery store. Also referred to as an oyster plant, it is a plant that tastes like an...
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