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]()
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...
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...
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,...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Moon & Stars (Organic)
95 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Organic Moon & Stars Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. These medium-sized...
Gourds Seeds - Large Mix
100-120 days. Lagenaria sp. Mix of many large type Lagenaria gourds. Approximately 255 seeds/oz.; with sprawling vines, gourds require widespread areas for growth; rows can be planted 2 - 3...
Cucumber Seeds - Marketmore 76
67 days. The Marketmore 76 cucumber is a variety of cucumber that is sweet and tender. The Marketmore 76 is dark green and smooth, and grows to be between eight...
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...
Pumpkin Seeds - Jack O Lantern - Organic
Cucurbita pepo. (105 days) This is a pumpkin with lots of great uses. Jack O'Lantern makes a fantastic carving pumpkin for Halloween of course. This pumpkin also divine in soups,...
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...
Watermelon Seeds - Icebox - Bush Sugar Baby
75 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Bush Sugar Baby Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, Icebox watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots and large containers (minimum...
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...
Petunia Seeds - Prism Sunshine (pelleted)
98-105 Days to maturity. Petunia x hybrida. Prism Sunshine Petunia Seeds. Non-GMO, hybrid, Premium Quality Seeds, annual. Prism Sunshine petunia seeds are a gorgeous and award-winning compliment to any home...
Basil Seeds - Red Rubin
Non-GMO, Open-pollinated Red Rubin Basil Herb Seed from True Leaf Market. Ocimum basilicum x purpurascens. As basil has many different types, Red Rubin Basil is a sweet cultivar and hybrid...
Sunflower Seeds - Italian White
90-110 Days to maturity. Helianthus debilis. Italian White Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Annual. Heirloom. Italian White sunflower seeds grow some of summer's most elegant, classic, and vigorous blooms....
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...
Pumpkin Seeds - Small Sugar - Organic
Cucurbita (95 days) Sometimes called New England Pie Pumpkin. The long time favorite and standard for pies. None grows any sweeter. Fruits small, 6-8 lbs; round, flattened at the ends...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Juliet Hybrid
60 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Juliet Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, AAS Winner, annual, F1 hybrid, indeterminate grape tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Bodacious R/M Hybrid
80-90 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Bodacious R/M Hybrid Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and drought-prone...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Black Turtle (Organic)
75-100 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Organic Black Turtle Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, organic, heirloom, bush, shelling bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Cucumber Seeds - Pickling - Wisconsin SMR
55-58 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Wisconsin SMR-58 Pickling Cucumber Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised...
Cucumber Seeds - National Pickling
50-70 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. National Pickling Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds, and...
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Sugar Buns Hybrid
70-80 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Sugar Buns Hybrid (treated) Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and...
French Marigold Seeds - Janie Series
56-63 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Janie Series Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Growing Janie Series Marigold seeds this season is an effortless and award-winning way to dash some summer...
Sorghum Seeds - Rox Orange Syrup Cane
Rox Orange Syrup Cane. Sorghum. Sorghum bicolor. 70-80 days. Open Pollinated. Heirloom. Non-GMO. AKA: Broom Corn. Though technically a variety of grass, Rox Orange Syrup sorghum grows a dramatic and...
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...
Gourds Seeds - Small Mix
Small Gourds Mix is ready in 90-120 days. This is a collection of different shapes in shades of white, cream, gold, yellow, and green. These gourds are suitable for decoration....
Squash - Summer - Dark Green Zucchini (Organic)
Cucurbita pepo. (45-65 days) An early vigorous bush zucchini with straight, smooth, dark-green mottled fruits. Tastiest at 6-8" with pale greenish-white, firm flesh. Great for market growers and easy to...
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...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Provider (Organic)
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Organic Provider Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, high yielding, heat tolerant, bush, snap, green bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden...
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...
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