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]()
Cosmos Seeds - Sonata Mix
49-63 Days to maturity. Cosmos bipinnatus. Sonata Mix Cosmos Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, Heirloom, Open Pollinated. Sonata Mix cosmos seeds grow an effortless and full sun performer perfect for just about...
Calendula Seeds - Fancy Mix
50-70 Days to maturity. Calendula officinalis. Fancy Mix Calendula Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, annual, ornamental herb and flower. Fancy Mix Calendulas are hardy, tolerant of cool temperatures, and produce some strikingly...
Gourds Seeds - Turks Turban
Non-GMO Turks Turban is ready in 100+ days. Brightly colored ornamental squash has large, flattened fruits measuring 8 to 10 inches across. This gourd is striped with scarlet, white, orange,...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Fordhook 242 Lima
72 Days to maturity. Phaseolus lunatus. Fordhook 242 Bush Lima Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, AAS winner, high-yielding, heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant, bush, shell, lima bean. Suitable for growing in containers,...
Shiso Seeds - Red (Organic)
80-85 Days to maturity. Perilla frutescens. Red Shiso Herb Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, annual. Shiso is grown as an annual herb with a distinct flavor often described by people as similar...
Lobelia Seeds - Sapphire
77-84 Days to maturity. Lobelia erinus. Sapphire Lobelia Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, Premium Quality Seeds, annual. Open Pollinated. Sapphire lobelia seeds grow one of summer's most exciting bedding, trailing, and hanging...
Cucumber Seeds - Japanese Long
The Japanese Long cucumber plant produces productive yields of 18-20 inches long fruits. Cucumbers are dark green and burpless with few seeds. They are best when harvested prematurely at 12...
Okra Seeds - Jing Orange
Jing Orange Okra Seeds. 30 to 60 days to maturity. Abelmoschus esculentus. Heirloom, Annual. Jing Orange is an Asian okra, known for it is stunning red-orange color. Approximately 500 seeds/ounce....
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...
Okra Seeds - Emerald
55-70 days. Emerald Okra Seeds - Non-GMO, Abelmoschus esculentus. These heirloom Emerald okra plants are 5-8 feet tall and produce smooth bright green 7" long pods. They were developed and...
Bacopa Seeds - Utopia (MSP)
56-63 Days to maturity. Sutera cordata. Utopia Bacopa Seeds. Non-GMO, annual. Utopia bacopa flower garden seeds (Bluetopia & Snowtopia) grow one of summer's most exciting bedding, trailing, and hanging plants....
Cucumber Seeds - Housaku - Hybrid
55-60 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus ‘Housaku’. Housaku Cucumber Seeds. Warm-season annual hybrid. Non-GMO. The name “housaku” means “good harvest” and it lives up to the name! It is a...
Pumpkin Seeds - Wee-B-Little
Wee B Little Pumpkin is the perfect miniature pie pumpkin. This orange pumpkin was a AAS Winner for 1999. Wee B Little grows an orange pumpkin that is small enough...
Pumpkin Seeds - Show Winner
Cucurbita maxima As the name implies, this is the pumpkin to grow if you want to win a novelty contest. The giant pumpkins develop in an array of colors, including...
Pumpkin Seeds - Galeaux d'Eysines
100 days. Cucurbita maxima. Galeaux d'Eysines Pumpkin Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom, open-pollinated winter squash. This crop is suitable for garden plots, raised beds, and pumpkin patches. At first glance, this...
Melon Seeds - Korean - Dae Jang Geum Hybrid
65 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo var. makuwa. Dae Jang Geum Korean Hybrid Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, hybrid, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, Asian Melon. Suitable for growing in garden...
Melon Seeds - Honeydew - Orange Flesh
105 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Orange Flesh Honeydew Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant Honeydew Melon. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Pumpkin Seeds - Musquee De Provence
C. moschata (122 days) Musquee De Provence is a French heirloom that was introduced to this country by Vaughan's Seed Store in 1899. One of the most distinct pumpkins you...
Zucchini Seeds - Round
Cucurbita pepo Round Zucchini is a stunning plant with speckled green leaves born on a robust bush-type plant. Super fast growing and are generally eaten when they are 3-4" in...
Sunflower Seeds - Maximilian
90-110 Days to maturity. Helianthus maximiliani. Maximilian Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Perennial. Heirloom. Maximilian sunflower seeds grow a playful and unique perennial variation on a classic summertime favorite....
Hollyhock Seeds - Indian Spring
2nd-year maturity. Alcea rosea. Hollyhock Indian Spring Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial/Biennial. Indian Spring Mix hollyhock is easy to grow from seed and ideal for gardens with mild winters across North America....
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Big Rainbow
85-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Big Rainbow Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant...
Lanceleaf Coreopsis Seeds
100-300 Days to maturity. Coreopsis lanceolata. Lanceleaf Coreopsis Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Lanceleaf Coreopsis flowers are perennial wildflowers with solitary yellow daisy-like flowers blooming on long stalks from May to August....
Bean Seeds - Pole - White Seeded Yard Long
65-75 Days to maturity. Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis. White Seeded Yard Long Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heat-tolerant, heirloom, pole, snap, Asian, specialty bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Blue Lake 274 (Treated)
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Blue Lake 247 Bush Bean Treated Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom snap bush bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and...
Basil Seeds - Purple Ruffles
Non-GMO, Heirloom Purple Ruffles Basil Herb Seed from True Leaf Market. Ocimum basilicum x purpurascens. As basil has many different types, Purple Ruffles Basil is a sweet cultivar that grows...
French Marigold Seeds - Sparky - Organic
63-77 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Organic Sparky Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, Open Pollinated. Sparky Mixture marigold seeds offer one of the most vibrant and inexpensive blooms available to the...
Cucumber Seeds - Armenian (The Duke)
65 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. The Duke Armenian Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious slicing cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds,...
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Jubilee
72-85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Jubilee Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, 1943 AAS winner, indeterminate, salad tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised...
Cucumber Seeds - Armenian (Organic)
63 Days to maturity. Cucumis Melo. Organic Armenian Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, slicing cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds,...
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