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]()
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Chadwick Cherry (Organic)
70 to 90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Tomato - Chadwick Cherry Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots,...
Sunflower Seeds - ProCut®
50-65 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. ProCut F1 Hybrid Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Ornamental. Annual. ProCut sunflower series seeds grow some of summer's most astonishing, vigorous, and timeless blooms. ProCut sunflower...
Squash Seeds - Winter - Delicata Bush AAS
Delicata Bush AAS Winter Squash Seeds. 80 - 100 days to maturity. 2002 National AAS Winner. Can be grown in containers. Cucurbita pepo. Annual. Heirloom. Healthy semi-bush 3-4 ft. vines,...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Caribe
85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Caribe Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, determinate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to...
Sunflower Seeds - Lemon Queen
80-100 Days to maturity. Helianthus annus. Lemon Queen Sunflower Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, heirloom, annual, multi-branching sunflower. This bright sunflower features light, lemony petals and a light brown center that demands...
Cucumber Seeds - Saladmore Bush Hybrid F1
55 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Saladmore Bush Hybrid Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, 2014 AAS winner. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds,...
Tomatillo Seeds - Cape Gooseberry Large Fruit
90-120 days. Physalis peruviana. Cape Gooseberry Large Fruit Tomatillo Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season annual, heirloom, open-pollinated. This crop is suitable for garden plots, raised beds, and larger containers. This strain will...
Cucumber Seeds - Suyo Long (Organic)
60 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Organic Suyo Long Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, parthenocarpic, slicing, burpless, Asian cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden...
Hypoestes Seeds - Splash Select Series
74-84 Days to maturity. Hypoestes phyllostachya. Splash Select Series Hypoestes Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, Premium Quality Seeds, annual. Open Pollinated. Splash Select Series Hypoestes seeds grow adorable, colorful foliage for shaded...
Cosmos Seeds - Cosmic Mix
56-63 Days to maturity. Cosmos sulphureus. Cosmic Mix Cosmos Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, Heirloom, Open Pollinated. Cosmic Mix seeds grow an elegant and award-winning cosmos that promises to invigorate any stale...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Harvester
55 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Harvester Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, bush, snap green bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Athena Hybrid
75 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Athena Hybrid Cantaloupe Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, hybrid, heat-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to...
French Marigold Seeds - Dainty Marietta
50-65 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula' Dainty Marietta'. Dainty Marietta French Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. This drought-tolerant French Dwarf Marigold is truly one of a kind. The striking yellow...
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Moneymaker
75 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Moneymaker Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, indeterminate, salad tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Cucumber Seeds - Soarer - Hybrid
55-60 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus ‘Soarer’. Soarer Cucumber Seeds. Warm-season annual hybrid. Non-GMO. Soarer is valued particularly for its flavor. This Japanese burpless cucumber hybrid is easy to grow...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Sweetie (Organic)
65-70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Organic Sweetie Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Gourds Seeds - Large & Small Mix
Large and Small Gourd Mix is ready in 90-120 days. This mix of small and large, non-gmo gourd seeds is a collection of gourds that will grow into different shapes...
Okra Seeds - Cows Horn
Abelmoschus esculentus (55 days) This heirloom okra dates back to around the Civil War. It has a twisted shape that resembles a cow's horn. These large pods can reach 14"...
Sunflower Seeds - Sungold Dwarf
Helianthus annuus (80 days) Sunflower Dwarf is also known as "Teddy Bear". Sungold grows 24" to 36" tall and has profusion of bushy yellow sunflowers. Very easy to grow and...
Zinnia Seeds - Pollinator Flower Mix
Pollinator Mix. Zinnia. Zinnia elegans. 60-80 days. Non-GMO. Open pollinated. Our zinnia pollinator mix attracts hummingbirds and butterflies with a wildflower blend that grows a season-long charm that lives up...
Coleus Seeds - Chocolate Covered Cherry (Pelleted)
84-91 Days to maturity. Plectranthus scutellarioides. Coleus Chocolate Covered Cherry Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Chocolate Covered Cherry coleus seeds are a stunning, simple, and exotic tropical plant ideal for many hot...
Lupine Seeds - Sweet Lupine - Moonshine
10-14 Days to Harvest. Lupine luteus. Moonshine Sweet Lupine Microgreens Seeds. Non-GMO, flower microgreens, high germination, unique appearance. Lupine microgreens can easily grow indoors, requiring minimal space and time. With...
Corn Seeds - Dent - Pencil Cob
Zea mays Pencil Cob (73-100 days) is was named this way because the cob can be as thin as a pencil. This produces long and deep kernels. 73-100 Days to...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Royalty Purple Pod (Organic)
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Organic Royalty Purple Pod Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, organic, heirloom, high-yielding, bush, snap bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised...
Tomato Seeds - Paste - San Marzano Indeterminate (Organic)
85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. San Marzano Indeterminate (Organic) Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, organic, heirloom, indeterminate, paste tomato. Often compared to the famous Roma tomato in...
Agastache Seeds - Korean Mint
55-65 days to maturity. Agastache rugosa. Korean Mint Agastache Seeds. Non-GMO, Heirloom, Perennial in Zones 4-9. Korean Mint is a drought-tolerant aromatic herb in the mint family that is native...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Golden Wax (Organic)
50-55 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Organic Golden Wax Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, bush, snap wax bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised...
Ageratum Seeds - Blue Horizon (Pelleted)
77-91 Days to maturity. Ageratum houstonianum. Blue Horizon Ageratum Seeds. Non-GMO, Ornamental, Annual. Open-pollinated flower seeds. Blue Horizon flower seeds grow one of the season’s most exclusive blooms of exotic...
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