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]()
Gourd Seeds - Bonanza
80-90 days to maturity. Luffa acutangula ’Bonanza’. Bonanza Gourd Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom gourd seed. This vigorous and productive plant produces a high yield of edible fruit on...
Mugwort Seeds
80 Days. Artemisia vulgaris. Open-pollinated. Non-GMO. Annual. Although known mostly as a tenacious garden weed in the midwestern United States, non-GMO heirloom mugwort seeds have been grown and foraged for...
Cucumber Seeds - Marketer
55-65 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Marketer Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, 1943 AAS winning, monoecious, slicing cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Striped German
80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Striped German Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Eggplant Seeds - White Egg
White Egg variety eggplant plants produce fruits that look like actual eggs. Each eggplant is 2-3 inches wide and long, and has a smooth white exterior. Plants produce productive yields,...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Mr. Stripey (Organic)
80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Organic Mr. Stripey Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised...
Watermelon Seeds - Icebox - Yellow Gem Sweet
80 days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Yellow Gem Sweet Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heat tolerant, seeded, icebox watermelon. Now a true yellow Crimson Sweet watermelon. ~ 400 seeds per...
Gourd Seeds - Tennessee Spinning
Cucurbita pepo. 1 gram seed packet ~25-30 seeds. AKA: Spinning Top Gourd, Dancing Spinning Top Gourd. Remember spinning tops? Well this heirloom gourd was grown for just this purpose. Children...
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Glacier
56 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Glacier Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, determinate, salad tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. An extra...
Cucumber Seeds - Poinsett 76
65-70 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Poinsett 76 Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, slicing cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds, and...
Osteospermum Seeds - Asti Series
84-90 Days to maturity. Osteospermum ecklonis. Osteospermum Asti Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Asti Series osteospermum seeds promise a stunning and exotic African twist to the more traditional daisies commonly grown...
Bean Seeds - Pole - Bai Bu Lao Yellow
55-60 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Bai Bu Lao Yellow Pole Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, drought tolerant, pole, snap, romano, Asian bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden...
Cucumber Seeds - Pickling - Calypso Hybrid
50 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Calypso Hybrid Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, gynoecious, pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds, and...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Tangerine
85-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Tangerine Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Okra Seeds - Cows Horn - Organic
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"...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Amana Orange
85-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Amana Orange Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Amana...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Phoenix Hybrid
70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Phoenix Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, determinate, heat tolerant, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Rutgers VF
80-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Rutgers VF Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, determinate, salad tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Campbell 33
69 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Campbell 33 Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, determinate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant...
Squash Seeds - Japanese, Winter - Blue Kuri
Squash Seeds - Japanese, Winter - Blue Kuri. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Cucurbita maxima. 45 days after flowering, 95-110 days to maturity. Warm season annual. A traditional open pollinated Japanese kabocha squash...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Kentucky Dreamer
50-54 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Kentucky Dreamer Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant, resistant to BCMV, high-yielding, bush, snap green bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden...
Petunia Seeds - Pirouette Rose (pelleted)
98-105 Days to maturity. Petunia x hybrida. Pirouette Rose Petunia Seeds. Non-GMO, hybrid, Premium Quality Seeds, annual. Pirouette Rose Petunia seeds are brilliant, easy to grow, and renowned for their...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Momotaro Gold Hybrid
80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Momotaro Gold Hybrid Japanese Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, F1 hybrid, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised...
Gourd Seeds - Emerald - Hybrid
80-90 days to maturity. Luffa cylindrica ’Emerald’. Emerald Gourd Seeds. Non-GMO warm-season annual hybrid. This beautiful plant produces early maturing, smooth-type fruits that average 45-50cm long, 4-5 cm in diameter,...
Basil Seeds - Dark Opal (Organic)
60 Days to maturity. Ocimum basilicum. Organic Dark Opal Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Dark Opal basil...
Asparagus Seeds - UC 157 F1
Second season harvest. Asparagus officinalis. UC 157 F1 Asparagus Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, F1 hybrid. This crop is suitable for garden plots, raised beds, and fields. Classic UC Riverside hybrid known...
Pumpkin Seeds - Baby Bear
Non-GMO Baby Bear Pumpkin is an AAS Winner who is ready in 105 days. Pumpkin vines produce bright orange fruits that measure 5 to 6 inches across and weigh 1...
Zinnia Seeds - Peppermint Stick
55-70 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Peppermint Stick Mixture Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, annual. Peppermint Stick Mix Zinnia Flower seeds are the most unique, candy-striped zinnia ever! They offer prolific...
Gourd Seeds - Bitter
Bitter Gourd Seeds. 80 Days. Momordica charanita. Non-GMO, Heirloom, Open Pollinated. Annual. AKA: Bitter Melon, Balsam Pear, Foo Gwa. Warty, green, tapered fruits that grow 8 to 10 inches long...
Cucumber Seeds - Parisian Pickle
60 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Parisian Pickle Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds, and...
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