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]()
Basil Seeds - Sweet Dani
Non-GMO, Sweet Dani Basil Herb Seed from True Leaf Market. Ocimum basilicum. As basil has many different varieties, Sweet Dani Basil Herb is a popular sweet hybrid type that started...
Cucumber Seeds - Arkansas Little Leaf
55 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Arkansas Little Leaf Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, parthenocarpic, pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds,...
Cucumber Seeds - West Indian Gherkin
55-65 Days to maturity. Cucumis anguria. West Indian Gherkin Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds,...
Tomatillo Seeds - Pineapple
Physalis ixocarpa (65-75 days) Approximately 150 seeds per package. This is a relative of the Mexican tomatillo that hails from Eastern Europe. It can be used as other tomatillos in...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Chadwick Cherry
70 to 90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Tomato - Chadwick Cherry Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised...
Melon Seeds - Collective Farm Woman
83 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Collective Farm Woman Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant specialty Melon. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Seed Starter Kit - Sweet Pepper
Sweet Pepper Seed Starter Kit. Heirloom. Open pollinated. Non-GMO. Sweet Pepper Starter Kit is handpicked of the sweetest and most readily used sweet peppers in the kitchen with a wide...
Squash Seeds - Summer - Amberpic Hybrid
42 days to maturity. Cucurbita pepo. Amberpic Hybrid Summer Squash Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid. This is suitable for fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Early straightneck that sets...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Early Doll Hybrid
59 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Early Doll Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, determinate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Tigerella
55-75 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Tigerella Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, salad tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Pumpkin Seeds - Thumpkin
120 days. A new pumpkin variety characterized by it's flattened or "Long Island Cheese" like shape, but with a dark orange color and an extra thick "handle" or stem. It...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Mountain Sweet
85-100 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Mountain Sweet Yellow Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. 2004 Seed Saver Inventory...
Nicotiana Seeds - Starmaker Series (Pelleted)
63-70 days to maturity. Nicotiana alata. Nicotiana Starmaker Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Ornamental. Starmaker Series nicotiana seeds grow a classic, durable, and curious touch of the South American tropics in...
Corn Seeds - Golden Bantam 8
75-85 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Golden Bantam 8 Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, Sweet Corn. Golden Bantam 8, a classic heirloom variety, is a testament to its rich...
Gourd Seeds - Bitter Mara Hybrid
50-55 days maturity after transplanting. Momordica charantia ’Mara’. Mara Bitter Gourd Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, hybrid. The Mara gourd is a classic bitter gourd that is much less bitter than...
Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Edisto 47
85 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Edisto 47 Cantaloupe Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant, humidity-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Gourd Seeds - Fong Show - Hybrid
55-65 days maturity after transplanting. Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua ’Fong Show’. Fong Show Gourd Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, hybrid. This jointed gourd, hairy melon, or mokwa variety is an early...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Giant Belgium Pink
82-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Giant Belgium Pink Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Kosaitai - Hon Tsai Tai
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Kosaitai - Hon Tsai Tai. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Brassica rapa var purpurea. 50 days. Cool season annual. This flowering purple stem choy sum, also known as...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - AU Producer
85 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. AU Producer Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. Originally bred in Alabama, in...
Cucumber Seeds - Crystal Apple
65 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Crystal Apple Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, slicing cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds, and...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Old German (Organic)
75 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Organic Old German Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Cucumber Seeds - Sumter
50-65 days. Non-GMO. Open-pollinated. Sumter Cucumber Seeds from True Leaf Market grow firm, 5" to 6" medium-green cucumbers with white spines. Sumter is a mildew- and scab-resistant cucumber variety that...
Verbena Flower Seeds - Tuscany Peach
8-10 inches high, spreads 16-20 inches. The replacement for Peaches and Cream boasts a naturally compact habit. Well branched and bush plants that fill in quickly. Same pale salmon-peach color...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Fava (Organic)
70-85 Days to maturity. Vicia faba. Organic Fava Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, bush, shell, fava bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Bean Seeds - Pole - Purple Moon Hyacinth
90 Days to maturity. Lablab purpureus. Purple Moon Hyacinth Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, pole, snap, Asian, specialty bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden...
Pumpkin Seeds - Fall Rainbow Blend - Organic
Organic Fall Rainbow Blend Pumpkin Seeds. 60 to 105 days to maturity. Cucurbita maxima. Open Pollinated, Non-GMO, Annual. ~ 225 Seeds/ounce. Download Free Vegetable Growing Guide PDF Pumpkin Seeds -...
Squash Seeds - Winter - Sunshine Hybrid
Hybrid Sunshine Winter Squash is a kabocha squash that out-shines other varieties in side-by-side trials across North America. Sunshine is ready in 95 to 100 days. Hybrid Sunshine Squash has...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Isis Candy (Organic)
67 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Organic Isis Candy Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, organic, indeterminate cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, greenhouses,...
Watermelon Seeds - Icebox - Hime Kansen Hybrid
95 Days to maturity. Citrullus vulgaris. Hime Kansen Hybrid Japanese Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, heat tolerant, seeded, icebox watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. This Japanese watermelon is...
Hollyhock Seeds - Powderpuffs Double Mix
2nd-year maturity. Alcea rosea. Hollyhock Powderpuffs Double Mix Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial/Biennial. Powderpuffs Double Mix hollyhock seeds are an ideal plant to rejuvenate a tired garden into a stunning and vibrant...
Hollyhock Seeds - Chaters Double Mixture
2nd-year maturity. Alcea rosea. Hollyhock Chater's Double Mixture Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial/Biennial. Chater's Double Mixture hollyhock seeds promise to turn any stale bedding into a sensational and eye-catching garden this season....
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