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]()
Squash Seeds - Summer - Golden Zucchini (Organic)
50 days to maturity. Cucurbita pepo. Organic Golden Zucchini Summer Squash Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom, open-pollinated. Suitable for growing in fields, garden plots, raised beds, and containers. Eye-catching golden fruits...
Sesame Seeds - Tan Kingoma
85 days to maturity. Sesame indicum. Tan Kingoma Sesame Seeds. Warm season annual. Kingoma sesame seeds are a great balance between the mild flavor of white sesame seeds and the...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Phenomenal (Cowpeas)
60-70 Days to maturity. Vigna unguiculata. Phenomenal Cowpea Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, high-yielding, bush, shelling bean (cowpea). Drought and heat resistant. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Rosso Sicilian
74 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Rosso Sicilian Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Ponderosa Red
80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Ponderosa Red Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, greenhouses....
Squash Seeds - Winter - Amish Pie
80-120 Days to maturity. Cucurbita maxima. Amish Pie Winter Squash Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated heirloom. This is suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Brown Berry
70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Tomato - Brown Berry Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, greenhouses....
Agastache Seeds - Arizona Sun
77-84 Days to maturity. Agastache x hybrida’Arizona Sun’. Arizona Sun Agastache Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, Premium Quality Seeds, Perennial. Open Pollinated. Arizona Sun Agastache is a rare fragrant and showy, yet...
Dundale Pea - Organic - Cover Crop Seeds
60-70 Days. Pisum sativum subsp. arvense. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Organic. Open-Pollinated. Often known as "field pea" or simply "Dun pea", the non-GMO Organic Dundale pea is a popular cool-weather cover crop,...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Crimson Sweet Yellow (Organic)
80 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Crimson Sweet Yellow Organic Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Organic Crimson Sweet Yellow watermelon is very similar...
Heliopsis Seeds - Summer Sun
84-91 Days to maturity. Heliopsis scabra. Heliopsis Summer Sun Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Heliopsis Summer Sun stands out as an easy-care perennial, brightening gardens with abundant, semi-double golden blooms from midsummer...
Tomatillo Seeds - Grande Rio Verde - Organic
Physalis ixocarpa (83 days) This var. produces the most and the largest tomatillos! Grande yields about a 3 oz green tomatillos. Great for salsa verde! Tomatillo Seeds - Grande Rio...
Basil Seeds - Lettuce Leaf
Non-GMO, Heirloom Lettuce Leaf Basil Herb Seed from True Leaf Market. Ocimum basilicum. As basil has many different varieties, Lettuce Leaf Basil is a sweet cultivar that comes from Japan...
Pumpkin Seeds - Spookie
Non-GMO, heirloom Spookie Pumpkin Seeds from True Leaf Market produce fruit weighing between 6 and 10 lbs. that has smooth orange skin and subtle ribbing. Each pumpkin measures approximately 6"...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet & Spicy Mix
An exciting mix of both sweet and spicy peppers. Includes 30% Cal Wonder, 20% Large Sweet Red Cherry, 15% White Bell, 7.5% Orange Bell, 7.5% Golden Cal Wonder, and 20%...
Gourd Seeds - Dok - Hybrid
80-90 days to maturity. Luffa cylindrica ’Dok’. Dok Gourd Seeds. Non-GMO warm-season annual hybrid. This beautiful plant produces early maturing, vigorous fruits. It is high yielding, has lateral branches, and...
Salvia Seeds - Evolution Violet
98-112 Days to maturity. Salvia splendens. Salvia Evolution Violet Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial or annual. Ornamental. Evolution Violet seeds promise vibrant, hardy, and AAS award-winning salvia plants to excite your home...
Melon Seeds - Valencia Early
90 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Valencia Early Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant specialty Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Known for...
Mimosa Seeds - Sensitive Plant
70-80 days. Mimosa pudica. Sensitive Plant Mimosa Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual (tender perennial). Sensitive Plant mimosas guarantee one of the most interactive, playful, and entertaining blooms you'll ever grow. Sensitive Plant...
Pumpkin Seeds - Gooligan F1
Gooligan F1 Hybrid Pumpkin Seeds. Cucurbita pepo. F1 Hybrid. Non-GMO. Annual. 95 days to maturity. Gooligan F1 is a hybrid white Baby Boo type. The quarter pound fruit are slightly...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Flame
85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Flame Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Aster Seeds - Benarys Trimix
110-120 Days to maturity. Aster alpinus. Benarys Trimix Aster Flower Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial. These classic asters will take your breath away! Brimming with blues, pinks, and whites, the large flowers...
Calendula Seeds - Orange Pacific Beauty (Organic)
60-90 Days to Maturity. Calendula officinalis. Organic Orange Pacific Beauty Calendula Flower Seeds. Non-GMO, heirloom, open-pollinated, organic flower seeds. Annual in zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10....
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Garden Peach
67 - 80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Garden Peach Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate salad tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Squash Seeds - Winter - Long Island Cheese
Long Island Cheese Squash Seeds. 90 to 100 Days. Open Pollinated, Hierloom, Non-GMO, Winter Squash. Cucurbita moschata. AKA: Long Island Cheese Pumpkin. Download Free Vegetable Growing Guide PDF Squash Seeds...
Zinnia Seeds - Canary Bird
50-70 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Canary Bird Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, annual. Farmer John's favorite yellow zinnia hands down! Produces copious amounts of large 3-4 inch canary yellow blooms....
Cotton Seeds - American Upland (Treated)
145-160 Days to maturity. Gossypium hirsutum. Treated American Upland Cotton Seeds. Non-GMO, heirloom, annual or perennial. American Upland is the most popular variety of cotton in the world, as nearly...
Cucumber Seeds - Palace King - Hybrid
55-60 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus ‘Palace King’. Palace King Cucumber Seeds. Warm-season annual hybrid. Non-GMO. This easy-to-grow, early maturing, sooyow type variety is burpless, very crisp, and has a...
Seed Potatoes - Purple Majesty (Organic)
This item is a pre-order item and is expected to ship in March for spring planting. Other seeds, supplies, or kits ordered with this product may ship separately. This product...
Bean Seeds - Pole - Kurosanjaku Yard Long
70-90 Days to maturity. Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis. Kurosanjaku Yard Long Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heat-tolerant, heirloom, pole, snap, Asian, specialty bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots,...
Sunflower Seeds - Midnight Rouge
55-65 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus ’Midnight Rouge’. Midnight Rouge Sunflower Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open pollinated, heirloom, ornamental. Midnight Rouge seeds produce some of the most deeply colored and stunning...
Coffee Seeds - Coffea Arabica Nana
About 3-4 years to harvest. Coffea arabica 'Nana'. Nana Arabian Coffee Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, tropical, dwarf coffee tree. Nana Arabian Coffee tree seeds grow dwarf coffee plants that will...
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