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 - Slicing - Abe Lincoln
87 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Abe Lincoln Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Abraham...
Squash Seeds - Winter - Cushaw Orange
95-105 days. Cushaw Orange Winter Squash Seeds. Cucurbita argyrosperma. Annual. Non-GMO. Popularly known throughout the world as "Japanese pie pumpkin" and "cushaw pumpkin", the cushaw squash seed is native to...
Rudbeckia Seeds - Indian Summer (Coated)
84-105 days maturity. Rudbeckia hirta. Rudbeckia Indian Summer Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Ornamental. Indian Summer rudbeckia seeds grow a seasonal spin to one of our country's most timeless, familiar, and award-winning...
Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Hales Best 45 PMR
68-90 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Hale’s Best 45 PMR Cantaloupe Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised...
Okra Seeds - Lousiana Green Velvet
55-65 days. Louisiana Green Velvet Okra Seeds - Non-GMO, Heirloom, Abelmoschus esculentus. This 1941 AAS winner is large standing between 5 and 8 feet tall. It thrives in heat and...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Grapette Hybrid
75 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Grapette Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, semi-determinate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Dragons Tongue Wax
60 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Dragon Tongue Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, bush, snap, wax, romano, bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. This...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Shiny Boy Hybrid (treated)
90 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Treated Shiny Boy Hybrid Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, heat-tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. 2010 Vegetable AAS Winner. Known...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Royal Burgundy (Organic)
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Organic Royal Burgundy Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, organic, heirloom, high-yielding, bush, snap bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds,...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Old German
75 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Old German Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Late Green
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Late Green. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Brassica rapa var parachinesis. 45-55 days. Warm season annual. Flowering Brassica is a fast growing green that can be harvested as...
Squash Seeds - Vermicelli F1
cucurbita pepo (90 days) Despite it's resemblance to the Italian pasta, Spaghetti squash originally originated in Japan. This squash gets its name from the pasta-like strands that come out of...
Corn Seeds - Dent - Boone County White
110-120 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Boone County White Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, Dent Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and...
Corn Seeds - Popcorn - Rainbow Jewel
120 Days to maturity. Zea mays ’Rainbow Jewel Popcorn’. Rainbow Jewel Popcorn Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, warm weather hybrid annual. Rainbow Jewel Corn is a hybrid cross between a white popcorn...
Ratibida Seeds - Mexican Hat
2nd Year maturity. Ratibida columnaris forma pulcherrima. Ratibida Mexican Hat Seeds. Non-GMO, Ornamental, Perennial. Mexican Hat Ratibida seeds grow one of the summer's most vigorous and exclusive blooms boasting unique...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Kentucky Wonder
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Kentucky Wonder Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant, high-yielding, bush, snap green bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds,...
Cucumber Seeds - Pioneer Hybrid
50 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Pioneer Hybrid Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, gynoecious, pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds, and...
Bean Seeds - Pole - Dark Green Yard Long
70 Days to maturity. Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis. Dark Green Yard Long Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heat-tolerant, open-pollinated, heirloom, pole, snap, Asian, specialty bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Provider (Treated)
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Provider Bush Bean Treated Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, heat-tolerant, bush, snap, green bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised...
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Sub Arctic Plenty
50-60 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Sub Arctic Plenty Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, determinate, salad tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Zinnia Seeds - Magellan Series - Orange
55-60 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Magellan Orange Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, F1 hybrid, annual. Magellan Zinnia Orange seeds grow tough and resilient zinnias, best suited for gardens prone to...
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Czech Bush
70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Czech Bush Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, determinate, salad tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, greenhouses, and containers. Stakeless,...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Black Valentine
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Black Valentine Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom snap or shell bush bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Bush Champion II Hybrid
70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Bush Champion II Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, determinate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, greenhouses,...
Squash Seeds - Winter - Lakota (Organic)
80-120 Days to maturity. Cucurbita maxima . Organic Lakota Squash Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to powdery...
Seed Potatoes - Purple Viking (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...
Amaranthus Seeds - Love Lies Bleeding
90-100 Days to maturity. Amaranthus caudatus. Love Lies Bleeding Amaranthus Seeds. Non-GMO, heirloom, annual. Love Lies Bleeding amaranthus is one of the most exotic and ornamental plants available to the...
Gourd Seeds - Nam Tao Klom - Hybrid
60-65 Days to Maturity (after transplanting). Lagenaria siceraria ’Nam Tao Klom’. Nam Tao Klom Improved Gourd Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, perennial, F1 hybrid. This vigorous climbing hybrid produces round-shaped fruit with...
Squash Seeds - Table King Bush Acorn (Organic)
80 days to maturity. Cucurbita pepo. Organic Table King Bush Acorn Winter Squash Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom, open-pollinated, AAS winner 1974. Suitable for growing in fields, garden plots, raised beds,...
Watermelon Seeds - Icebox - Bush Jubilee
90 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Bush Jubilee Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, Icebox watermelon. Vines spread 3-5 ft. Produces watermelons that are about 10-13 lbs....
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