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]()
Gaillardia Seeds - Arizona Series
84-91 Days to maturity. Gaillardia aristata. Gaillardia Arizona Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Arizona Series seeds promise exciting AAS award-winning sunburst gaillardias that are sure to invigorate any tired garden. Gaillardia...
Gourd Seeds - Corsican
Non-GMO Corsican gourds have a round flat shape that is unique to them. They have a light-medium green color and become tan when dried. They grow to be 12" in...
Cucumber Seeds - Eversweet Hybrid
55 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Eversweet Hybrid Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, monoecious, slicing cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds, and...
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Abundance Hybrid
70-100 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Abundance Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and drought-prone regions....
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Yellow Plum
70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Yellow Plum Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, salad tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Beans - Red Small (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds
2-3 Days to Harvest. Phaseolus vulgaris. Organic Small Red Bean Sprouting Seeds. These small red beans produce sprouts that are packed with protein and are low in carbs and calories....
Pumpkin Seeds - Mini Harvest F1 Mix
Mini Harvest F1 Mix Hybrid Pumpkin Seeds. Cucurbita pepo. F1 Hybrid. Non-GMO. Annual. 65 days to maturity. These cutesy hybrids were created for the ornamental mini pumpkin market but also...
Cucumber Seeds - Salad Bush Hybrid
57 days. Salad Bush Hybrid cucumber seeds is a large variety of cucumber that is sweet and tender. The Salad Bush Hybrid is green and smooth, and grows to be...
Lavatera Seeds - Rose Mallow
63-70 days to maturity. Lavatera trimestris. Rose Mallow Lavatera Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Rose Mallow seeds promise delicate and early blooms to your garden when other flowers can not. Rose Mallow...
Gourd Seeds - Cucuzzi Gourd - Organic
Lagenaria siceraria. (55 days to edible 100 days to gourd use). 2 gram seed packet ~10 seeds. These seeds are really large! Technically a gourd, Cucuzzi squash is light green,...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Prudens Purple
65-85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Prudens Purple Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, Potato Leaf, heat tolerant, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Early Boy Bush Hybrid
55-60 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Early Boy Bush Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, determinate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Basil Seeds - Sweet
60-90 Days to maturity. Ocimum basilicum. Sweet Basil Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Sweet basil has long been...
Sunflower Seeds - Mardi Gras Blend Tall
70 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. Mardi Gras Blend Tall Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Annual. The color of these flowers varies from pale yellows to dark reds and...
Malva Seeds - Moschata Choice Rosea
55 -65 days. Malva moschata ‘Rosea’. Pink Musk Mallow seeds grow classic and hardy Malvas that promise to bring wild European meadows to your summer garden. Pink Musk Mallow is...
Melon Seeds - Early Silver Line
76 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Early Silver Line Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant Asian Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. The...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Jubilee (Organic)
90-97 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Organic Jubilee Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. Tolerant to Fusarium Wilt...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Cambuchi
80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum baccatum. Cambuci Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, hot pepper with medium heat levels. 4000 to 6000 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Peacock Improved
88 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Peacock Improved Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. AKA: Peacock Improved Shipper. A...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Moon & Stars
95 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Moon & Stars Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. The history of the...
Cucumber Seeds - Parade
55-60 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Parade Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses...
Squash Seeds - Winter - Hopi Orange (Organic)
80-120 Days to maturity. Cucurbita maxima. Hopi Orange (Organic) Squash Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to...
Gourd Seeds - Yu Sing - Hybrid
55-60 day maturity after transplanting. Luffa acutangula ’Yu Sing’. Yu Sing Gourd Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, hybrid. This unique gourd plant has beautiful fruit. The gourds are uniform and straight,...
Verbena Seeds - Imagination
84-98 Days to maturity. Verbena speciosa. Verbena Imagination Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual or Perennial. Imagination verbena seeds are an award-winning, easy-to-grow summertime favorite and one of the most tolerant and efficient...
Zinnia Seeds - Pop Art Golden & Red (Coated)
54-63 Days to maturity. Zinnia hybrida. Pop Art Golden & Red Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, annual. Pop Art Golden & Red Zinnia flower seeds are a sophisticated and award-winning plant in...
Rudbeckia Seeds - Goldilocks
91-105 days maturity. Rudbeckia hirta. Rudbeckia Goldilocks Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Ornamental. Goldilocks seeds grow a tidy yet spectacular twist to the traditional daisy-like rudbeckia. Goldilocks seeds mature as neat 15-inch...
Cotton Seeds - Red Beauty
130 Days to maturity. Gossypium hirsutum. Red Beauty Cotton Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, heirloom, ornamental cotton seeds. Annual in zones 8-11. It may be grown in zones 6-7 if started indoors...
Sunflower Seeds - Giant Teddy Bear
50-65 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. Giant Teddy Bear Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Annual. Giant Teddy Bear sunflower seeds grow one of the fluffiest and fastest-growing sunflowers on...
Artichoke Seeds - Violet Star
85-100 days. Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus. Violet Star Artichoke Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, heirloom, open-pollinated. This crop is suitable for garden plots, raised beds, and ornamental borders. Violet Star produces large,...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - New Yorker
66 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. New Yorker Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, determinate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, greenhouses. Resistant...
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