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]()
Spinach Seeds - Giant Noble
Non-GMO. Heirloom. Giant Noble Spinach Vegetable Garden Seed. Spinacia oleracea. The smooth and rich-green leaves of these spinach plants help provide this heirloom's name" as Giant Noble Spinach leaves grow...
Squash Seeds - Summer - Zucchini Black Beauty
60-70 days. Black Beauty Zucchini Summer Squash Seeds. Cucurbita pepo. Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. AKA: Courgette. One of the most productive crops to ever find its way into the home garden,...
Pea Seeds - Snap - Sugar Snap
60-70 Days to maturity. Pisum sativum. Sugar Snap Pea seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, 1979 AAS winner. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to powdery...
Squash Seeds - Winter - Waltham Butternut
85-90 days. Cucurbita moschata. Waltham Butternut Winter Squash seeds grow as cool season tender annuals that are fast-maturing. As the summer season fades, butternut squash varieties are the most popular...
Squash Seeds - Summer - Early Prolific Straightneck
50-60 days. Early Prolific Straightneck Summer Squash Seeds. Cucurbita pepo. Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Non-GMO Early Prolific Staightneck Summer Squash is ready to harvest from the vine after 52 days. Early...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Crimson Sweet
80-90 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Crimson Sweet Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Resistant to Anthracnose (1,3), Fusarium Wilt (Race 1,2). Crimson Sweet watermelon...
Lettuce Seeds - Butterhead - Buttercrunch (Organic)
AAS Winner. 65 days. Recommended by Utah State University, Organic Buttercrunch is the most popular of the butterhead varieties. Approx. 16,000 seeds/oz. These non-GMO Buttercrunch seeds grow into vibrant, green...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Crimson Sweet (Organic)
80-90 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Crimson Sweet Organic Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Resistant to Anthracnose (1,3), Fusarium Wilt (Race 1,2). Organic...
Radish Seeds - Cherry Belle
21-28 days. Cherry Belle Radish Seeds. Raphanus sativus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Visually stunning, uniform, and quick to maturity in about 25 days, Cherry Belle radish is one of the most reliable...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Sweet Banana
70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Sweet Banana Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, sweet pepper with mild heat levels. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant. 0 to 500 Scoville...
Lettuce Seeds - Butterhead - Buttercrunch
60-70 days. Buttercrunch Lettuce Seeds. Lactuca sativa. Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. An award-winning and absolutely hardy cultivar of butter head, Buttercrunch is tender, delicious, and looks as good in the garden...
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Celebrity Plus Hybrid
72 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Celebrity Plus Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, AAS winner, semi-determinate, salad tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Radish Seeds - Champion
Non-GMO, Heirloom, champion radish seeds. 25 days. AAS Winner. Recommended by USU. Deep scarlet, globe-shaped root is very firm and stands well without becoming pithy. Fresh, spicy-sweet flavor, Champion radishes...
Cucumber Seeds - Straight Eight
55-60 days. Straight Eight Cucumber Seeds. Cucumis sativus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Nearly a century-old American heirloom, the Straight Eight is an award-winning slicing cucumber known for its uniformly straight 8 inch...
Bean Seeds - Pole - Kentucky Blue
50-75 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Kentucky Blue Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, high-yielding, AAS Winner, drought and heat tolerant, high-yielding, pole, snap string bean. Suitable for growing in containers,...
Radish Seeds - Cherry Belle (Organic)
Organic Cherry Belle is a Non- Gmo heirloom variety ready in 23 days. All-American Selection (AAS) winning radish variety that produces bright red globe-shaped fruit. The flesh or cherry belle...
Squash Seeds - Winter - Waltham Butternut (Organic)
110 days to maturity. Cucurbita moschata. Organic Waltham Butternut Winter Squash Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom, open-pollinated, AAS winner. Suitable for growing in fields, garden plots, raised beds, and containers. The...
Geranium Seeds - Pinto Premium Series
91-105 days maturity. Pelargonium x hortorum . Geranium Pinto Premium Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Ornamental. Pinto Premium Series geranium seeds promise some of the most classic yet eye-catching blooms available...
Mustard Seeds - Southern Giant Curled
Non-GMO, Heirloom Southern Giant Curled Mustard Seeds from True Leaf Market. Southern Giant Curled Mustard is a staple in Southern gardens. It has large, bright green fringed and curled leaves...
Cucumber Seeds - Straight Eight (Organic)
55-65 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Organic Straight Eight Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, 1935 AAS-winning, slicing cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots,...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Big Beef Hybrid
73 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Big Beef Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, AAS winner 1994, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing...
Beet Seeds - Ruby Queen
52 days. The Ruby Queen beet is a variety that does very well in poor soils. It produces uniform, round globes and short tops. The leaves grow to be green...
Carrot Seeds - Imperator 58
65-80 days. The Imperator 58 carrot is a colorful and crunchy addition to any home garden. Seeds produce nine inch long tapered roots with a bright orange color. Their tops...
Thai Basil Seeds - Siam Queen
Non-GMO, Heirloom Siam Queen Thai Basil Herb Seed from True Leaf Market. Ocimum basilicum. As basil has many different types, Siam Queen Thai Basil is a sweet cultivar that originated...
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Red Sails
Red Sails Leaf Lettuce is ready in 45 days. An AAS winner, these non-GMO Red Sails seeds grow into green leaves of lettuce with red tips that are ready to...
Pea Seeds - Snap - Sugar Ann
Non-GMO. Heirloom. Sugar Ann Snap Pea Vegetable Garden Seeds. Pisum sativum. Sugar snap peas are a cross between garden and snow peas, as Sugar Ann Snap Peas were later developed...
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Ruby Red
Non-GMO Ruby Red Leaf Lettuce is ready in 35-45 days. Lettuce forms compact plants with loose, crumpled reddish-green leaves. Ruby Red is the darkest red of all red lettuces, won't...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Bright Lights
55 days. AAS Winner for 1998. A vibrant new Swiss Chard. Distinguished by stems of many different colors - gold, pink, orange, purple, red, and white. This variety is a...
Okra Seeds - Clemson Spineless
50-70 days. Clemson Spineless Okra Seeds. Abelmoschus esculentus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Also known as Clemson Spineless 80. Clemson Spineless okra debutedas the 1939 All-America Selections Vegetable Winner is a highly popular...
Cucumber Seeds - Diva Hybrid
58 days. The Diva Hybrid cucumber is an early variety of cucumber that is sweet and tender. The Diva Hybrid is dark and semi glossy, and grows to be between...
Squash Seeds - Winter - Table Queen Acorn
80-85 days. Table Queen Acorn Winter Squash seeds grow as warm season annuals and are part of the diverse Cucurbitaeae family. Acorn squash can be planted year round in temperate...
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