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]()
Sunflower - Black Oil (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds
2-3 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. Organic Black Oil Sunflower Sprouting Seeds. Sunflower sprouts are full of vital nutrients and make the perfect snack. Sprouted sunflower seeds should be shelled...
Viola Seeds - Sorbet Series
91-98 Days to maturity. Viola cornuta. Sorbet Series Viola Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, Premium Quality Seeds, perennial. Sorbet Series seeds grow year-round violas in your home or garden when others might...
Chia (Organic) - Microgreens Seeds
8-12 days. Chia is easy to grow and is favored for its health benefits, including high levels of omega oils, amino acids and proteins. Harvest close to the root for...
Smart Seal 5 Gallon Bucket Lids - Singles
The Handy Pantry Smart Seal Lid transforms most 5 gal bucket designs into the ideal storage container. The screw-on lid is food grade and pest-proof. Literally, hundreds of applications for...
Bean Seeds - Bush - California Black-Eye Cowpeas
75 Days to maturity. Vigna unguiculata. California Black-Eyed Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, bush, shelling bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Cowpeas, or...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Black Turtle (Organic)
75-100 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Organic Black Turtle Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, organic, heirloom, bush, shelling bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Soybean - Black (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds
2-5 Days to Harvest. Glycine max L. Merr.. Organic Black soybean Sprouting Seeds. Organic. Non-GMO. Sprouting. High Germination. Considered a superfood, Organic black soybean sprouting seeds quickly sprout an antioxidant-rich...
Radish Seeds - Black Spanish Round
50-70 Days to maturity. Raphanus sativus. Black Spanish Round Radish Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Also known as Noir Gros Rond D’hiver or Round Black Spanish Radish. Suitable for growing...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Cherokee Black Wax
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Cherokee Black Wax Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, bush, snap, wax bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Beans - Black Turtle (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds
3-5 Days to Harvest. Phaseolus vulgaris. Organic Black Turtle Bean Sprouting Seeds. These organic black beans produce fresh, crunchy sprouts that can easily be substituted for black beans in any...
Sorghum Seeds - Multicolored Broomcorn
105-119 days to maturity. Sorghum bicolor. Multicolored Broomcorn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, ornamental grain. This crop is suitable for growing in fields, garden plots, and raised beds. Multicolored broomcorn (sometimes...
Coleus Seeds - Black Dragon
84-91 Days to maturity. Plectranthus scutellarioides. Coleus Black Dragon Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Black Dragon coleus seeds are a tidy and exotic grow ideal for many hot and humid gardens across...
Pansy Seeds - Halloween II
91-98 Days to maturity. Viola × wittrockiana. Halloween II Pansy Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, Premium Quality Seeds, annual. Halloween II pansy seeds are a stunning, compact, and "spooky" addition to grow...
Pepper Seeds - Ornamental - Black Pearl
Non-GMO Black Pearl pepper is a unique ornamental pepper with pure black leaves when grown in the sun. The plant produces small, black shiny peppers that will turn red and...
Lentil Seeds - Black (Organic)
Organic Black Lentil Seeds. Lens culinaris. 80 to 110 days to maturity. Certified Organic by OTCO. Hardy Annual. Heirloom, Open Pollinated, Non-GMO. Use for vegetable gardening and sprouting. Produces dark...
Pepper - Sweet - Midnight Dreams
85-100 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Midnight Dreams Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, sweet pepper with no heat. 0 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing in garden...
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...
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...
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...
Corn Seeds - Flour - Montana Morado Maize
90-110 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Montana Morado Maize Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-weather annual, open-pollinated, certified organic flour corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Montana Morado...
Eggplant Seeds - Morden Midget (organic)
65 Days to maturity. Solanum melongena. Organic Morden Midget Eggplant Vegetable Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, italian eggplant. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, or containers....
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Black Prince
70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Black Prince Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant...
Carrot Seeds - Black Nebula
Daucus carota This highly attractive open pollinated carrot variety was bred especially for the home gardener. The dark purple roots can be eaten fresh, roasted, steamed or used for dye....
Salsify Seeds - Scorzonera Black Root
100-130 days. Scorzonera hispanica. Scorzonera Black Root Salsify Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial root crop, heirloom, open-pollinated. This crop is suitable for garden plots, raised beds, and market gardens. Black Root salsify...
Hollyhock Seeds - Nigra
365 Days to maturity (2nd Year). Alcea rosea ’Nigra’. Hollyhock Nigra Flower Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, self-seeding short-term perennial (sometimes considered a biennial). Nigra hollyhock flowers are not easy to forget....
Sunflower Seeds - Zohar (Organic)
50-60 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. Zohar F1 Hybrid Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Organic. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Annual. Zohar F1 Hybrid is a beautiful pollen-less sunflower that will brighten up your...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Holy Mole Hybrid
Non-GMO Hybrid Holy Mole Hot pepper is ready in 85 days. The first hybrid pasilla-type pepper is used to make the famous mole sauce. Hybrid vigor brings very high yields...
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