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]()
Crimson Clover - Cover Crop Seeds
70-90 Days. Trifolium incarnatum. Cover Crop. Non-GMO. Annual. Heirloom crimson clover seeds are an ideal annual garden companion and cover crop for plants and soils deficient in nitrogen. Use to...
Radish Seeds - Daikon Minowase
Raphanus sativus (45 days) AKA Japanese Minowase Daikon Radish. Daikon is a root vegetable reported to have originated in the Mediterranean and brought to China for cultivation around 500 B.C....
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...
Lemon Balm Seeds
Melissa officinalis Perennial. Non-GMO, Heirloom Lemon Balm Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Melissa officinalis. Lemon Balm resides in the mint family and is native to regions in West...
Kale Seeds - Vates Blue Scotch Curled
60-70 days. Vates Blue Scotch Curled Kale Seeds. Brassica oleracea var. acephalla. Non-GMO. Heirloom. The premier variety of curled kale, Vates Blue Scotch is a tenacious cold-weather favorite known to...
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...
Beet Seeds - Golden Detroit
55-60 days. Golden Detroit beet seeds. Beta vulgaris. Annual. Non-GMO. The Golden Detroit is an easy to grow beet that can be harvested as early as fifty days after planting,...
Cabbage Seeds - Red Acre
100 days. The Red Acre cabbage is a hardy garden crop that can be grown in climate zones three through nine. The plant produces medium sized, maroon heads that can...
Lettuce Seeds - Gourmet Mix (Organic)
45-65 days. Organic Gourmet Mixture Lettuce Seeds. Lactuca sativa. Heirloom. Mixed Greens. Organic Gourmet Mix lettuce seeds feature a specialty blend of choice tender loose-leaf lettuce greens to help diversify...
Spinach Seeds - Bloomsdale Long Standing
35-50 days. Bloomsdale Long Standing Spinach Seeds. Spinacia oleracea. Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Bloomsdale Spinach seeds came from Philadelphia in the late 19th century by D. Landreth & Sons Seed Company....
Spearmint Seeds
50-70 Days to maturity. Mentha spicata. Spearmint Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Enjoy the vibrant, fruity aroma of...
Winter Rye - Cover Crop Seeds
This is rye grain (Secale cereale) - not Ryegrass (Lolium). It is not for over-seeding lawns. Open-pollinated. Annual. Heirloom. Non-GMO Organic winter rye cover crop is one of the most...
Collards Seeds - Georgia Southern
70 days. Georgia Southern Collard seeds grow cabbage like dark green leaves, with a slightly crumpled texture. These collard leaves are huge and juicy, making them excellent for salads and...
Buckwheat - Organic - Cover Crop Seeds
70-90 Days. Fagopyrum esculentum. Organic. Cover Crop. Heirloom. Non-GMO Organic buckwheat seeds grow an ancient foraging crop that, until recently, wasn't grown for much more than livestock fodder. Open-pollinated Organic...
White Dutch Clover - Cover Crop Seeds
70-90 Days. Trifolium repens. Non-GMO. Cover Crop. Perennial. Open-pollinated White Dutch clover seeds produce a cover crop for gardens lacking in nitrogen and productivity. Non-GMO White Dutch clover seeds quickly...
Pea Seeds - Snap - Super Sugar Snap
60-70 Days to maturity. Pisum sativum. Super Sugar Snap Pea Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to powdery mildew...
Calendula Seeds - Pacific Beauty Mixture
98-105 Days to maturity. Calendula officinalis. Pacific Beauty Mixture Calendula Seeds. Non-GMO, Open-pollinated. Annual. Pacific Beauty Mix calendula seeds are a tidy and vibrant addition to grow in any home...
Lettuce Seeds - Romaine - Little Gem
Non-GMO, Heirloom Little Gem Lettuce Seeds from True Leaf Market. These little treasures grow into small, green heads of lettuce that are ready to harvest in approximately 70 days. The...
Onion Seeds - Short - Red Creole
110 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Red Creole Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, bulbing, short-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers. Resistant to...
Carrot Seeds - Scarlet Nantes
70 days. Scarlet Nantes carrot Seeds. Daucus carota subsp. sativus. Non-GMO. One of the most popular and widespread varieties of carrot ever, Scarlet Nantes has since been the original parent...
Arugula Seeds - Slow Bolt
40-45 days. Eruca vesicaria sativa. Non-GMO. Herb. Annual. Non-GMO Slow Bolt arugula seeds are one of the fastest-growing crops available to home gardeners and, since they are slower to bolt,...
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...
Kale Seeds - Red Russian
50-60 days. Red Russian Kale Seeds. Brassica napus var. pabularia. Non-GMO. Heirloom. A popular and tenacious red variation to the ever-popular Russian kale, Red Russian grows a lighter, but still...
Dill Seeds - Bouquet
65 Days to maturity. Anethum graveolens. Bouquet Dill Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, and raised beds. 3-foot plant with strongly aromatic foliage,...
Crimson Clover - Organic - Cover Crop Seeds
70-90 Days. Trifolium incarnatum. Organic. Cover Crop. Non-GMO. Heirloom Organic crimson clover seeds are an ideal annual garden companion and cover crop for plants and soils deficient in nitrogen. Use...
Onion Seeds - Long - Walla Walla
90-110 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Walla Walla Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, long-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, and raised beds. Walla...
Onion Seeds - Long - Walla Walla (Organic)
90-110 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Organic Walla Walla Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, long-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, and raised...
Lettuce Seeds - Crisphead - Iceberg
70-79 days. These non-GMO Iceberg seeds grow into green heads of lettuce that are ready to harvest in 70 to 79 days. The Iceberg lettuce is one of the most...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Rainbow Mixture
60 days. The Rainbow Mixture Swiss Chard seed mix is a blend of different colored swiss chard varieties. The chard can grow in zones 6 and up, and the leaves...
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