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]()
Alfalfa - Cover Crop Seeds
60-70 Days. Medicago sativa. Annual. Non-GMO. Cover Crop. Also known as "lucerne", non-GMO alfalfa is a year-round cover crop, widely grown for its nitrogen-replenishing benefits and fertile, all-natural springtime "green...
Oats - Whole (Organic) - Grass Seeds
6-10 Days to maturity for juicing. Avena sativa. Organic Whole Oat Grass Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in trays, and the field or garden. This product...
Alfalfa - Organic - Cover Crop Seeds
60-70 Days. Medicago sativa. Organic. Non-GMO. Cover Crop. Also known as "lucerne", Organic non-GMO alfalfa is a year-round cover crop, widely grown for its nitrogen-replenishing benefits and fertile, all-natural springtime...
Kohlrabi Seeds - Early White Vienna
55-70 days. Early White Vienna Kohlrabi Seeds. Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Translated from German "Ëœkohl" meaning cabbage and "Ëœrabi" meaning turnip, the kohlrabi plant is a unique and...
Cabbage Seeds - Mammoth Red Rock
90 days. The Mammoth Red Rock cabbage has a beautiful reddish-purple tone to its heads, which have a subtle, delicate, and sweet flavor. It is a hardy crop, and grows...
Statice Seeds - QIS Series
91-105 Days to maturity. Limonium sinuatum. Statice QIS Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. QIS Series statice is easy to grow from seed and a favorite for fresh-cut arrangements, baskets, and bouquets....
Onion Seeds - Short - Red Burgundy
100 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Red Burgundy Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, short-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers....
Culinary Herb Assorted Seed Pack - 12 Pack
12 herb garden seed types: Parsley, Thyme, Cilantro/Coriander, Basil, Dill, Oregano, Mint, Chives, Savory, Garlic Chives, Mustard, Sage. Grow your own herb garden indoors or outdoors. A great assortment to...
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...
Pak Choi Seeds - Tall White Stem - Hybrid
25-35 days for Miao (early stage), 45-50 Days to maturity. Brassica rapa var. Chinensis. Tall White Stem Pak Choi Hybrid Seeds.Non-GMO, Annual, Hybrid. Cool-Warm Season. Excellent pak choi variety for...
Winter Rye - Organic - Cover Crop Seeds
This is organic rye grain (Secale cereale) - not Ryegrass (Lolium). It is not for over-seeding lawns. Organic. Annual. Heirloom. Non-GMO Organic winter rye cover crop is one of the...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Lucullus
50 days. The Lucullus Swiss Chard seed variety produces large green leaves and white stems. This variety is one of the best for gardeners looking for a swiss chard that...
Chives Seeds - Garlic (Organic)
Non-GMO, Heirloom Organic Garlic Chives Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Allium tuberosum. Chives are native to regions in Asia and Europe. Organic Garlic Chives are also called "Chinese...
Carrot Seeds - Purple
65-70 days. Purple carrot Seeds. Daucus carota subsp. sativus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. The Purple Carrot is unique in that it appears quite differently when it is sliced than when it is...
Radish Seeds - Purple Plum
Non-GMO, Heirloom Purple Plum Radish Seeds. 25-30 days. Bright purple skin, firm white flesh, crisp, sweet and mild all season, never pithy of hot, hardy and adaptable. Download Free Vegetable...
Wildflower Seeds - Bee Mix
50-365 Days to maturity. Bee Friendly Wildflower Seeds Mix. A non-GMO mix of annuals and perennial bee-friendly wildflowers for zones 3-9. The Bee Friendly Wildflower Mix grows some of the...
Onion Seeds - Short - Texas 1015 Super Sweet
110 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Texas 1015 Super Sweet Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, bulbing, short-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers....
Lemon Mint Seeds
Monarda citriodora Annual. Non-GMO, Heirloom Lemon Mint Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Monarda citriodora. Lemon Mint resides in the mint family as a warm perennial. Lemon Mint develops...
Lemon Balm Seeds (Organic)
90 Days to maturity. Melissa officinalis. Organic Lemon Balm Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, perennial, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, and raised beds. Our Organic Lemon...
Dill Seeds - Mammoth Long Island
60-70 days. Long Island Mammoth Dill Seeds. Anethum graveolens. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Known as "Elephant Dill" for significantly longer and feathered 24" tall silvery blue greens, Mammoth Long Island is an...
Wild Bergamot Seeds - Bee Balm
65 Days to maturity. Monarda fistulosa. Bee Balm Wild Bergamot Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, borders, and pollinator gardens. A native wildflower...
Purslane Seeds - Green
Non-GMO Purslane is ready to harvest in 50 days and is one of the most nutritionally dense foods you can grow in the garden. Performs best in hot weather and...
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...
Strawberry Seeds - Berries Galore Hybrid Pink
Package of 100 seeds. 75 days. Everbearing runner variety. In full sun, medium-large fruit saturated with sweetness and nutritious goodness; a fast grower; can be harvested every 3 to 4...
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...
Hyssop Seeds
Non-GMO, Heirloom Hyssop Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Hyssopus officinalis. Hyssop is a flowering perennial herb native to regions in the Middle East. Shrub-like common Hyssop plants are...
Kale Seeds - White Russian
White Russian Kale Seeds. 50 Days. Brassica napus. Non-GMO, Open Pollinated. White Veined, cold tolerant, flavorful kale. Great for full grown kale at 50 days, Baby Greens at 20 days,...
Pak Choi Seeds - White Stem - Organic
40 Days to maturity. Brassica rapa var. chinensis (33 days) Organic White Stem Pak Choi Seeds. Who can resist Baby Pak Choy! This is White Stem or 'Baby Bok Choy',...
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