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...
Spinach Seeds - Bloomsdale Long Standing (Organic)
35-50 days. Organic Bloomsdale Long Standing Spinach Seeds. Spinacia oleracea. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Organic Bloomsdale Long Standing Spinach provides bright flavor with tender leaves, as this annual is a popular variety...
Arugula Seeds - Slow Bolt (Organic)
40-45 days. Organic Slow Bolt Arugula herb Seeds. Eruca vesicaria sativa. Non-GMO. Organic Slow Bolt arugula seeds are one of the fastest growing crops for home gardeners and, since they...
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....
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,...
Corn Salad (Mache) Seeds - Dutch Broad Leaved
50 days. Forms rosettes of smooth, spoon-shaped leaves coveted by fine chefs. Prized as early spring green. Fairly hardy this green can be mulched with straw to overwinter in cold...
Pak Choi Seeds - Shanghai
Cabbage Seeds - Pak Choi - Shanghai. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Annual. Brassica rapa Chinensis group. 10-15 days microgreens; 20-30 days baby leaf; 45 days full maturity. Cool-season. This green stem variety...
Arugula Seeds - Astro
40-60 days to maturity. Eruca sativa. Astro Arugula Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Slightly lobed, medium green leaves...
Spinach Seeds - America
America Spinach Seeds. 43 to 55 Days. Non-GMO, Open Pollinated, Heirloom. Spinacia oleracea. AKA: American, America Long Standing. The America Spinach variety is tolerant of heat and drought and is...
Arugula Seeds - Rocket (Roquette)
40-50 Days to maturity. Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa ’Rocket’. Rocket (Roquette) Arugula Seeds. Non-GMO, warm weather heirloom annual. Arugula is a nutrient-dense Mediterranean leafy green that has been cultivated in...
Spinach Seeds - Viroflay
Non-GMO, Heirloom Viroflay Spinach Vegetable Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Spinacia oleracea. Viroflay Spinach Seeds originate from France around the 17th century and have been cultivated in Paris. The...
Tobacco Seeds - Connecticut Broadleaf
~55-60 Days from transplant to maturity. Nicotiana tabacum. Connecticut Broadleaf Tobacco Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to...
Mustard Seeds - Osaka Purple
21 to 45 days. An outstanding mustard of dark green-purple leaves with bright white veins. Harvest at 4 to 6 inches for salad or allow it to grow to full...
Turnip Seeds - Seven Top
45-65 days. Brassica rapa. Seven Top Turnip seeds grow into cool season root vegetables that are biennials, fast growing and referred to as "turnip greens." These heirloom seeds come from...
Amaranth Seeds - Green Leaf - Lu Hsien
45-70 days to maturity.Amaranthus mangostanus ‘Lu Hsien’. Lu Hsien Green Leaf Amaranth Seeds. Non-GMO, Heirloom, annual. Amaranth is originally from the tropics of multiple continents; today, it is grown globally....
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Jung Green
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Jung Green. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Brassica rapa var parachinesis. 40-45 days. Warm season annual. Flowering Brassica is a fast growing green that can be harvested as...
Chrysanthemum Greens Seeds - Oasis
40-50 Days to maturity. Glebionis coronaria var. oasis. Oasis Chrysanthemum Greens Seeds. Cool-season annual heirloom. Non-GMO. Oasis has small, deeply serrated, dark-green aromatic leaves that are more productive, vigorous, and...
Mustard Seeds - Mizuna Red Streaks
45 days. 20 days for baby leaf. With a mild peppery mustard flavor, this green is great for salads as a baby green or a full-size green. The stalk has...
Pak Choi Seeds - Rosette Tatsoi
40 to 50 Days to maturity. Brassica rapa narinosa. Rosette Tatsoi Chinese Cabbage (Pak Choi) Seeds. Non-GMO, Open Pollinated, Heirloom, Annual. This specialty pak choi is quite cold-tolerant, even being...
Hairy Vetch - Organic - Cover Crop Seeds
80-90 Days. Vicia villosa. Organic. Annual. Non-GMO. Such a vigorous annual cover crop that it is considered invasive in much of the United States, non-GMO hairy vetch is a European...
Amaranth Seeds - Red Leaf - Hu Hsien
45-70 days to maturityAmaranthus tricolor ‘Hu Hsien’. Red Leaf Amaranth Seeds. Non-GMO, Heirloom. Annual. Amaranth is originally from the tropics of multiple continents; today, it is grown globally. The plant...
Japanese Mugwort - Yomogi
45 Days to maturity. Artemisia princeps. Yomogi Japanese Mugwort Seeds. Non-GMO perennial heirloom. Yomogi, or Japanese Mugwort, is an easy-to-grow perennial herb that grows in almost any condition. It is...
Okra Seeds - Jing Orange
Jing Orange Okra Seeds. 30 to 60 days to maturity. Abelmoschus esculentus. Heirloom, Annual. Jing Orange is an Asian okra, known for it is stunning red-orange color. Approximately 500 seeds/ounce....
Radish Seeds - Crimson Giant
Raphanus sativus (29 to 40 days) Sometimes called Crimson "Giant Globe Radish" or "Giant Butter Radish". Crimson Giant Radish seeds grow large 1 1/2 - 2" globe shaped crimson red...
Spinach Seeds - Matador Viking
45 days. Spinacia oleracea. Matador Viking Spinach Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom, open-pollinated. This crop is suitable for containers, garden plots, raised beds, and fields. 1933 heirloom with smooth, dark green...
Mustard Seeds - Red Garnet
40 Days to maturity. Brassica juncea. Red Garnet Mustard Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Red Garnet Mustard is much like its related Japanese Red Giant and Japanese Giant Garnet cousins displaying a...
Broccoli Raab Seeds - Sorrento
40 to 50 Days until mautre. Brassica papa afar ruvo. Sorrento Broccoli Raab Seeds. Annual. Heirloom. Non-GMO. Open-pollinated. “Rapini,” is a separate moniker for the flowering Brassica. This is a...
Turnip Seeds - White Egg
Brassica rapa (45-55 days) AKA "Early White Egg" or "Snowball". White egg turnip is a long time favorite in the South where it is know for its reliability and fine...
Corn Salad Seeds - French
40 days. Valerianella olitoria. French Corn Salad Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. This crop is suitable for garden plots, raised beds, and containers. French corn salad, also known as mache or...
Orach Seeds - Purple
Non-GMO, Heirloom Purple Orach Vegetable Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Atriplex hortensis. Purple Orach Seeds originated in Europe and Siberia as one of the oldest grown cool season crops"...
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