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]()
Mustard Seeds - Red Giant (Organic)
48 days. Non-GMO, Heirloom Organic Red Giant Mustard Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Brassica juncea. In general, mustard is an ideal garden plant to grow near herbs. As...
Mustard Seeds - Tatsoi
50 days. Non-GMO, Heirloom Tatsoi Mustard Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Brassica rapa subsp. narinosa. Tatsoi Mustard or "Spoon Mustard" comes from China and gained tradition as a...
Plantain Seeds - Boston
60-90 Days to maturity. Plantago lanceolata. Boston Plantain Herb and Cover Crop Seeds. Non-GMO, cool-season perennial, open-pollinated, forage friendly (cattle and sheep). Boston plantain is a narrow-leaf type of plantain...
Milk Thistle Seeds
80-100 Days to maturity. Silybum marianum. Milk Thistle Seeds. Non-GMO, annual or biennial, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, and raised beds. Milk thistle is a...
Organic Heirloom Variety - 16 Pack
This assortment of garden seeds takes the hassle out of planning a garden. Each professionally packaged pack of seeds is filled with plenty of high-germination, current crop year vegetable garden...
Basil Seeds - Red Rubin
Non-GMO, Open-pollinated Red Rubin Basil Herb Seed from True Leaf Market. Ocimum basilicum x purpurascens. As basil has many different types, Red Rubin Basil is a sweet cultivar and hybrid...
Lavender Seeds - Hidcote Blue
100+ Days to maturity. Lavandula angustifolia. Hidcote Blue Lavender Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, and raised beds. Experience the classic beauty and sweet...
Fenugreek Seeds
Non-GMO, Open Pollinated. Heirloom Fenugreek Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Trigonella foenum-graecum. Fenugreek is a warm fast-maturing annual that's been used as an incense dating back to Ancient...
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...
Caraway Seeds
455 Days to maturity (2nd year). Carum carvi. Caraway Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, heirloom, biennial herb seed. Attracts pollinators and is both cold and drought-tolerant once established. Caraway is an attractive...
Parsley Seeds - Plain or Single (Organic)
70-80 Days to maturity. Petroselinum crispum. Organic Plain or Single Parsley Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Plain...
Lavender Seeds - Munstead
126-140 Days to maturity. Lavender angustifolia. Munstead Lavender Seeds. Heirloom, Non-GMO, Open Pollinated. Perennial. A fragrant robust lavender that, due to its short size and tightly held blooms (about 8...
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....
Mustard Seeds - Spinach (Komatsuna) - Tendergreen
45 days. Mustard-Spinach or Komatsuna. Milder than regular mustard greens, this variety has thick, smooth leaves on upright, heat and cold tolerant plants. Tendergreen is widely used both in stir...
Paracress Seeds - Toothache Plant
120-130 Days to maturity. Acmella oleracea. Toothache Plant Paracress Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, flower borders, and greenhouses. Toothache Plant Paracress...
Nicotiana Seeds (Ornamental Tobacco} - Jasmine
70+ Days to maturity from transplant. Nicotiana alata. Jasmine Nicotiana Ornamental Tobacco Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, flower borders, and greenhouses. Jasmine Nicotiana...
Mustard Seeds - Florida Broadleaf
48 days. One of the first greens of the season. This 10 inch mustard has small, bright green, broad leaves with white midribs. A vigorous growing plant that is high...
Basil Seeds - Thai Sweet Large Leaf
35-40 Days to maturity. Ocimum basilicum. Sweet Large Leaf Thai Basil Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. A...
Basil Seeds - Red Leaf Holy Basil
65-75 days maturity. Ocimum sanctum. Red Leaf Holy Basil Seeds. Non-GMO, Heirloom. Annual. Holy basil is an essential herb in the Thai kitchen due to its unique flavor. This Holy...
Tobacco Seeds - Tennessee Red Leaf
~60-65 Days from transplant to maturity. Nicotiana tabacum. Tennessee Red Leaf Tobacco Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant...
Tobacco Seeds - Black Sea Samsun
55–65 Days from transplant to maturity. Nicotiana tabacum. Black Sea Samsun Tobacco Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant...
Basil Seeds - Cinnamon
Non-GMO, Open-pollinated, Heirloom Cinnamon Basil Herb Seed from True Leaf Market. Ocimum basilicum. As basil has lots of different varieties, Cinnamon Basil Herb is one of the most popular sweet...
Fenugreek (Organic) - Herb Seeds
Non-GMO, Open Pollinated. Heirloom Organic Fenugreek Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Trigonella foenum-graecum. Organic Fenugreek is a warm fast-maturing annual that's been used as an incense dating back...
Cress Seeds - Curled (Organic)
Non-GMO, Heirloom Organic Curled Cress Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Lepidium sativum. Cress is native to Persia, which is known as West Asia. Organic Curled Cress is herbaceous...
Amaranth Seeds - Polish - Organic
Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth. 250 mg packet. Amaranthus. 60 days to maturity. From Wisconsin farmer Richard DeWild. This amaranth is one of the best tasting amaranth varieties we sell....
Thyme Seeds - Winter (Organic)
95 Days to maturity. Thymus vulgaris. Organic Winter Thyme Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Common Thyme, German Thyme,...
Parsley Seeds - Triple Moss Curled
70-80 Days to maturity. Petroselinum crispum. Triple Moss Curled Parsley Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Triple Moss Curled...
Parsley Seeds - Italian Giant
70-80 Days to maturity. Petroselinum crispum. Italian Giant Parsley Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Italian Giant parsley brings...
Garlic Bulbs - Fall - Hardneck - German Red
3 Bulbs Per Bag Shipping Now! This product only ships to the lower 48 states. No shipping outside the USA. Approximately 290 Days to Maturity (Mid Summer). Allium sativum var....
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