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]()
Lettuce Seeds - Jericho
(26 days for baby greens, 56 days for full size) Jericho Lettuce Seeds. Silky smooth neon green romaine leaves reach for the sky in this amazing lettuce with origins in...
Coleus Seeds - Rainbow Mixture
84-91 Days to maturity. Plectranthus scutellarioides. Coleus Rainbow Mixture Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Rainbow Mix coleus seeds are a fun plant for many gardens across the country. Rainbow Mix seeds grow...
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Lollo Rosso
50-70 days. These non-GMO Lollo Rosso lettuce seeds grow into green leaves with red edges that are ready to harvest in 60 days. The Lollo Rosso thrives in full sun...
Spinach Seeds - New Zealand
Non-GMO New Zealand Spinach is an excellent option for warmer gardens because you get a longer growing season. Not spinach, but a more heat-tolerant substitute for spinach. Similar taste to...
Pak Choi Seeds - Extra Dwarf
Cabbage Seeds - Pak Choi - Extra Dwarf. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Annual. Brassica rapa (Chinensis group). 30 days. Cool-warm season. This specialty pak choi variety is smaller than baby pak choi....
Artichoke Seeds - Purple Italian Globe
120 days. Perennial, Non-GMO, Heirloom Seeds. This heirloom Artichoke from Italy produces purple-headed fruits measuring from 3 to 6 inches across. These artichokes are a beautiful purple shade that will...
Lettuce Seeds, Crisphead - Webbs Wonderful
Non-GMO Webbs Wonderful Crisphead is an English lettuce that does well in the heat. Very large and robust heads with crumpled leaves, Webbs Wonderful has a fine distinct flavor and...
Wildflower Seeds - Partial Shade Mix
Partial Shade Mix wildflower seeds grow some of the season's most inspired, classic, and lasting blooms. Partial Shade Wildflower Mix seeds contain a blend of 19 partial-sun varieties of wildflowers...
Lettuce Seeds - Tom Thumb
Tom Thumb Butterhead Lettuce Seeds. 55-60 Days. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Lactuca sativa. Highly productive, dwarfed bibb lettuce that is quick to mature no bigger than a baseball or tennis ball, the...
Alyssum Seeds - Carpet of Snow
56-63 Days to maturity. Lobularia maritima. Carpet of Snow Alyssum Seeds. Non-GMO, Open-Pollinated, Annual. Open-pollinated, seeds. Carpet of Snow Alyssum flower seeds grow one of the most familiar and beloved...
Orach Seeds (French Spinach) - Red Fire
Non-GMO, Heirloom Red Fire Orach Vegetable Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Atriplex hortensis. Red Fire Orach Seeds originated in Egypt and Europe, as one of the oldest cool season...
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...
Broccoli Seeds - Chinese Broccoli - Kailaan
Broccoli Seeds - Chinese Broccoli - Kailaan. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Brassica oleracea var alboglabra. Also known as cai ro, chair lan, Chinese broccoli, Chinese kale, gailaan, gai lan, gailon, gelancai, guy...
Nasturtium Seeds - Empress of India
Empress of India Nasturtium Flower Seeds. Edible Flowers. Annual Flower. Mix with a salad of baby greens or use as a garnish. The dark leaves set off the dazzling, long-spurred...
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...
Cabbage Seeds - Danish Ballhead
100 days. The Danish Ballhead cabbage heirloom was produced in 1887. The seeds are ideally sown for a Fall garden, growing into blue-green cabbage heads. A cold-hardy plant that can...
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...
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...
Coleus Seeds - Jazz Combo Mix
84-91 Days to maturity. Plectranthus scutellarioides. Coleus Jazz Combo Mix Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Jazz Combo Mix coleus seeds are uniquely exciting and fun to grow in any home or garden....
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...
Bells of Ireland Seeds
98-112 days. Bells of Ireland seeds promise exotic, unmistakable, and low-maintenance blooms native to the cool and dry highlands of Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. Bells of Ireland boast 24-36" tall...
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Green Ice
Green Ice leaf lettuce is glossy with fingered dark green leaves. Leaves are loose and wrinkled with frilled edges. This lettuce is deliciously crispy even when grown in the heat...
Sweet William Seeds - Double Mixture
105-112 days to maturity. Dianthus barbatus. Dianthus Double Mixture Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual, or Biennial. Ornamental. Double Mix Sweet William seeds promise elegant 3-5 inch blooms of crimsons, scarlets, and pinks...
Lettuce Seeds - Summer Bibb - Organic
(43 days) Lt. John B. Bibb served in the War of 1812, represented Logan County in the Kentucky House of Representatives and the state Senate from 1827 to 1834. Lt....
Beet Seeds - Cylindra - Organic
(60 days) This beet dates back to the 1880s. Also known as the "Formanova". Dark red, cylindrical and about 6-9"s long. This is not your typical beet as it is...
Spinach Seeds - Winter Giant
50 days. Spinacia oleracea. Winter Giant Spinach Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom, open-pollinated. This crop is suitable for garden plots, raised beds, and containers. Winter Giant is a very cold-hardy spinach...
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...
Lettuce Seeds - Red Romaine
Lactuca sativa (40 days) Red Romaine Lettuce has long crunchy spoon shaped leaves that start green and fade to profuse purple/red. Leaves are 12" tall and the plant is about...
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...
Lettuce Seeds, Romaine - Little Caesar - Organic
Organic Little Caesar Romaine Lettuce Seeds. 65 to 70 days to maturity. Lactuca sativa. Open Pollinated, Non-GMO, Annual. Little Caesar Lettuce is a very attractive, tall romaine type with crisp,...
Lettuce Seeds - Jericho - Organic
Silky smooth neon green romaine leaves reach for the sky in this amazing lettuce with origins in the desert. Jericho hails from Israel and is no stranger to the heat....
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