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]()
Peppermint Seeds
90 Days. Peppermint Culinary Herb Seeds. Mentha sp. Non-GMO. A deliciously versatile and bright herb, peppermint seeds are a naturally occurring hybrid between culinary spearmint and watermint. Grown very similar...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Tokyo Long White
60-90 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Tokyo Long White Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, drought tolerant, bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds,...
Asparagus Seeds - Mary Washington
2-3 years. Asparagus Gardening Seeds. Asparagus officinalis. Perennial. Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Mary Washington Asparagus seeds can be grown into a hardy vegetable and are fairly easy to grow as a...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Evergreen White Nebuka (Organic)
65-120 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Organic Evergreen White Nebuka Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds,...
Oregano Seeds - Common Italian
Origanum vulgare 90 days. Perennial. Non-GMO, Heirloom Common Italian Oregano Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Common Italian Oregano is a perennial herb often called "Wild Marjoram." With the...
Oregano Seeds - Common Italian (Organic)
90 days. Organic Oregano Culinary Herb Seeds. Origanum vulgare. Perennial. Non-GMO. Organic culinary oregano seeds deliver one of the more pronounced, robust, aromatic herbs in the mint family. Tenacious and...
Lavender Seeds - Common English (aka Vera)
2nd Year Maturity. Non-GMO, Heirloom Common English Lavender Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Also known as Vera Lavender. Lavandula angustifolia. Lavender is a flowering perennial herb, native to...
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...
Common Thyme Seeds (Organic)
Certified Organic. Non-GMO. Perennial. 85 days. Non-GMO, Heirloom Organic Common Thyme Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Genus Thymus. Common Thyme is a cold hardy perennial that grows as...
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...
Chives Seeds (Organic)
60 days. Organic Chives Culinary Herb Seeds. Allium schoenoprasum. Perennial. Non-GMO. A member of the onion family along with garlic and leeks, Organic chives are a smaller, more tubular relative...
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...
Sage Seeds - Broad Leaved
Salvia officinalis Perennial. 75 days. Non-GMO, Heirloom, Open Pollinated Broad Leaved Sage Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Salvia officinalis. Sage plants are warm perennials native to the Meditteranean....
Sage Seeds - Broad Leaved (Organic)
Salvia officinalis. Certified Organic. Perennial. 75 days. Non-GMO, Heirloom, Open Pollinated Organic Broad Leaved Sage Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Salvia officinalis. Sage plants are warm evergreens that...
Thyme Seeds - Common
2nd year maturity. Common Thyme Culinary Herb Seeds. Thymus vulgaris. Non-GMO. Popularly known as English thyme to differentiate between the many varieties, Common thyme seeds are one of the hardiest,...
Echinacea - Purple Coneflower Seeds
2nd Year maturity. Echinacea purpurea. Purple Coneflower Seeds. Non-GMO, Heirloom, Perennial. Echinacea grows as a warm-season perennial and flowering herb native to Eastern North America. These wildflowers are popular, as...
Wildflower Seeds - Save the Monarchs
Save The Monarchs Seed Collection. Ornamental Flower Seeds. 100,000 seeds of 13 Varieties of Assorted Wildflower Seeds. Heirloom. Non GMO. High Germination. Save the Monarchs Seed Collection is an exclusive...
Tarragon Seeds - Russian
Non-GMO, Heirloom Russian Tarragon Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Artemisia dracunculoides. Tarragon is a warm perennial with woody stems, light-green slender leaves and a mild earthy flavor"as opposed...
Chamomile Seeds - Roman
Non-GMO, Heirloom Roman Chamomile Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Chamaemelum Nobile. Roman Chamomile plants originated from North Africa and were later cultivated in Europe"as chamomile has an ancient...
Artichoke Seeds - Green Globe
110-150 days. Artichoke Gardening Seeds. Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus. Perennial. Heirloom. Non-GMO. Native to the Mediterranean, Green Globe Artichoke seeds have been grown for decades and their fruits are eaten...
Wildflower Seeds - Bee Friendly Mix
Grow a delightful, charming wildflower garden with our Bee Friendly Wildflower Mix. Features 19 wild flower varieties such as coneflower plants for pollination, alyssum flower seeds, poppy seeds, and lupine...
Cress Seeds - Watercress
Non-GMO, Heirloom Watercress Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Nasturtium officinale. Watercress, also known as "Yellowcress" is a hardy perennial native to regions in Asia and Europe. This trailing...
Chives Seeds
Non-GMO, Heirloom Chives Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Allium schoenoprasum. Chives are native to regions in Asia and Europe. This Chive cultivar is common in the U.S. and...
Oregano Seeds - Greek
Origanum vulgare hirtum Perennial. Non-GMO, Heirloom Greek Oregano Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Origanum vulgare hirtum. Greek Oregano is a perennial herb native to regions in the Mediterranean....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Chives Seeds - Garlic
85-90 Days to maturity. Allium tuberosum. Non-GMO, heirloom Garlic Chives Herb Garden Seed. Chives are native to regions in Asia and Europe. Garlic chive cultivars are also called "Chinese Chives"...
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...
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