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]()
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...
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...
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...
Wildflower Seeds - Hummingbird and Butterfly
Grow a beautiful, colorful wildflower garden with our National Hummingbird & Butterfly Seed Collection. This wildflower blend grows a season-long charm that lives up to its name attracting hummingbirds, butterflies,...
Thyme Seeds - French
Non-GMO, Heirloom, Open Pollinated French Thyme Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Thymus vulgaris. French Thyme is a cold hardy perennial with gray-green leaves and bold floral and earthy...
Thyme Seeds - Winter
95 Days to maturity. Thymus vulgaris. 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, English...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Evergreen White Nebuka
65-120 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Evergreen White Nebuka Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers....
Marshmallow Herb Seeds
60-90 Days to maturity. Althaea officinalis. Marshmallow Herb Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, and raised beds. A beautiful pollinator and traditional medicinal...
Strawberry Seeds - Berries Basket White Hybrid
Berri Basket White Hyrbid strawberries are ready in 85 days. Strawberry variety is well suited for baskets. Hardy to zone 5, the ever-bearing, runnerless, compact and bushy plants bear large,...
Hollyhock Seeds - Summer Carnival Mix
112-119 days to maturity. Alcea rosea. Hollyhock Summer Carnival Mixture Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual or Biennial. Summer Carnival Mix hollyhock seeds promise to turn any stale flower bed into a sensational...
Lupine Seeds - Russell Strain Mixture
Sturdy, tightly-packed spikes in a wide range of bright colors including bi-color. 1 inch blooms open from top to bottom. Russell Mix Lupine Flowering Plant Seeds Lupines polyphyllus This tall,...
Rudbeckia Seeds - Black-Eyed Susan
84-98 days maturity. Rudbeckia hirta. Rudbeckia Black-Eyed Susan Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Ornamental. Black-Eyed Susan seeds grow some of the season's most timeless and familiar blooms of varieties native to the...
Asclepias Seeds - Butterfly Milkweed
91-98 Days to maturity. Asclepias tuberosa. Butterfly Milkweed Seeds. Perennial, non-GMO, heirloom, open-pollinated. Butterfly Weed Asclepias seeds invite perennial color into your home, patio, or garden. Asclepias flowers are easy...
Rhubarb Seeds - Victoria
Non-GMO Victoria Rhubarb Seeds are a perennial heirloom that you want to include in your garden. An open-pollinated strain, Victoria Rhubarb can be raised from seed. Juicy, large stalks are...
Wildflower Seeds - Low Growing Mix
Annual and perennial mix. Low Growing Mix wildflower seeds grow a classic, vibrant yet modest spin on traditional wildflower mixes. Low Growing Mix seeds are a unique blend of small...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Flagpole (Organic)
60-80 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Organic Flagpole Scallion Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, and raised beds....
Echinacea Seeds - Magnus
70-84 days maturity. Echinacea purpurea. Echinacea Magnus Seeds. Non-GMO, Heirloom, Perennial. Magnus echinacea seeds grow one of the summer's most celebrated and resilient blooms. These sturdy stems and flat petals...
Delphinium Seeds - Magic Fountains Series
2nd-year maturity. Delphinium elatum. Delphinium Magic Fountains Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Magic Fountains Series delphinium seeds promise some of the most stunning, bold, and vivid blooms available in any garden....
Artichoke Seeds - Imperial Star
150-160 days from sowing. Cynara scolymus. Imperial Star Artichoke Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial. This is suitable for garden plots, raised beds, and fields. UC-bred, nearly spineless plants for first-year harvests—uniform, high-yielding...
Asparagus Seeds - UC 157 F2
3 years to first harvest, annual harvest. Non-GMO, Hybrid. Perennial. This variety was developed at the University of California, Riverside in 1978 by Frank Southers and Frank Takatori. This hybrid...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Warrior AAS
60 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Warrior Bunching Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, AAS Regional winner (Southeast, Mountain/Southwest), bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and...
Achillea Seeds - Golden Yarrow
2nd year maturity. Achillea filipendulina. Golden Yarrow Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, heirloom, open-pollinated. This crop is suitable for garden plots, raised beds, and ornamental borders. Golden Yarrow (Cloth of Gold) is...
Spinach Seeds - Red Malabar
70 days. Basella rubra. Red Malabar Spinach Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season annual, heirloom, open-pollinated. This crop is suitable for trellised garden plots, raised beds, and large containers. Red Malabar is a...
Dandelion Seeds - True (Wild)
Taraxacum officinale. Non-GMO, Heirloom True (Wild) Dandelion Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. True wild Dandelions grow as tender perennials native to regions in Asia and Europe. Herbaceous and...
Thyme Seeds - Creeping Thyme
2nd Year maturity. Thymus serpyllum. Creeping Thyme Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Creeping Thyme, also known as "Mother-of-Thyme" is a cold hardy perennial often planted as a trailing ground cover, garden filler,...
Yarrow Seeds - Red
Achillea millefolium rubra Packet contains 0.2 grams, approximately 1200 seeds. Large red flower clusters stand out against feathery green foliage. Red Yarrow Direct sow in fall or spring, or start...
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