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]()
Beet Seeds - Chioggia
55 Days. Beta vulgaris. Annual. Open-pollinated. Pronounced "key-oh-jah" after the small Venetian villa town, non-GMO Chioggia beet seeds are a classic Italian garden heirloom grown and sold throughout the Mediterranean...
Nasturtium Seeds - Alaska
54-63 Days to maturity. Tropaeolum majus. Nasturtium Alaska Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom. Alaska nasturtium is brilliant, easy to grow from seed, and perfectly suited for many dry and temperate climates....
Sorrel Seeds - Red Veined
Red Veined Sorrel Seeds. Non-GMO, Heirloom. 55 Days. Perennial. Rumex sanguineus. AKA: Spinach Dock or Narrow-leaved Dock. Tart leaves have lemony taste that some have likend to the flavor of...
Radish Seeds - Watermelon
60-65 days. Watermelon Radish Seeds. Raphanus sativus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. AKA: "Roseheart Radish" or "Red Meat Radish". Watermelon Radish seeds are native to China and a cousin to Daikon radish. Watermelon...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Ruby Red
55 days. This plant produces good yields of dark green shiny leaves with ruby red stalks and veins. Both the stems and the leaves xcellent for salads and steamed with...
Gazania Seeds - New Day Series
84-91 Days to maturity. Gazania splendens. Gazania New Day Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. New Day Series gazania seeds grow some of the most recognizable summertime blooms both indoors and out!...
Petunia Seeds - Double Cascade Series (Pelleted)
98-105 Days to maturity. Petunia x hybrida. Pelleted Double Cascade Series Petunia Seeds. Non-GMO, hybrid, Premium Quality Seeds, annual. Growing Double Cascade Series seeds promise to excite your garden with...
Zinnia Seeds - Zahara Series (Coated)
50-60 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Zahara Series Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, annual. Zahara Series Zinnia flower seeds are brilliant, easy to grow, and renowned for their hardiness and ability to...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Bhut Jolokia Ghost
120-129 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum chinense. Bhut Jolokia Ghost Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, hot pepper with extremely hot heat levels....
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Tabasco
75-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum frutescens. Tabasco Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, hot pepper hot heat levels. 30,000 to 50,000...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Big Jim
70-100 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Big Jim Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, high yielding, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, hot pepper with medium heat...
Lettuce Seeds - Super Red Romaine
Lactuca sativa (40 days) Super Red Romaine Lettuce has long crunchy spoon shaped leaves that start green and turn to an intense red. Very intense colored romaine that is highly...
Mixed Greens Seeds - Mesclun Mix - Organic
A succulent blend of gourmet greens that will satisfy your pallet and is extremely healthy. This mesclun blend is the type normally served in fine restaurants, but you can grow...
Snapdragon Seeds - Liberty Classic Series Mix
84-98 Days to maturity. Antirrhinum majus. Liberty Classic Series Mix Snapdragon Seeds. Non-GMO, Premium Quality Seeds, hybrid, annual. Growing Liberty Classic Series Mix snapdragon seeds this season is a timeless,...
Vinca Seeds - Pacifica XP Series
98-105 Days to maturity. Catharanthus roseus. Pacifica XP Series Vinca Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, annual. Premium Quality Seeds. Pacifica XP seeds easily grow into convenient, tidy, and low-maintenance vincas bursting with...
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...
Okra Seeds - Hill Country Red
60-70 days. Hill Country Red Okra Seeds. Abelmoschus esculentus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Hill Country Red okra seeds mature to 6 feet tall and is a good producer of thick green pods...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Habanero Caribbean Red
110-119 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum chinense. Caribbean Red Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, deer-resistant, heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant hot pepper with extra-hot heat levels. 100,000 to 350,000 Scoville...
Petunia Seeds - Double Madness Series (pelleted)
98-105 Days to maturity. Petunia x hybrida. Pelleted Double Madness Series Petunia Seeds. Non-GMO, hybrid, Premium Quality Seeds, annual. Double Madness Series seeds grow a hardy and spectacular alternative to...
Begonia Seeds - Fibrous - Cocktail Series (Pelleted)
105-112 Days to maturity. Begonia x semperflorens. Cocktail Series Fibrous Begonia Seeds. Non-GMO, hybrid, annual flower. Cocktail Series seeds easily grow classic and tidy begonias bursting with timeless - inch...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Cayenne Long Red Thin (Organic)
70-79 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Cayenne Long Red Thin Organic Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, hot pepper with hot...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Dark Red Kidney (Organic)
90-100 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Organic Dark Red Kidney Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, bush, shelling bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds,...
Zinnia Seeds - Profusion Series (Coated)
54-70 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans x angustifolia. Profusion Series Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, annual. Profusion Series Zinnia flower seeds promise to turn your tired summer bedding into an award-winning...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Marconi Red
73 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Marconi Red Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high yielding, drought tolerant, sweet pepper with no heat. 0 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable...
Radicchio Seeds - Palla Rosa
Heirloom and Non-GMO Palla Rosa Radicchio is ready in 80-85 days in the garden. Radicchio is growing in popularity, and is known for its red leaves with white veins. Palla...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Large Red Cherry Hot
Non-GMO Large Hot Cherry Pepper ready in 80 days. Hot Cherry Peppers are great for container gardens. These hot peppers are rated between 3,000- 5,000 on the Scoville scale. As...
Red Cabbage Microgreens Seeds
Red Cabbage Microgreens Seeds. Fast and easy to grow cabbage micro greens seeds with whitish stems and green cotyledons with red to purple highlights. Premium seeds with high germination rates....
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...
Sunflower Seeds - Velvet Queen
90-110 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. Velvet Queen Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Annual. Heirloom. Velvet Queen seeds grow one of the summer's most exclusive and rare blooms, exceptional...
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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