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]()
Sunflower Seeds - Ring of Fire
90-110 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. Organic Ring of Fire Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Annual. Ring of Fire sunflower seeds are an easy and award-winning grow for invigorating...
Sunflower Seeds - Teddy Bear
50-65 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. Teddy Bear Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Annual. Teddy Bear sunflower seeds grow one of the most unique, lush, and brilliant blooms of...
Yellow Mustard Microgreens Seeds
Yellow Mustard Microgreens Seeds. Non-GMO, Open Pollinated. Yellow Mustard Microgreens mature in 7 to 10 days, from seed to harvest. Grow as you would any other mustard seeds. Yellow mustard...
Four O Clock Seeds - Marvel of Peru Mix
91-105 Days to maturity. Mirabilis jalapa. Marvel of Peru Seeds. Non-GMO. Open-Pollinated. Ornamental. Annual or Perennial. Marvel of Peru seeds easily grow eye-catching and fragrant four o'clock flowers bursting with...
Gaillardia Seeds - Blanket Flower
84-91 Days to maturity. Gaillardia aristata. Gaillardia Blanket Flower Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Blanket Flower gaillardia seeds promise a vibrant and perennial touch of authentic American color in your garden. Blanket...
Cucumber Seeds - Lemon (Organic)
65 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Organic Lemon Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, slicing or pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots,...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Caribbean Blend
60-69 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum chinense. Caribbean Blend Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, high yielding, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, hot pepper with extra hot heat levels....
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Canary Bell
100 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Canary Bell Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, high-yielding, drought tolerant, sweet pepper with no heat. 0 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing...
Flower Seeds - Beneficial Bug Mix
Bring helpful bugs into your garden with this beautiful mixture of garden flowers, wildflowers and herbs. The Beneficial Bug Mix is designed to attract lacewings, lady beetles, hover flies, syrphid...
Sunflower Seeds - Chocolate Cherry
85-95 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Annual. Heirloom. Heirloom Chocolate Cherry sunflower seeds mature to be 6 to 7 feet tall ornamentals with deep burgundy petals and...
Marigold Microgreens Seeds - Minuta, Edible
7-10 days. Minuta edible Marigold microgreen seeds are one of many flowering seeds that can be enjoyed within days of germination. Minuta Marigold seeds sprout light pink stems and wide...
African Marigold Seeds - Antigua Series
77-84 Days to maturity. Tagetes erecta. Antigua Series African Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid. Antigua Series African marigold seeds grow some of the most recognizable summertime blooms, both indoors and...
Zinnia Seeds - Swizzle Series
54-70 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Swizzle Series Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, F1 hybrid, annual. Swizzle Series Zinnia flower seeds in your garden will turn heads this summer. Swizzle Series...
Mighty Mustard® Pacific Gold - Cover Crop Seeds
35-40 Days. Brassica juncea. Cover Crop. Non-GMO. Open-Pollinated. Mighty Mustard® Pacific Gold seeds are one of the most beneficial, diverse, and quickly maturing cover crops for the home garden. Mighty...
California Poppy Seeds
56-70 Days to maturity. Eschscholzia californica. California Poppy Seeds. Non-GMO, annual. California poppy seeds grow one of the most radiant, iconic, and all-American blooms ever! California poppy seeds promise a...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Cherokee Black Wax
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Cherokee Black Wax Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, bush, snap, wax bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Canna Seeds - Tropical Series
98-112 Days to maturity. Canna x generalis. Tropical Series Canna Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid flower. Tropical Series seeds promise exotic, early-blooming, and easy-to-grow canna plants for especially hot, humid gardens...
African Marigold Seeds - Discovery Series
77-84 Days to maturity. Tagetes erecta. Discovery Series African Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid. Discovery Series African marigold seeds are an adorable, compact, and vibrant addition to grow in any...
Carrot Seeds - Solar Yellow - Organic
Daucus Carrota (60 days) Yellow carrots have been around for a long time. As far as researchers can document, they originated in the Middle East sometime in the 900s. Now...
Calendula Seeds - Fancy Mix
50-70 Days to maturity. Calendula officinalis. Fancy Mix Calendula Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, annual, ornamental herb and flower. Fancy Mix Calendulas are hardy, tolerant of cool temperatures, and produce some strikingly...
Endive Seeds - Frisee
Frisee endive grows best in cool conditions. The plant grows 8-12" tall and produces delicate frilly leaves of a yellow-green color. They have a slightly bitter but mild taste that...
Cucumber Seeds - Japanese Long
The Japanese Long cucumber plant produces productive yields of 18-20 inches long fruits. Cucumbers are dark green and burpless with few seeds. They are best when harvested prematurely at 12...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Habanero Lemon
90-99 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum chinense. Habanero Lemon Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, deer resistant, hot pepper with extremely hot heat levels. 400,000 to 500,000 Scoville Heat...
Sunflower Seeds - Red Sun
90-110 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. Red Sun Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Annual. Heirloom. Red Sun seeds grow one of the summer's rarest and most unique blooms, stunning...
Broccoli Seeds - Romanesco - Organic
Brassica oleracea (75 days) Romanecso reminds me of the patterns you would see when looking through a kaleidoscope as a kid. It has great spiraling designs and shades of apple-green...
French Marigold Seeds - Naughty Marietta
50-65 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Naughty Marietta French Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid. This dwarf classic marigold is ideal for borders and mass plantings. The Naughty Marietta variety features...
French Marigold Seeds - Sparky - Organic
63-77 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Organic Sparky Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, Open Pollinated. Sparky Mixture marigold seeds offer one of the most vibrant and inexpensive blooms available to the...
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