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.
50
100
true
//store.trueleafmarket.com/cdn/shop/t/54/assets/review-fallback.json?v=33078429469613971781712858278
![Legend: H for Heirloom, O for Organic, A for AAS Winner, F for staff favorites]()
Thai Basil Seeds - Siam Queen
Non-GMO, Heirloom Siam Queen Thai Basil Herb Seed from True Leaf Market. Ocimum basilicum. As basil has many different types, Siam Queen Thai Basil is a sweet cultivar that originated...
Sweet Marjoram Seeds
70 days. Annual. Non-GMO, Heirloom Marjoram Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Origanum majorana. Marjoram is a tender perennial herb in warmer regions and grown as an annual in...
Statice Seeds - QIS Series
91-105 Days to maturity. Limonium sinuatum. Statice QIS Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. QIS Series statice is easy to grow from seed and a favorite for fresh-cut arrangements, baskets, and bouquets....
Cucumber Seeds - Homemade Pickles (Organic)
55 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Organic Homemade Pickles Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses...
Pepper - Sweet - Lilac Bell
70-80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Lilac Bell Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, sweet pepper with no heat. 0 Scoville Heat Units. Resistant to Tobacco Mosaic Virus....
Squash Seeds - Summer - Zucchini Golden
55-65 days. Golden Zucchini Summer Squash Seeds. Cucurbita pepo. Annual. Open Pollinated. Non-GMO Heirloom Golden Zucchini is the summer squash to grow in the garden. it's ready in 55 days...
French Marigold Seeds - Durango Series (Coated)
56-63 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Durango Series French Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Durango Series French marigold seeds are an adorable, compact, and vibrant addition to grow in any...
Squash Seeds - Summer - Golden Glory Hybrid
53 days. The 7 to 8 inch, 2-3" in diameter, smooth, waxy-skinned, gold fruits have creamy white, excellent tasting flesh. The vigorous open plant bears fruit of superior quality and...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Habanero Orange
100-109 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum chinense. Habanero Orange Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, hot pepper with extra hot heat levels. 100,000...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Chocolate Cherry
70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Chocolate Cherry Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, indeterminate cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, greenhouses, and containers. Resistant...
Tomato Seeds - Paste - La Roma IV Hybrid
76 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. La Roma IV Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, determinate, paste tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Impatiens Seeds - Accent Series
70-77 Days to maturity. Impatiens walleriana. Accent Series Impatiens Seeds. Non-GMO, hybrid, annual. Premium Quality Seeds. Accent Series seeds deliver the country's most popularly grown and undisputed summertime bloom. Impatiens...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Mini Bell Yellow
60 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Mini Bell Yellow Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, sweet-type pepper with no heat levels. 0 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing in...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Rainbow Cherry Mix (Organic)
80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Rainbow Cherry Mix (Organic) Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Eggplant Seeds - Long Purple (Organic)
80 days. The Long Purple variety of eggplant grows to be up to eight to ten inches long . The Long Purple reaches maturity in eighty days and is suitable...
Basil Seeds - Lemon
Non-GMO, Lemon Basil Herb Seed from True Leaf Market. Ocimum basilicum x citriodorum is native to India. As basil has many different varieties, Lemon Basil Herb is considered non-sweet and...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Jet Star Hybrid
72 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Jet Star Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, F1 hybrid, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Dahlia Seeds - Figaro Series (Coated)
84-91 Days to maturity. Dahlia pinnata. Dahlia Figaro Series Seeds. Premium, Non-GMO, Annual or Perennial. Figaro Series dahlias are a simple way to grow classic southwestern color in your home,...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Isis Candy
67 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Isis Candy Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, greenhouses, containers, and...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Shishito
60-69 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Shishito Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, sweet-type pepper with little to mild heat levels. 100 to 1,000 Scoville Heat Units....
Squash Seeds - Summer - Cocozelle Zucchini
50-60 Days to maturity. Cucurbita pepo. Cocozelle Zucchini Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and containers. A traditional Italian heirloom introduced in the...
Cucumber Seeds - Tendergreen Burpless (Organic)
65 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Organic Tendergreen Burpless Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, burpless, slicing cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots,...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Top Notch Golden Wax
53 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Top Notch Golden Wax Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, hybrid, open-pollinated, heirloom, AAS winner, high yielding, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, bush/pole,...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Henderson Lima
65-85 Days to maturity. Phaseolus lunatus. Henderson Lima Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant, bush, shell, lima bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds,...
Zucchini Seeds - Cocozelle - Organic
(48 days) Introduced prior to 1885. An Italian heirloom still widely grown today. Bush type squash with long cylindrical, dark green, zucchini. Organic Cocozelle Zucchini Squash Seeds Cocozelle has very...
Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Imperial 45
65-85 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Imperial 45 Cantaloupe Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, AAS winner, heat-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
French Marigold Seeds - Petite Mixture
56-63 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Petite Mixture French Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Petite Mixture French marigold seeds are an adorable, compact, and vibrant addition to grow in any...
Squash Seeds - Summer - Zucchini, Endurance BC, F1
Summer Squash, Endurance BC-2 F1. Cucurbita pepo. AKA: Zucchini. Squashes started showing up in Italian kitchens as early as 1600, the "Zucchini" variety probably originated around 1850. Extremely productive, and...
African Marigold Seeds - Cracker Jack
77-84 Days to maturity. Tagetes erecta. Cracker Jack African Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Crackerjack seeds grow a vibrant golden orange and yellow mix of the famous African Marigold that...
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Silver Queen Hybrid
88 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Silver Queen Hybrid Sweet Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and...
[
{
"featured_image": "files/basil-siam-queen-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "",
"price": 199,
"handle": "basil-siam-queen",
"title": "Thai Basil Seeds - Siam Queen",
"url": "/products/basil-siam-queen",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/marjoram-sweet-marjoram-seeds-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Pouch_1_dd10f5a8-307d-4dde-8fbb-5e67f1b819e4.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "marjoram-sweet-marjoram-seeds",
"title": "Sweet Marjoram Seeds",
"url": "/products/marjoram-sweet-marjoram-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/squash-seeds-summer-zucchini-endurance-bc-f1-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/MVS-generic-packet_1_a44aa9e2-012c-409c-81ff-8c41c89825e8.jpg",
"price": 399,
"handle": "squash-seeds-summer-zucchini-endurance-bc-f1",
"title": "Squash Seeds - Summer - Zucchini, Endurance BC, F1",
"url": "/products/squash-seeds-summer-zucchini-endurance-bc-f1",
"available": false
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Statice-Seeds-QIS-Series-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/statice-qis-series-dark-blue-seed-wm_700.jpg",
"price": 339,
"handle": "statice-qis-series-mix-flower-seed",
"title": "Statice Seeds - QIS Series",
"url": "/products/statice-qis-series-mix-flower-seed",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/organic-homemade-pickles-cucumber-seeds-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SSC-organic-generic-packet-com_4455f380-443e-40c0-a11b-da20ec7190ea.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "organic-homemade-pickles-cucumber-seeds",
"title": "Cucumber Seeds - Homemade Pickles (Organic)",
"url": "/products/organic-homemade-pickles-cucumber-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Corn-syn-Serendipity-Hybrid-Paper-Pack_70c8128b-b503-42bd-8608-e2553c574e16.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_ae09cd40-6082-4a89-b24a-59acf8c05f89.png",
"price": 579,
"handle": "corn-syn-serendipity-hybrid",
"title": "Corn Seeds - Sweet - Serendipity Bicolor TripleSweet Hybrid",
"url": "/products/corn-syn-serendipity-hybrid",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/marigold-cracker-jack-flower-seeds-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Pouch_1_0498319b-5c1e-4fb3-86c6-b49a6be6045f.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "marigold-cracker-jack-flower-seeds",
"title": "African Marigold Seeds - Cracker Jack",
"url": "/products/marigold-cracker-jack-flower-seeds",
"available": false
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Beet-Detroit-Dark-Red-Organic-Microgreens-Seeds-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/beet-detroit-dark-red-seeds-sus-com-wm_ee1e856e-bd98-41e9-86fc-b683759ed3e1.jpg",
"price": 770,
"handle": "beet-seeds-detroit-dark-red-organic-microgreens-seeds",
"title": "Beet - Detroit Dark Red (Organic) - Microgreens Seeds",
"url": "/products/beet-seeds-detroit-dark-red-organic-microgreens-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/pepper-sweet-lilac-bell-wm_1_1222x1222_dd4028c1-ea02-4b7e-8ffe-9fa87e00e7ec.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_3.png",
"price": 299,
"handle": "pepper-sweet-lilac-bell",
"title": "Pepper - Sweet - Lilac Bell",
"url": "/products/pepper-sweet-lilac-bell",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/squash-summer-zucchini-golden-seeds-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-sprouting-seed_76afde70-f5b8-4d52-9a3f-724eaa273172.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "squash-summer-zucchini-golden-seeds",
"title": "Squash Seeds - Summer - Zucchini Golden",
"url": "/products/squash-summer-zucchini-golden-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/marigold-durango-series-flower-seeds-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/marigold-durango-series-mix-flower-wm_700.jpg",
"price": 389,
"handle": "marigold-durango-series-flower-seeds",
"title": "French Marigold Seeds - Durango Series (Coated)",
"url": "/products/marigold-durango-series-flower-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/squash-summer-zucchini-golden-glory-hybrid-seed-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SeedPouch_c1fa0271-063b-4ea6-9396-ddd928b281b9.jpg",
"price": 439,
"handle": "squash-summer-zucchini-golden-glory-hybrid-seed",
"title": "Squash Seeds - Summer - Golden Glory Hybrid",
"url": "/products/squash-summer-zucchini-golden-glory-hybrid-seed",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/pepper-hot-habanero-orange-seeds-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Packet_1_8d72cade-f6c8-429c-9640-67a7f87a4ad1.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "pepper-hot-habanero-orange-seeds",
"title": "Pepper Seeds - Hot - Habanero Orange",
"url": "/products/pepper-hot-habanero-orange-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/tomato-chocolate-cherry-seeds-comp_71ae8fc2-93a2-493e-94e5-5649e3bd50d2.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/tomato-chocolate-cherry-seed-wm_700.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "tomato-chocolate-cherry-seeds",
"title": "Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Chocolate Cherry",
"url": "/products/tomato-chocolate-cherry-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/tomato-la-roma-iii-red-hybrid-seeds-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Pouch_1_1_1_5cc6339e-6401-48e5-9bde-784f236dcc4d.jpg",
"price": 399,
"handle": "tomato-la-roma-iv-red-hybrid-seeds",
"title": "Tomato Seeds - Paste - La Roma IV Hybrid",
"url": "/products/tomato-la-roma-iv-red-hybrid-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/impatiens-accent-series-flower-seed-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/impatiens-accent-deep-pink-flower-wm_700.jpg",
"price": 399,
"handle": "impatiens-accent-series-flower-seed",
"title": "Impatiens Seeds - Accent Series",
"url": "/products/impatiens-accent-series-flower-seed",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/pepper-sweet-mini-bell-yellow-seeds-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Pouch_1_265c960b-bd03-43ba-aa8e-93d8f7d1a8ac.jpg",
"price": 199,
"handle": "pepper-sweet-mini-bell-yellow-seeds",
"title": "Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Mini Bell Yellow",
"url": "/products/pepper-sweet-mini-bell-yellow-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/tomato-rainbow-cherry-organic-seeds-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "files/Sustainable_1_lb.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "tomato-rainbow-cherry-organic-seeds",
"title": "Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Rainbow Cherry Mix (Organic)",
"url": "/products/tomato-rainbow-cherry-organic-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/eggplant-long-purple-organic-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "",
"price": 359,
"handle": "eggplant-long-purple-organic",
"title": "Eggplant Seeds - Long Purple (Organic)",
"url": "/products/eggplant-long-purple-organic",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "products/basil-lemon-seed-wm_700.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_420b59f4-d9ef-46a3-96d3-519ad45b5dac.png",
"price": 299,
"handle": "basil-lemon",
"title": "Basil Seeds - Lemon",
"url": "/products/basil-lemon",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "products/tomato-jet-star-seed-wm_700.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Pouch_1_1_1_4af8f56f-b23b-4e22-81ae-c80a2f979585.jpg",
"price": 449,
"handle": "tomato-jet-star-hybrid-seeds",
"title": "Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Jet Star Hybrid",
"url": "/products/tomato-jet-star-hybrid-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Corn-Seeds-Sweet-Silver-Queen-Hybrid-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_941cb4bf-cab8-40d0-88e3-a3ec5718846a.png",
"price": 381,
"handle": "silver-queen-hybrid-sweet-corn",
"title": "Corn Seeds - Sweet - Silver Queen Hybrid",
"url": "/products/silver-queen-hybrid-sweet-corn",
"available": false
},
{
"featured_image": "files/dahlia-figaro-series-flower-seeddahlia-figaro-series-flower-seed-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/dahlia-figaro-red-flower-wm_700.jpg",
"price": 419,
"handle": "dahlia-figaro-series-flower-seed",
"title": "Dahlia Seeds - Figaro Series (Coated)",
"url": "/products/dahlia-figaro-series-flower-seed",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/isis-candy-tomato-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Packet_dd54e12a-220f-400b-a07c-2624eca32ea0.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "isis-candy-tomato",
"title": "Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Isis Candy",
"url": "/products/isis-candy-tomato",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/pepper-seeds-hot-shishito-comp_7b4f3ffc-af5c-4c4b-a484-cb3515e8fe21.jpg",
"secondary_image": "files/KZ_1_lb.jpg",
"price": 399,
"handle": "pepper-seeds-hot-shishito",
"title": "Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Shishito",
"url": "/products/pepper-seeds-hot-shishito",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/cocozelle-zucchini-squash-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Packet_42d39fd9-0bcd-422a-914d-22d268762d44.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "cocozelle-zucchini-squash",
"title": "Squash Seeds - Summer - Cocozelle Zucchini",
"url": "/products/cocozelle-zucchini-squash",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/organic-tendergreen-burpless-cucumber-seeds-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SSC-organic-generic-packet-com_22122315-ba8b-4eb1-a520-0ebc1c191578.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "organic-tendergreen-burpless-cucumber-seeds",
"title": "Cucumber Seeds - Tendergreen Burpless (Organic)",
"url": "/products/organic-tendergreen-burpless-cucumber-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/bush-bean-wax-top-notch-golden-seed-wm_700_1222x1222_1f6144f9-d25f-4a6c-813f-0b889f300bd7.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_2c73a06b-423a-4048-bb59-f8aa915e4de8.png",
"price": 299,
"handle": "bean-wax-bush-top-notch-golden-wax",
"title": "Bean Seeds - Bush - Top Notch Golden Wax",
"url": "/products/bean-wax-bush-top-notch-golden-wax",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Bean-Lima-Henderson-Lima-Comp_3f9c8070-6aa5-4780-92ec-4cbb29cef56a.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_a2fdc419-d111-4f89-a0ff-825332bfba8e.png",
"price": 309,
"handle": "bean-lima-henderson-lima",
"title": "Bean Seeds - Bush - Henderson Lima",
"url": "/products/bean-lima-henderson-lima",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/organic-cocozelle-zucchini-squash-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-com-sm_836e7e3f-e094-47cb-beee-e551e488db01.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "organic-cocozelle-zucchini-squash",
"title": "Zucchini Seeds - Cocozelle - Organic",
"url": "/products/organic-cocozelle-zucchini-squash",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/melon-cantaloupe-imperial-45-seeds-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-wm_0b649a0a-71ae-4ff3-9ae0-768a92012a30.jpg",
"price": 309,
"handle": "melon-cantaloupe-imperial-45-seeds",
"title": "Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Imperial 45",
"url": "/products/melon-cantaloupe-imperial-45-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/marigold-petite-mixture-flower-seeds-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SeedPouch_563b3d76-ba54-4cb0-98c4-423dd3e114da.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "marigold-petite-mixture-flower-seeds",
"title": "French Marigold Seeds - Petite Mixture",
"url": "/products/marigold-petite-mixture-flower-seeds",
"available": true
}
]
